Jak se mas

Here is Granddaughter Julie with Jack and Sadie and me, setting on the "Jak se mas" bench in Wilber while on our way to the Nebraska Homestead Monument yesterday. Wilber was on the way and has been given the title of "Czech Capital of Nebraska". We were still eating Kolaches today that were brought home from there. It can be linked to the Homestead Monument in that many areas in Nebraska were settled by Czech immigrants. My Great Grandfather Jan Milacek was one of those. My Irish Great Grandfather (on 

my Mother's side) also came out to Nebraska and homesteaded after having fought in the Civil War. There are still some 30 farms in Nebraska that are owned and operated by descendents of Homesteaders. One of them is the Hawley family,  recognized recently for having ownership and management of a Nemaha County, 160 acres homesteaded by their Great Grandfather in 1863. It was a wonderful opportunity for immigrants and for the "development" of the country, but the rights of the native Indians should have been given more respect.