Joseph Kurka

  General Notes:

Joseph Kurka is the oldest child and son of Wenzel and Machtilda Maier Kurka. His boyhood days were spent in that country. At the age of nineteen years in 1871, he left Bohemia in company with his parents and a group of friends who had decided to try their luck in the land of the free. Mr. Kurka took up a homestead about twelve miles northwest of Verdigre (Dukeville) and continued to reside there until 1915 when they retired from the farm and took up residence in Verdigre. Here he lived until his death December 26, 1931.

In 1881, he was united in marriage to Theresia (Cek) May. Theresia Cek was born Jan 15, 1851 and the daughter of Wenzel and Theresia Cek. She too was born in Grosslippen, Bohemia. In 1869 she was married to Frank May and in 1872 together with her husband and their child and her parents immigrated to American and located in New Haven, Connecticut. A year later they moved to Knox County and settled near what is now known as Dukeville northwest of Verdigre. To this union were born five children, one dying in infancy.

Joseph and Theresia celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on March 19, 1931.

Joseph married Theresia Cek (May) Kurka, daughter of Wenzel Cek and Theresia Cek, on 19 Mar 1881. (Theresia Cek (May) Kurka was born on 15 Jan 1851 and died on 12 Jan 1943.)