My great grandfather was Martin Kouba. He was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1841 and died in Chicago in 1904. I wonder if he may have been the sister of Marie Kouba. Martin was married to Marie Cizar, also from Prague. I think they had eight children: Charles, Ed, Anton, Julia, Josephine, Louis, Frank and Joseph. Joseph was my grandfather. Josephine married and moved to Texas at some point. There are a couple of areas where you might be able to research your Kouba family. My great grand parents are buried in the Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago, and I am told that most Chicago Czechs in the beginning of the last century were buried there. Unfortunately, the cemetery doesn't respond to mail so you will have to actually visit there. Also, Denni Hlasatel, a Czech newspaper operating at the beginning of the last century,
has an index of obituaries on CD ROM.
If you find Marie's obituary date, you can order the obituary
from the Illinois State Historical Library, Old
State Capital Building, Springfield, IL 62706. You
may request two obituaries per request. Search fee is
$1 for Illinois residents, $10 for out of state.
Enclose a SASE.
I have ordered Martin's obituary, but haven't received it yet. When I do, if it says anything about a sister Marie, I will let you know.