Joseph brought his wife and three children to the United States from Bohemia around October of 1864. After arriving at the New York port of entry, the family traveled to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin and then by covered wagon to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and on to Lincoln, Nebraska, looking for a location to settle. They eventually made it to northeast Nebraska and to Cedar county where they homesteaded. Joseph became a naturalized citizen in 1875.
Joseph applied for a homestead in August of 1869 and was awarded homestead Patent No.652, in June of 1876. This homestead is along Highway 81, northeast of Crofton, NE, just south of the Missouri River. The used to be a Kollars trailer park located on the east side of the road, but Joseph I had his 160 acres west of the highway. Joseph and his family lived in a dugout for the first few years until a home could be afforded and built.
These official documents were obtained by Todd Kollars at the National Archives in Washington D.C. in October of 2010. Also check out the Historical Documents page for other recorded info about the man who brought his family to the United States.