Other Czechs joined the Vlasaks in the area and almost overnight a small community of Bohemian farmers sprang into existence.4
These families, with names such as Barta, Hrdy, Sestak, Bontty, and Provaznik, primarily settled in the townships of North Creek and South Creek. The immigrants quickly cleared and tilled the land and built temporary shelters. The United States established mail service on the southeast corner of Frank Barta’s homestead and, within two years after the land run, there were about fifty Czech homesteads in the area known as the Barta Post Office.5 A smaller group of German immigrants established a colony directly north of the Czechs’ in North Creek Township. However, despite the efforts of both Czech and German immigrants, white native-born Americans comprised the bulk of those involved in the land run. Many times someone quicker to the spot interrupted the Czechs’ attempt to settle together.6 For example, the 1891 land run claims of Czechs Frank Barta, Frantisek Mastena, Frantisek Souva, and Vincent Martinek surro...