JOSEPH ROTTER.
was born in Austria, September 23, 1843
Joseph Rotter, who resides on
section twelve, township twenty-three, range five, in Antelope county,
Nebraska, is one of the leading old-timers in this section who has always
done his full share in the betterment of conditions throughout the community
in which he lives.
Mr. Rotter was born in Austria, September 23, 1843, and after attaining
his manhood years was united in marriage in Braumseifen, Maehren province in
February, 1868, to Miss Caroline Peshka Baker, also of Austria. In 1878 Mr.
Rotter, with his family, left his native land for America, where land could
be had cheaper, and where a young man with a family to support could have a
better opportunity to get a start in life. After landing in New York in the
fall of 1878, Mr. Rotter set his face westward, settling in Butler county,
Nebraska, in the spring of 1879, where he remained six months, then came to
Antelope county, Nebraska, taking up a homestead, on which he built a sod
house in which he lived for seven years; he later built a frame house, and
two days after it was blown down; he then rebuilt, and in July of 1895 this
house was destroyed, and Mr. Rotter again built up a fine home. The family
experienced many hardships in those early days and suffered privations and
losses through all sorts of misfortunes; in 1894 the crops were almost a
total failure from drouth, but they saved three hundred bushels of wheat,
and in the years 1901 and 1902, the severe hailstorms destroyed the growing
crops. But they have held on tenaciously and have prospered. Mr Rotter now
owns four hundred and eighty acres, and his sons own one hundred and sixty
acres of fine land.
Mr. Rotter is the father of a family of ten children, whose names are as
follows: Frank, Joe, John, Ernest, Theresa, Josie, Bertie, Carrie, Amelia,
and Otilda. Theresa is now Mrs. M. Giehler; she has three boys. Josie, who
is now Mrs. J. Beck, has three boys, three girls.
Mr. Rotter and family enjoy the highest respect and esteem of a wide
circle of friends and acquaintances, with whom they are surrounded in their
pleasant home. Mr. Rotter is a substantial citizen, and is known in his
community for his many good qualities. Mr. Rotter is a good democrat and a
staunch Roman Catholic.
In January 12, 1888, during the day of the severe blizzard, Mr. Rotter's
children were at school. Frank his oldest boy and himself, went to bring
them home facing the storm all the way and could keep the course only by
following some grass that grew in the center of the road, they eventually
got the children home safely.
Lajos Rotter (1901-1983).
While still a university student, achieved
outstanding international success with his dissertation for a Swiss helicopter
competition. Later, with his glider "KARAKÁN" (1934) he broke the Hungarian
distance and duration records with 276 km (171.5 miles) and 24 hrs 14 minutes
flights respectively, scoring in 1935 the first international victory for
Hungarian gliding. At the 1936 Olympics, with his masterpiece "NEMERE" he flew a
336 km (209 miles) goal-distance world record to great international acclaim. In
1937 the FAI established the golden ISTUS ring for outstanding work in glider
sport - this was awarded for the very first time to Lajos Rotter.
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