Josef [Joseph] SOBOTKA was born in Bohemia in the Austrian Empire on August 16, 1836. He was the son of John and Annie (SHANTEUTCHEK) SOBOTKA, both of whom died in their native country in 1848. Josef became a butcher and on December 25, 1858 he opened a meat market in his native land.

Mr. SOBOTKA left Bohemia and came to the United States in 1867. He settled in Harrison County, Missouri. He rented land near Cainsville, Missouri and later conducted a meat market. Afterward he bought land and at one time owned 400 acres. He died at Diagonal, Iowa on July 3, 1902.

Josef SOBOTKA married first in Bohemia on June 14, 1859 to Annastazia KLUBKA, born in Bohemia. To this union were born seven children, two of whom died in infancy. The remaining children are:

1) Emanuel SOBOTKA, born 1859; lived at Diagonal IA; died 1925
    interment Bohemian Cemetery, Diagonal IA
    married Anna or Annie PETERKA, born 17 Jan 1882; died 03 Sep 1914, inter: Bohemian Cemetery
2) Joseph F. SOBOTKA, born 26 Feb 1862; moved to Diagonal IA 1883; died 29 Jul 1939
    interment Bohemian Cemetery, Diagonal IA
3) John SOBOTKA, lived at Little Rock AR
4) Frank SOBOTKA, born 1869; lived in Madison Township near Cainsville MO; died 1942
    interment Glaze Cemetery, Cainsville
5) Charles SOBOTKA, born 1876; lived near his brother Frank, Cainsville MO; died 1953
    interment Bohemian Cemetery, Cainsville MO

Annastazia (KLUBKA) SOBOTKA Sobotka died November 18, 1888 with interment in Bohemian Cemetery, Cainsville, Harrison County, Missouri.

Josef SOBOTKA married second on August 1, 1890 to Mary [Marie] (VALASEK) RYCHNOVSKY, a widow with two sons Frank and John. Mary died on December 15, 1917.

"Mr. SOBOTKA was strongly built with a large, well-developed chest. His shoulders were a little drooped and his hands and feet were large for a man of his height which was about 5 ft. 9 in. He had a rather dark complexion. He must have been a little near-sighted, as he held a paper a little close to his face when he read.

"I first remember this family when they lived on the Posler land. I can remember Emanuel and Joseph, Jr. the older sons. The family moved before the other children were big enough for me to remember them. In fact his son, Frank, was born in a little log cabin on the prairie and I expect that Charles was born there, too. They moved to Cainsville where Mr. SOBOTKA conducted a meat market. In this, I may be mistaken, but I recall on the one occasion I went with my father to Mr. SOBOTKA's home in Cainsville and he was mending a boot, so I have always thought of him as a shoemaker. Perhaps he was mending his own boot or one of his son's boots. At that time, it was the custom of our father's to do the shoe cobbling for the family.

"I recall when Mr. SOBOTKA bought the land where he developed a fine farm. He must have been of an ingenious mind as he constructed a machine with which to drive posts. This machine was used in fencing his farm. Up to that time I had never seen posts driven, except by a heavy maul made of wood.

"This new method of labor saving caused no little comment at the time it was being put to use. Mr. SOBOTKA was recognized as a man of culture by all who knoew him. He was greatly interested in his sons attending school and being well educated. He worked hard, practiced rigid economy and was greatly respected in the entire community. It is not to be wondered that he reared a fine family for he set before them the example of thrift, economy, honesty and integrity. All through the years I have and now do honor this memory of Josef SOBOTKA, Sr. He was an honor to his own people and the community in which he lived as he reared his family and met life's demands.

"I congratulate his children that their parents left to them the rich legacy of an honored name. Mr. and Mrs. Josef SOBOTKA were honorable and upright citizens.

— Written by Grant LEAZENBY, neighbor of the SOBOTKAS

Josef SOBOTKA was born in Bohemia, Austrian Empire, August 16, 1836, and is a son of John and Annie (SHANTEUTCHEK) SOBOTKA, both of whom died in the old country. Josef was reared and educated in his native land, and after his father's death, February 19, 1948, he became an apprentice to the butcher's trade, serving the three years required, and remaining in the same place two years longer. After this he was occupied in different localities until 1858, when on Christmas day he opened his own shop, and carried on the same until 1867, when he came to America, and directly to Harrison County, M Missouri. In 1859 he married Miss Anastazie (sic) KLUBKA, and upon emigrating to the United States had a family of three children. In this country four more were born, two of whom died. Emanuel, Joseph, John, Franklin, William (deceased), Frederick (deceased), and Charles, are the names of the children.

Mr. SOBOTKA at first rented land near Cainsville for two years, and then bought a lot in the town, upon which he built and lived four years. He then engaged in butchering and various other employments, and then bought forty acres of his present place, upon which he built and where he has since lived. This place he immediately began to improve, and now owns 400 acres of well stocked and improved land, making him one of the well-to-do citizens of the county.

In politics he is a Democrat.

Two of his children are married, one living in the county and one in Iowa.

- History of Harrison and Mercer Counties, Missouri. 1888.

  Franklin "Frank" SOBOTKA, son of Joseph and Annastazia (KLUBKA) SOBOTKA, was born in Madison Township of Harrison County, Missouri, on January 14, 1869. He attended the public schools of Shenandoah, Iowa, and Lincoln, Nebraska. Frank served during 1898-99 in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection. After the war he farmed near Cainsville, Missouri. Frank and Rose BROWER, of Harrison County, Missouri, were married on September 15, 1901. Frank was elected to the 55th General Assembly of the Missouri legislature in 1928.

Rose (BROWER) SOBOTKA was born in 1877, and died in 1950. Frank died in 1942. They were interred at Glaze Cemetery, Cainsville, Harrison County, Iowa.

See Bohemian Settlers written by David JEZEK in 1977, and Bohemian Cemetery Transcriptions.

SOURCES:
WPA Graves Survey
Grant LEAZENBY Character Sketch
History of Harrison and Mercer Counties, Missouri p. 632. 1888

Transcriptions and compilation by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2009