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Submitted: 1/31/11 • Approved: 2/1/11 • Last Updated: 8/21/12 • R456974-G0-S3
Born June 17, 1876, Dolni Ujezd, Bohemia (Czechoslovakia).
Died April 10, 1947, Baxter County, Arkansas.
Husband of Mary Wotawa (married May 1, 1905, Vienna, Austria).
The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Arkansas, Arpil 18, 1947:
Joseph Wotawa, 71, died April 10, and burial was at Oakland Cemetery. He was born June 17, 1876 in Europe and moved here when a young man. He was a Roman Catholic. Survivors are his wife and three children: Mrs. C. H. Boman of Borger, Texas, Mrs. W. E. Sharp and Robert J. Wotawa of the home.
Excerpts from Wotawa family history by Margaret Wotawa Sharp in the History & Families, Baxter County, Arkansas:
Joseph Wotawa was born July 17, 1876 in Dolni Ujezd, Bohemia. His wife, Anna, was born April 26, 1878 in Tulesice, Moravia. They were married on May 1, 1905 in Vienna, Austria. They left their homeland of Czechoslovakia in the late 19th Century for Vienna, Austria where Joseph had relatives. In Vienna thaty had two children: a daughter, Johanna, Dec. 22, 1906, and a son, Robert, May 22, 1908. Joseph and Anna thought life for their children would be better in America so they sailed on the vessel Alice on May 20, 1911 from Trieste. They arrived at New York City on June 1, 1911 and were processed through Ellis Island. They moved to Des Plains, IL near Anna's relatives.
While living in Illinois, Joseph read an advertisement in a German language newspaper about a 160-acre farm near Mountain Home, AR in Baxter County. He made arrangements to buy that farm. The Wotawa family arrived in Cotter, AR by train in 1912. They settled into their new home about two miles east of Mountain Home.
On April 1, 1913, the Wotawas were blessed with another son, Mike. He died April 30, 1923. On February 10, 1916, another daughter, Margaret, was born. On April 19, 1919, they welcomed another daughter, Agnes. Daughter, Johnanna, died Aug. 22, 1933.
Joseph Wotawa died April 10, 1947. Anna Wotawa died Jan. 2, 1960. For immigrants who spoke no English, to make such a success in farming their "rock pile" was wonderful.
(Photo courtesy of Vera Reeves)
Contributed on 1/31/11 by maxparnell
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Record #: 456974