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Tributes
Fiesta Medal for Prominent Silesian Texan:
Joseph Cotulla 1844 - 1923
Shown below is the Fiesta 2009 Medal Honor
for Joe Cotulla, presented by the State Association of Texas
Pioneers. It is
available at the Fiesta Store on Broadway and comes with a small write-up
which says:
Joseph Cotulla came to Texas from
Poland in 1857 with his widowed mother, settling in Atascosa County. At
13, he began work as a farm helper. Upon discharge after the Civil War, he
realized people in the Northeast needed meat. He helped round up wild
cattle, making five trail rides to Kansas City. Cotulla married Mary
Rieder in 1871; they raised nine children. He continued acquiring cattle
and land in LaSalle County. He eventually owned over 25,000 acres. In
1881, Cotulla realized the railroad was crossing his area. He laid out a
town site and met with I & G N officials, offering them land for right of
way. With the coming of the railroad, the town of Cotulla, Texas began to
grow. His contribution to agriculture and the town’s water supply was his
drilling of the first artesian well in 1915. The driller first struck oil.
“Keep on drilling” said Cotulla. “My cattle can’t drink oil!” Joseph
Cotulla was a man of his word and honesty always prevailed in his dealings
with others. - Proudly sponsored by Don & Betty
(Cotulla) Child and Linda Child Nairs
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Note: Joseph Cotulla, a farmer and stock
raiser, is fully profiled in
Silesian Profiles II: Polish Immigration to Texas
1850s - 1870s on pages 42-45. |
Our Contributors
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The
NOTABLES section of this Web site features
previously unpublished ordination cards and jubilee cards to mark pivotal
moments in the lives of priests born in Texas of Silesian descent as well as
priests born in Poland who have served Silesian Texans. Many of these
beautiful cards have been tucked away for years in family photo boxes and
cedar chests. We are grateful to those of you who have searched and sent
these special cards for us to scan and share with the world. We are also
appreciative of carefully documented and scholarly information about priests
used in the outlines.
The first cards posted
were from the keepsakes of Ed Ebrom’s grandmother, Rosie Reiman Yosko (1904
-1981), who was born in Runge near Panna Maria and knew many of the priests
personally. She obviously cherished their ordination, jubilee, and funeral
cards to have saved them through the years. Her valued collection inspired
the format for the NOTABLES section.
The vital information and
the artistic images from the cards simulate a virtual gallery thanks to
these thoughtful and supportive contributors:
John and Kathy Korus Beard
Theresa Helbert
Lynn Highley
Louise Jurgajtis
Will and Bernice Lyssy
Loretta Niestroy
Helen Pawlik
Gladys Jendrush Waclawczyk
Mary Ann Moczygemba Watson
Bishop John Walter Yanta
In addition, Lynn Highley
generously donated two hardcover out-of-print reference books to assist in
research and to provide photos of priests: Archdiocese of San
Antonio, 1874-1949 and Archdiocese of San Antonio
1874-1974. She also provided copies of two rare tomes entitled
Polish Circuit Rider and Our Polish Pioneers. These
four publications have been extremely beneficial in both the
NOTABLES and HISTORY
sections as we showcase Silesian Texans.
Always a knowledgeable
source, Brother Edward Loch, the Catholic Chancery Archivist, provides Janet
Dawson Ebrom invaluable records and guidance as she continues to research
NOTABLE Silesian Texans. Especially helpful, Bishop Yanta has generously
shared his own research and images from his extensive private collection.
Thank you all for your
generous support and sincere interest. |
Professor Karol Jonca 1930 - 2008
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A
dear friend of Silesian Texans passed away in Wrocław, Poland, on January
13, 2008.
Karol Jonca was a professor at Wrocław University who had graduated from
the Faculty of Law in 1954. He was awarded his L.L.D. in 1958, and his
second-level doctoral degree in legal sciences in 1964. He was appointed
extraordinary professor of law in 1971 and full professor in 1981. He was
the Head of the Chair of Political and Legal Doctrines, a corresponding
member of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Silesian Institute in Opole, and
chief editor from 1976-1986 of “Silesian Studies Opole.”
As a distinguished scholar of Silesian
history, he generously shared his life-time of research with those of us
in Texas searching for our ancestral ties. His lasting legacy will be
over 250 publications he authored including his research on the Schüler
Agency lists documenting immigrants to Texas from Upper Silesia.
During his only trip to America, he
realized his dream of visiting Texas—a place he had studied intently. As
a guest speaker at the Polish American Priest Association 10th
Anniversary Convention in San Antonio from May 1-4, 2000, he presented
scholarly material to appreciative audiences. At the top of his list of
Texas destinations were Cotulla and Indianola where he could finally see
in person what he had experienced vicariously through archival documents.
Accompanied by his daughter Magda, he thoroughly enjoyed Texas hospitality
by the descendants of those first pioneers.
We honor his memory.
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