Fifth Generation

8. Josef Jakub "Joe" KUCERA Sr. (^) was born on 24 February 1882 in Prestice, Plzen-South District, Plzen (Pilsen) (West) Region, Bohemia (Czech Republic). The Prestice, Bohemia birth records state that he was born on February 24, 1882 and was baptized on February 26th. (His birth is recorded on Page 400 of the "Kniha narozenyeh" birth registration book for Prestice 42 in the Plzen Archive. It is Page 257 of the digital record at https://www.portafontium.eu/iipimage/30067692/prestice-42_2570-n?x=-7&y=29&w=311&h=186.

His gravestone lists his year of birth as 1884; the 1900 Census listed his birth date as March 1882 and his age as 18; and the 1920 Census listed his birth date as Dec 1882. The birth certificate of his son, Joseph, indicates that he was 42 years old at the time of Joseph's birth in August 1923. All were wrong.

The Bohemian National Cemetery records list his date of death as 9 April 1932 (although the gravestone lists the year as 1931) and his age as 50 years. That would correlate with his actual birth date of February 24, 1882.

His given name was "Josef," although he used "Joseph" throughout his life. His middle name was listed as "Jerome" in family records, but it is listed as Jakub on the Prestice birth records; his Godfather's name was Jakub. His surname is spelled "Kucera" in the church Memorial of Marriage document. In later years he used the spelling of "Kutchera," and his children eventually used the spelling "Kutcher."

The 1910 Census listed his birth place as Germany, and the 1920 and 1930 listed it as Maryland. The birth certificate of his daughter, Katherine, lists it as Baltimore. All are wrong because he is listed on the Prestice, Bohemia birth records.

Přeštice is a town in Plzeň-South District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It currently (2020) has about 7,000 inhabitants and lies on the Úhlava River, some 20 km (12 mi) to the south from the region capital of Plzeň. Villages of Skočice, Zastávka and Žerovice are administrative parts of Přeštice.

The 1920 Census indicates that he emigrated in 1886. He was baptized on 26 February 1882 in Prestice, Plzen-South District, Plzen (Pilsen) (West) Region, Bohemia (Czech Republic). His sponsor (Godfather) was Jakub Jedlick, a tailor who lived in Prestice. He emigrated about 1884 from Plzen (Pilsen) (West) Region, Bohemia (Czech Republic). (A Josef Kucera, age 2, emigrated through the port of Bremen, Germany, on the ship "Weser" and arrived in New York City on 5 March 1886. That may have been him, but no parents were listed with him so it cannot be confirmed.

On the same ship was a 4-year-old boy named Franz Kucera; a 36-year-old female named Anna Kucera; and a 39-year-old male named Wojteck Kucera. The names and ages of Anna and Wojteck do not fit those of the parents of Joseph, so that family was probably not his.) Joe appeared in the census in 1900 in Curtis Bay, Anne Arundel County, MD. He was living with his mother and her family at 3 Cedar Street and his occupation was listed as "Day Laborer." His surname was listed as "Kucher." He lived in Curtis Bay, Anne Arundel County, MD in 1904. The Baltimore City Directory listed him as "Kutchera Jos, clk, S Balto, A A Co." He was working in his mother's dry goods store. He lived in Curtis Bay, Anne Arundel County, MD in 1906. The Baltimore City Directory listed him as "Kutchera Jos K Kutchera & Son S Balto, A A Co." He was working for and living with his mother in South Baltimore in Anne Arundel County. Joe appeared in the census in 1910 in Curtis Bay, Anne Arundel County, MD. He was living with his mother at her home at 3 Cedar Street. His occupation was listed as "Seaman, Boat." His surname was listed as "Kutcher." He lived in Curtis Bay, Baltimore (Independent City), MD in 1920. The Baltimore City Directory listed his residence as 7 Cedar South Baltimore and his occupation as "Laborer." He was listed as "Jos J Kucera" by himself, without his wife and daughter. He appeared in the census in 1920 in Curtis Bay, Baltimore (Independent City), MD. Joseph's family lived at 7 Cedar Street; they were renting--possibly from his mother, who lived next door at 3 Cedar Street. His household consisted of Joseph, age 38; his wife, Albina, age 25; and their daughter "Catherine," age 7 months. His surname was listed as "Kutchera" and his occupation was listed as "Copper Iron Worker." Joe lived in Curtis Bay, Baltimore (Independent City), MD in 1926. The Baltimore City Directory listed his residence as 7 Cedar and his occupation as "Fireman." It listed only him and his wife, Albina. He lived in Curtis Bay, Baltimore (Independent City), MD in 1927. The Baltimore City Directory listed his residence as 7 Ceddox and his occupation as "Fireman." It listed only him and his wife, Albina. He lived in Curtis Bay, Baltimore (Independent City), MD in 1928. The Baltimore City Directory listed his residence as 7 Ceddox and his occupation as "Fireman." It listed only him and his wife, Albina. Joe lived in Curtis Bay, Baltimore (Independent City), MD in 1929. The Baltimore City Directory listed his residence as 1647 Ceddox and his occupation as "Oiler." It listed only him and his wife, Albina. He lived in Curtis Bay, Baltimore (Independent City), MD in 1930. The Baltimore City Directory listed his residence as 1647 Ceddox and his occupation as "Oiler." It listed only him and his wife, Albina. He appeared in the census in 1930 in Curtis Bay, Baltimore (Independent City), MD. His name appears to be listed as "Josep Kutcher," but it is not clear. (It cannot be found in the Ancestry.com census index.) His household at 1647 Ceddox Street (25th Ward, Enumeration District 397) consisted of Joseph, age 49, occupation, "Tender, Railroad;" his wife Albina, age 32; and their children Katherine, age 11; Frank, age 9; and Joseph, age 7.

(1647 Ceddox Street was the same location as 3 Cedar Street in earlier census records. The latter was renamed in 1919 when Curtis Bay was annexed by the City of Baltimore, which already had a Cedar Street.) Joe died on 10 April 1931 at the age of 49 in Curtis Bay, Baltimore (Independent City), MD. He was buried in Baltimore (Independent City), MD. in the Cesky-Narodni-Hrbitov Bohemian National Cemetery, at the intersection of Horners Lane and Leopold Way, near the Armistead Gardens section of Baltimore (Plot D-9-3-AB). He has Ancestral File Number G83K-88X. His decendants' family bible listed his middle name as Jerome, but his baptism record lists it as Jakub, which was the given name of his Godfather.

Josef Jakub "Joe" KUCERA Sr. (^) and Albina Mary "Alby" SVEC (^) were married on 28 November 1918 in Baltimore (Independent City), MD. At Saint Wenceslaus Roman Catholic Church. Their witnesses were Louis Dash (relationship unknown) and Margaret Dunn (his sister).

The 1930 Census indicated that he was married at age 35 and she was married at age 21. He was actually 36 and she was 24 when they married in 1918. Gary Griggs has the Memorial of Marriage document issued by the church in which they were married. Albina Mary "Alby" SVEC (^), daughter of John Vaclav Joseph SVEC and Marie K. KLIMA, was born on 22 January 1894 in Baltimore (Independent City), MD. (In the 1920 Census, her age was listed as 25. The 1930 Census listed her age as 32, indicating a birth year of 1898; that was an error; she was 35.) She was baptized on 31 January 1894 in Baltimore (Independent City), MD. at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. Her sponsors were Wenceslaus Svec, a brother of her father, and Catherine Svec, her father's mother. She appeared in the census in 1900 in Baltimore (Independent City), MD. She was listed as "Albert," a "son." Alby had Social Security Number 218-03-4814. Gary and Barbara (Serp) Griggs have her Social Security Card. She appeared in the census in 1910 in Baltimore (Independent City), MD. She was listed as "Alby" and her occupation was "Sews, Factory." She appeared in the census in 1920 in Curtis Bay, Baltimore (Independent City), MD. Alby appeared in the census in 1930 in Curtis Bay, Baltimore (Independent City), MD. She appeared in the census in 1940 in Baltimore (Independent City), MD. Her household was at 1647 Ceddox Street and her occupation was "Building Services, Offices." Her total wages in 1939 were $626. According to the census, her "Highest grade completed" was grade 6.

Living with her were her sons Frank and Joseph.

At the time of the death of her daughter, Katherine, a Western Union telegram was found in Katherine's home that indicates that her mother, Albina, may have married a second time. The text of the telegram is as follows: "NA584 2=IM New York, NY 14 241P. Mrs. Katherine Serp= 1649 Ceddox St, Curtis Bay, Balto= Just Married= Mother." The date stamped on the telegram is "1942 Feb 14 PM 3 17." It is not known whom she may have married, and her death certificate lists her surname as Kutcher. Katherine never told her children about a second marriage for her mother, so it is not known if she was aware of it. She died on 17 October 1974 at the age of 80 in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, MD. Obituary Notes: "On October 17, 1974, ALBINA (nee Svec), the beloved mother of Frank Kutcher, Joseph Kutcher and Mrs. Catherine Serp. Viewing at The Kirkley Funeral Home, 421 Crain Highway, S.E., Glen Burnie, on Friday, Oct. 18 from 7 to 9 P.M. Services at The Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, on Saturday at 11 A.M."

Find-a-Grave Website Notes: "Kucera appears be the first U.S. spelling of her husband's family name. Later records list Kutchera and, more commonly, Kutcher. She married Joseph "Kucera" (age 37) on 21 (sic 28) Nov 1918 in Baltimore MD. Her name was listed as Albina Sevic or Sevie. Their known children were Katherine, Frank and Joseph. She is listed in MD State Archives Death Index SE151-2, but that index does not list where she died in MD. Her last residence listed by Soc Sec was Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County MD."

According to her death certificate, she died at 10:10 am at the North Arundel Convalescent Center. The cause of death was "left ventricular failure as a consequence of arteriosclerosis and post-ventricle obstruction." The "Informant" who verified her death certificate information was her son Joseph, who was living at 326 Roosevelt Avenue, Glen Burnie. At the time of her death, she was living at 1647 Ceddox Street in Curtis Bay.

Her death certificate uses the surname of "Kutcher" and her children used that name as well. It is not known when or who changed the family name from Kucera. Her name is listed as "Albina Kutchera" on the 1920 Census and on a release of mortgage that is dated July 15, 1942. It is listed as "Kutcher" in the 1940 Census. So her husband's surname had changed from Kucera to Kutchera prior to 1920, and to Kutcher prior to 1940. Alby was buried on 19 October 1974 in Baltimore (Independent City), MD. in the Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery (Lot 269 of the St. Clement section, Angel Row), 4430 Belair Road. She has Ancestral File Number K2J5-HCX.

Josef Jakub "Joe" KUCERA Sr. (^) and Albina Mary "Alby" SVEC (^) had the following children:

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Katherine Mary KUTCHER (^).

ii.

Frank Joseph "Kutch" KUTCHER was born on 8 August 1921 in Baltimore (Independent City), MD. He appeared in the census in 1930 in Curtis Bay, Baltimore (Independent City), MD. After his father died in 1931, Frank lived for a short time at the St. Vincent's Orphanage because his mother had no means of financial support for their three children. He had Social Security Number 218-18-1922. Kutch appeared in the census in 1940 in Baltimore (Independent City), MD. He was living with is mother. According to the census, his "Highest grade completed" was the 8th grade, so he had dropped out of school in about 1933. He served in the military on 14 February 1942 in Baltimore (Independent City), MD. His military records indicate that he enlisted as a Private on 8 Sep 1942 with the following conditions: "Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law."

At the time of his registration for military service, he was Single, 5' 6" tall, weighed 136 pounds, had Brown Hair and Brown Eyes, a Light Complexion, and had a "Cast in Right Eye."

He appeared in the census in August 1950 in Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, NM. The 1950 Census for Bernalillo County, NM contains the listing for a "Frank Kucera," which may have been him. Frank had enlisted in the Army in 1942 and his brother and sister lost all contact with him at that point. It is very possible that he remained in the Army until this Census in 1950. The listing is for "Frank Kucera;" age 29; Race, white; Gender, male; and Marital Status, single--all of which would have been correct for him. ("Kucera" was his father's original surname.)

The Frank in the 1950 Census was stationed at the Sandia Base Military Reservation, which was the "principal nuclear weapons installation of the Department of Defense from 1946 to 1971. The installation carried out atomic weapons research, development, design, testing and training commenced by the Manhattan Project during World War II."

His brother and sister lost contact with him in May 1979 and he is believed to have moved to Las Vegas. His last suspected address was 4470 Vegas Valley Drive; in November 2008 an attempt was made by Gary Griggs to locate him at that address (a mobile home park), but the owners had no knowledge of him having lived there.

In October 1983, his sister Katherine placed an ad in The Salvation Army newsletter, The War Cry, seeking to have him contact her. She listed his description as "5' 6" 180 lbs, blue eyes, gray hair, olive complexion. In March 1987, Katherine received a letter from The Salvation Army's Missing Persons Services, indicating that they had never received a reply from Frank. She received several follow-up letters from them in 1990 and 1991, indicating the same. Kutch died on 28 July 2011 at the age of 89 in White City, Jackson County, OR. Prior to his death, he was in a Veterans Administration hospital. He was then moved to a civilian hospital. According to the U.S. Social Security Death Index, his last residence was White City, Jackson County, OR.

Obituary Notes: "Frank J. Kutcher, 89, of White City, Ore., passed away Thursday, July 28, 2011. Arrangements by Conger-Morris, Central Point, OR, 541-664-3361." He was buried about 1 August 2011 in Eagle Point, Jackson County, OR. He was cremated and his ashes were placed in the Eagle Point National (Veterans) Cemetery at 2763 Riley Road, near Medford, OR.

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iii.

Joseph Jerome "Joe" KUTCHER Jr..