Milligan in Fillmore County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Pioneer Chapel

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2022

1. Pioneer Chapel Marker

Inscription.
Many settlers in the area were Catholics of Czech and Irish descent. Services were held in homes before this small chapel was built on the farm of Joseph Kotas in 1874. It served as the first Catholic Church for pioneers in Fillmore and Saline Counties.

Priests traveled from one mission to another. Father Sulak, the first to visit, stayed 3 days. Pioneers led the congregation in praying the rosary, reading the epistle and gospel.

In 1890 the chapel was replaced by a new and larger church in Milligan. The chapel was moved to this Pioneer Cemetery, the Ceski Bratri (North) Cemetery, in October 1901 to be used for funerals in inclement weather. It now stands as a memorial to the pioneers who endured the hardships of making a life for themselves and for people today and tomorrow in Nebraska.

Memorial donated by Trump Memorials & Moon and Sun monuments.

Erected 1995.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Immigration • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.

Location. 40° 30.582′ N, 97° 24.352′ W. Marker is in Milligan, Nebraska, in Fillmore County. Marker can be reached

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from State Highway 41, one mile west of N Street (Road 24), on the left when traveling west. The Pioneer Chapel is located within the Czech Brethren Cemetery grounds. The marker is located beside the northeast corner of the chapel. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Milligan NE 68406, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Pioneer Chapel and Cesky Bratri Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); The Blizzard of 1888 (approx. 1.1 miles away); Two B-24 "Liberators" Crash Near Milligan, 1943 (approx. 1.1 miles away); BT-13B "Valiant" and P-47D "Thunderbolt" Crash, 1944 (approx. 1.1 miles away); B-17G "Flying Fortress" and P-47D "Thunderbolt" Crash, 1944 (approx. 1.1 miles away); Milligan Auditorium (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Ohiowa Auditorium (approx. 7 miles away); Sergeant Leodegar Schnyder (approx. 7.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milligan.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2022

2. Pioneer Chapel Marker

(marker is located at the northeast corner of the chapel, beneath the renovation scaffolding)

Pioneer Chapel (<i>northeast elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2022

3. Pioneer Chapel (northeast elevation)

Pioneer Chapel (<i>southwest elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2022

4. Pioneer Chapel (southwest elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 11, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 81 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 11, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.