JOSEPH AND THERESA [SETZER] KURKA
Joseph Kurka, younger brother of Wenzel Kurka, was born July 17,
1838, at Grosslippen, Bohemia, and died August ;27, 1911. He was
married to Theresa Setzer.
In the month of March, 1858, Joseph Kurka and Theresa Setzer Kurka
left their native land and with their three small children emigrated
to America. After arriving in New York City, they traveled westward
until they reached Sioux City, Iowa. Here they remained for some
time and Joseph found work for needed money. Then they traveled on
to Niobrara, Nebraska, where Wenzel Kurka, older brother, had
located on land near the Niobrara River, about ten miles southwest
of the trading post of Niobrara, Nebraska.
These earlier settlers endured untold hardships, they built and
lived in log houses and were ever fearful of Indian uprisings. The
only means of transportation was by oxen team requiring an entire
day’s journey to Niobrara for needed provisions.
Joseph later bought land near Niobrara which enabled his children to
get a town school education and they all enjoyed a much better and
hard-earned life for many years.
When the children were young, they had to get down and dig for not
much cash. But as they bow at the shrine of childhood and youth,
they won’t forget the bent form with the wrinkled face and the
silver threads among the gold that warn of the gathering shadows of
life approaching sunset, and that from the toil-marked hand of the
aged came much of what we enjoy today. In those snow-covered heads
of fathers and mothers is the mature judgment the world needs so
much now.
The children of Joseph and Theresa Kurka were: Mary, Jennie, Julia,
Rosa, Anna, Emma, and Della.
Mary was born May 28, 1866, and she married George Burkhardt. Mary
died August 4, 1902. Her children were Lena (Mrs. Adolph Kyriss),
Rose (Mrs. Rudolph Gabler), and Mary (Mrs. Charles Montgomery).
Jennie was born June 16, 1868, married George Burkhardt, and died
September 30, 1932.
Julia was born September 21, 1870, and died September 14, 1891.
Rosa was born September 30, 1878, and died October 1, 1961.
Anna was born October 4, 1877, and died February 3, 1969.
Emma, born July 16, 1883, died November 9, 1931.
Della was born April 11, 1881, and her married name is Della Justin.
Pages 312, 313
