Joseph (Jozef) “Joe” Adolph Hilak 1895-1992

Left: Joe, in his California home in 1976

Right: From his Certificate of Citizenship, January 5, 1932

1936 Signature

Born: May 2, 1895 in Myzelir, Russia

Died: December 22, 1992 in Ontario, California. Cremated and interred in Bellevue Memorial Park, Serenity section, B-12, #5.

Spouse: Anna Bertha (Mertl) Hilak m. September 17, 1921 in Bettendorf, Iowa

Children: Ed Hilak

Bob Hilak

Betty Jane (Hilak) Kowald

Occupation: Shoemaker

Father’s name: Adolph Hilak

Mother’s name: Albina or Alberia (Bartos) Hilak

Siblings: 2 sisters, one older and one younger. Emilia is the older sister’s name and the younger is unknown.

At the age of 1, Joe (and his sisters?) was left with grandmother Bartos by his mother Albina. I’m presuming that his father had died at about that time causing her to do this. I have a lead regarding a Joe Bartos, born about 1850, who married a Mary Prikryl after 1890. Mary’s family came from the Moravia, Austria-Hungary area, possibly from Archlebov. Joe and Mary could be Albina’s parents and would therefore be the above mentioned grandmother Bartos.

Joe emigrated from Russia, arriving at the Port of New York, New York on June 20, 1913 aboard the ship Sierra Nevada. Bremen was the port of departure. According to the manifest, he arrived at the age of 18 with $35 in his pocket. He picks up a job cleaning trains while in New York.

The SS Sierra Nevada, found on Ellis Island website. Photo from Frank Pichardo Collection.

3 ships were named Sierra Nevada. This one, the first, operated from 1913 - 1917.

The other 2 were built under different names and became Sierra Nevada after World War I.

Josef received his Certificate of Citizenship on January 5, 1932. Russia is his former nationality. He notes 622 N. Burr Street, Kewaunee, Illinois as his residence.

The family lived in Bettendorf, Iowa and moved to Kewanee, Illinois just before daughter Betty was born. He had a shop there, but lost it in the depression. They moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1936 where he had a job at Globe Shoe Repair downtown. Joe later worked at other shops. In 1957 they moved to San Diego, California, then to Glendora, CA a year later. He set up his own shop specializing in repair of cowboy boots and Anna did repairs on purses, zippers, etc. For more details, read A Rememberence, by Anna (Mertl) Hilak.

Joe was christened by his godfather Joseph Lenoch who is believed to be his mother’s sister’s husband. He also immigrated and settled in Bettendorf, Iowa where he owned a shoe store. Joe Hilak later purchased the store when Joe Lenoch re-married and moved to Denver, Colorado.

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