USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 79
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JOHN STODOLA
Wide-awake and enterprising, quiek to recognize business opportunities and to improve them, John Stodola is now numbered among the leading farmers and representative citizen of Fayette township. He was born in Bohemia, on the 13th of March, 1868, his parents being John and Veronica Stodola. He was only twelve years of age when his father died and his mother subsequently joined him in this country. In the land of his birth Mr. Stodola made his home np to his fourteenth year, when he decided to try his fortune in the new world and aeeord- ingly erossed the Atlantie, coming at once to Iowa. His aunt, Mrs. John Melsho. and his brother, Joseph Stodola, were living in Tama county, where he joined them on his arrival in this state. There he worked on a farm for two years and afterward devoted five years to railroad work, four years on construction and one year in the roundhouse in Cedar Rapids. On attaining his majority, however. he purchased eighty-seven and a half aeres of land in Tama county and turned his attention to farming. In connection with the operation of his own land he also cultivated a rented traet and subsequently was able to purchase fifty-five aeres more. This property he continued to cultivate and improve until 1903, when he sold the place and after looking over Tama county and Missouri he eame to Linn county, where he decided to locate. Ile then purchased three hundred and twenty-nine aeres of land in Fayette township and has sinee engaged in its cultivation with marked success. He is a very progressive farmer and the pros- perity that has come to him is certainly well merited, for on starting out in life for himself he was without eapital and all that he has has been earned through his own industry.
On the 18th of October, 1891, Mr. Stodola was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Womacka. of Cedar Rapids, who is also a native of Bohemia, and they have become the parents of seven children, six of whom are still living. Anna. Frank. John. Charles, Emil and William, all at home.
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Mr. Stodola is independent in polities, voting for the men whom he believes best qualified for office regardless of party lines. He is now serving his second term as a member of the school board and takes a commendable interest in public affairs. He is now a stoekholder in the Palo Savings Bank and is one of the most progressive and up-to-date farmers of his community.
MAJOR ELZA C. JOHNSON
Major Elza C. Johnson, whose title indieates his connection with the Iowa National Guard, is well known in Cedar Rapids as a representative of the legal profession. Ile is one of the younger members of the bar but already has made substantial progress, winning a place among those who have been in praetiee for a much longer period.
He was born in Jones county, Iowa, April 14, 1873, and is a son of George and Lydia Johnson. His father was born in the northern part of Ohio on the 15th of May, 1843, and was a little lad of five summers when in 1848 he was brought to Iowa by his parents, who located in Jones county. There he was edueated and later engaged in teaching in the distriet sehools. Subsequently he was made superintendent of the distriet schools of Jones county but regarded this merely as an initial step to further professional labor, for after teaching for a time he turned his attention to the study of medieine, which he practiced at Wyoming, lowa. In 1874 he removed to Clinton, Connecticut, where he en- gaged in praeiee until 1879. In that year he established his home and opened an office in Maquoketa, Iowa, where he practiced until 1904, when he went to Oklahoma, where he engaged in practice and succeeded in building up a good business. He figured prominently in politieal eireles and in 1906 was elected a senator in the first state legislature of Oklahoma. That his course received the endorsement of the majority of the eitizens in his district was indicated by the fact that he was reeleeted in 1908 but did not live to finish his second term, being killed on the 10th of February, 1909.
Major Johnson attended the publie sehools of Maquoketa, passing through eonseeutive grades to his graduation from the high school in 1889. IIe then beeame a student in the State University of Iowa and was graduated in 1893 with the Bachelor of Philosophy degree. He afterward engaged in teaching school in Maquoketa until 1896 and proved a capable educator. imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. It was his desire, however, to become a member of the bar and with this end in view he became a student in the law office and under the direction of D. A. Wynkoop, who direeted his reading until 1898. In 1893 he was elected captain of Company M. First Regiment of the Iowa National Guard, with which regiment, then known as the Forty-ninth Iowa Volunteers, he served as captain of Company M, during the Spanish-Ameriean war and until the 13th of May, 1899, on which day he received an honorable discharge. He afterward reorganized the company and was again elected its eaptain, with which rank he served until June 5, 1905.
Major Johnson took the bar examination before the supreme court at Des Moines, Iowa, in October, 1899, and at onee entered upon the active practice of law at Maquoketa, where he maintained his office until May, 1907, when he came to Cedar Rapids, where he has been praetieing continuously sinee. . A goodly clientage has been aeeorded him, eonneeting him with considerable litiga- tion held in the courts, and he has proven his ability in various departments of the law. While living in Maquoketa he served one term on the city council, having been elected by a good majority in a ward politically strong against him. He is a member of the Linn County Bar Association and was formerly secretary
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of the Jackson County Bar Association from 1905 until 1906. He has been admitted to practice in the United States courts and his clientage has constantly grown in volume and importance. He now continues in active connection with the military interests of the state and was elected June 5, 1905, major of the Fifty-third Regiment of the Iowa National Guard, being reelected for an eight year term June 4, 1910.
On the 21st of March. 1899, Major Johnson was married in Marshall county, Iowa, to Miss Ada Mershon, and unto them have been born three children : Inta, who is attending the public schools; Vera; aud Rita. In his fraternal relations Mr. Johnson is a Knight of Pythias, belonging to Cedar Rapids Lodge, No. 98, of which he has been chancellor commander. He also served for two terms as commander of S. L. Dows Camp, No. 4, United Spanish War Veterans, and on June 9, 1910, wah elected commander of the department of Iowa and is also aid on the staff of the national commander-in-chief. He belongs to the Commercial Club and takes an active interest in promoting all that pertains to the welfare. progress and upbuilding of Cedar Rapids. His political views accord with the principles of the republican party, while his religions faith is manifest in his membership in the Congregational church. He has the qualities that make for leadership and since attaining his majority has steadily progressed in professional, fraternal and military circles.
JOHN KELLY
An excellent farm of two hundred acres located in Fairfax township pays tribute to the efforts of John Kelly, a substantial and progressive farmer whose success indicates clearly the able and wise management which he has displayed in the conduct of his business affairs. A native of Ohio, he was born in Cincin- nati, in October. 1854, and was a son of John and Anna Kelly. The father, whose birth occurred in Ireland, came to America in the early '40s and here engaged as a deck hand on boats operating on the Mississippi river. He followed river pursuits throughout the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1854. His widow later removed to La Salle county, Illinois, and in 1869 came to Fair- fax, where she again married und later died.
Owing to the early death of his father, John Kelly was reared under the direction of his mother, with whom he removed to La Salle county, Illinois, carly in life, and in the public schools of Peru, that county, acquired a good education. He remained a pupil therein until fifteen years of age, when he accompanied his mother to Linn county, Iowa, where he remained for only a few weeks, how- ever. Going to Chicago, Illinois, he was employed as a deek hand on a tug boat, remaining in that eity for six years, during which time, by diligent and per- sistent effort, he worked his way up to the position of captain. At the expiration of that period he returned to Linn county, locating in Fairfax township, where he became identified with agricultural interests. To eighty acres which he al- ready owned he added another tract of eighty acres, and in 1891 sold the farm of one hundred and sixty aeres. purchasing the fine place upon which he now resides. This property, consisting of two hundred acres, has, under his careful direction, been bronght to a high state of cultivation. He not only carries on general farming along progressive lines but engages to some extent in raising stock, being the owner at the present time of sixteen head of cattle, ten head of horses and forty hogs.
On the 22d of April, 1879, in Fairfax, occurred the marriage of Mr. Kelly and Miss Ellen Shean, and unto this union have been born six children, as fol- lows: John M .. twenty-six years of age, who graduated from the Fairfax high
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school and is at home, assisting in the work of the farm; Edward, aged twenty- four years, who also graduated from the Fairfax high-school and resides on the home farm; Anna, an employe in the dry-goods store of John H. Taft at Cedar Rapids; Mary, the wife of Vincent Lucas, of Ontario, California; Gertrude, who at the age of twelve years attends the district school; and Norbert, a lad of ten years, also a student in the district schools.
The family attend the Catholic church, of which the parents are members, while in his political belief Mr. Kelly is a stanch democrat. He has never found time to figure in politics, however, beyond casting his vote in support of that party at the polls, as he prefers to devote his entire attention to the conduct of his personal affairs. He is seeking his success along the lines of industry, energy and perseverance, and he has met with gratifying prosperity as a result of well directed labors.
WACLAV FRANCIS SEVERA
While business plays a most important part in the life of a great majority of men, the broad-minded man is he who recognizes not only the obligation that devolves upon him to provide for his own support and those dependent upon him but also permits his labors to reach out into the wider field wherein he recognizes his obligations to all mankind and strives to discharge every duty and meet every responsibility. While one of the most successful business men of Cedar Rapids, where as a manufacturing pharmacist he is conducting an extensive enterprise, Mr. Severa is also concerned in movements that have for their object the welfare and upbuilding of the entire community and especially the develop- ment of the intellectual forces. His wide acquaintance renders his history one of particular interest to a large majority of his fellow townsmen and others in this part of the state.
He was born at Doubravice, near Chrudim, Bohemia, September 3, 1853. He acquired a common-school education in his native village and in 1868, when a youth of fifteen years, came to the United States, making his way to Racine, Wisconsin. He was influenced in his choice of a location by the fact that he had relatives living in that city. During the winter months he attended the public schools, while in the summer season he worked that he might meet his expenses throughout the remainder of the year. In his early youth he yearned to see foreign countries and eagerly grasped the opportunity when his older sister, then living near Racine, invited him to come to America - the land of many advan- tages. After remaining for some time in Wisconsin he journeyed westward as far as Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and in January, 1877, accepted a position in a drug store at Belle Plaine, Iowa, where he prepared himself practically for the phar- maceutical profession. In 1880 he came to Cedar Rapids as a registered pharmacist and opened a drug store.
The business was a success from the start and in connection with the sale of drugs and druggists' sundries Mr. Severa engaged in the preparation of certain proprietary remedies based on time tested medical prescriptions and these rem- edies, being aimed against the more common ills, found a ready market. Owing to the merits of the goods and judicious advertising the business increased from year to year until, in 1901, the retail drug business was sold out and the W. F. Severa Company was organized. The new firm, of which W. F. Severa is presi- dent and treasurer, is engaged in the manufacture of proprietary medicines, which are widely known as Severa's family remedies. The enterprise has grown to large proportions and is now one of the leading productive industries of the city.
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Into other fields Mr. Severa has also extended his efforts, for he is a man of resourceful business ability, who recognizes and utilizes the opportunities that are presented. He is the founder of the Bohemia American Savings Bank, which upon consolidation became the American Trust & Savings Bank. For six vears he served as president of the latter institution, being the first to occupy the position, and is now its vice president. He also holds an interest in the Security Savings Bank and was the first director thereof. He is interested in the Mer- chants National Bank of Cedar Rapids; is financially interested in the Cedar Rapids Light & Power Company and the Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Interurban Railway and of the latter is a director. He is likewise connected with the Cedar Rapids Life Insurance Company as a stockholder and director. His eooperation in different connections is eagerly sought, for his judgment is recognized as sound and his sagacity keen.
Considering what Mr. Severa has achieved in the business world one might easily imagine that his entire time and attention were given to commercial and manufacturing interests. vet he finds opportunity to aid in the work of publie progress and to advocate and support many measures for the general good. He has been a member of the Cedar Rapids Civic Improvement League since its organization and is an ardent advocate of the movement for beautifying the city. The publie service of great importance in which he has been deeply interested is that which is operated under the name of Conneil of Higher Education. Of this Mr. Severa was the founder and has been the chief donor to the work. The object is to encourage the Bohemian youth to acquire a higher education in Amer- ican colleges and universities and to aid promising students who laek the material means necessary to procure it. This association has a wide field of usefulness all over the United States. Mr. Severa is a strong believer in a thorough edu- cation and largely through his efforts a building, known as Matice Skolska, devoted to educational purposes, has been erected in Cedar Rapids. In this build- ing there are class rooms, an auditorium and a library with over twenty-five hundred volumes, and a children's library with about four hundred volumes.
In 1881 Mr. Severa was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Dusil, then a teacher in the public schools of Cedar Rapids. They have two children : Lumir Severa, now vice president and superintendent of the laboratory of the W. F. Severa Company; and Zulina, now attending Smith College, at Northampton, Massachusetts. The son obtained his early education in the schools of this eity and following his gradnation from the high school pursued an academie course in the State University of Iowa, while subsequently he entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he completed a elassical course and won the Bachelor of Arts degree. Following his graduation he traveled abroad for a time and upon his return from Europe pursued a course in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of P. C. In addition to his excellent scientific preparation in the field of ehem- istry and pharmacy Lumir Severa was actively engaged in the laboratory work during his vacation intervals, thus making himself thoroughly acquainted with all details of the manufacturing processes. He assumed his position as head of the manufacturing department eminently qualified and thoroughly prepared, pos- sessing both theoretical and practical knowledge of the work. and has since been called to the position of second executive officer, being now vice president of the company.
W. F. Severa is well known in fraternal circles, being a charter member of Lodge Jan Ilus, No. 51, I. O. O. F., of Cedar Rapids, which was organized in March, 1885; Lodge Prokop Velky, C. S. P. S .; and Lodge Prokop Velky, Z. C. B. J. He is also a member of a reading and literary society and is interested in all that tends to promote intellectual progress, whereby man is trained not only to utilize his own powers to better advantage but to come into appreciative con-
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tact with the master minds of all ages and thus broaden the world of thought in which each individual dwells no matter how narrow or contracted the sphere. Mr. Severa is himself a broad-minded and highly cultured man, of wide interests, activities and aspirations, and the record of his successful and active life is one of the most creditable to be found on the pages of this volume.
SAMUEL MILLER
Samuel Miller is classed among the oldest residents of Linn county, where he has spent the greater portion of his life, and he is therefore well known in this sec- tion of the state. He makes his home on a farm of one hundred aeres, located on section 4, Cedar township, and he likewise owns other valuable farming property in Marion township. Mr. Miller was born in Marion county, Indiana, May 22, 1828, a son of James B. and Barbara (Foster) Miller. The mother died in Indiana in 1828, and in 1846 the father eame with his family to Linn county. Here he entered three hundred and twenty aeres of land and east in his lot with the pioneer settlers. He later purchased a traet of one hundred and twenty acres and followed farming throughout his remaining days. He only lived about eight years after taking up his abode in Linn county, for his death here occurred in 1854. His family numbered eight children but the subject of this review, who is the youngest, is the only surviving member. The others were: Richard S .; Vincent ; John F. ; James ; Mary A., who became the wife of Jacob Pew ; Franklin, who was born in 1824 and died in 1860; and William, who died in infancy.
Samuel Miller remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of nineteen years, during which time he acquired a limited education in the district sehools, and also assisted his father in the development and improvement of the home farm. Upon leaving home he found employment with his brother-in-law, Jacob Pew, at farm labor, and was thus engaged for three years, receiving as his compensation one hundred dollars per year. He eventually began farming on his own account by purchasing two hundred and forty aeres of land, which he owned four years, and then disposed of his property and in 1855 embarked in the grocery business in Marion. After a year and a half he sold his stock of groceries and engaged in the butcher business, also buying and selling stoek. On the expiration of two years he sold his interests and invested his money in two hundred aeres of land in Marion county, Iowa, this property remaining in his possession for fifteen years. In the meantime he purchased two more farms, his possessions aggregating four hundred and twenty acres. Ile disposed of the entire acreage in 1880 and purchased one hundred and sixty-nine aeres in Marion township, Linn county, which traet he still owns. Three years later, in 1883, he purchased one hundred aeres in Cedar township, on seetion 4, and on the latter traet he has sinee made his home. He has made many improvements on the place and owing to his earnest efforts in former years he has made it a valuable property. For many years he was actively identified with agricultural interests but owing to his advaneed age he is now leaving much of the farm work to others, although he is still managing his business affairs.
Mr. Miller has been twice married. His first union was with Miss Hannah L. Howe, who was born in Piekaway county, Ohio, their marriage being celebrated on the 20th of December, 1849. This union was blessed with seven children, namely : John Pugh, born in 1850, is married and now resides in Woods county, Oklahoma; Mary E., who was born in 1852 and died in 1855; Samuel, born in 1855, resides in Marion township, Linn county; William Vineent, born in 1857, is married and resides in Stillwater, Oklahoma; George Washington, born in 1859, is married and makes his home in Monroe township, Linn county; Joseph
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C., born in 1868, is at home ; and Charles, who is married and lives in Marion, Iowa. The wife and mother departed this life in 1876, and on the 19th of September, 1877, Mr. Miller wedded Jane Hunter, a native of Linn county and a daughter of William and Mary Jane Hunter. The father, who was born in Ireland, Sep- tember 12, 1817, was but six weeks old when brought to America by his parents. The mother was born in Virginia, the date of her birth being February 11, 1819. By the second marriage of Mr. Miller there have been born three sons but the youngest, Freddie R., is deceased. The others are: William Earl, born October 22, 1879, is married and lives in Linn county ; and James B., born January 27, 1882, is married and makes his home in Cedar Rapids. On the 28th of June. 1909, Mr. and Mrs. Miller adopted a daughter, Geraldine, whose birth occurred September 20, 1901.
Mr. Miller gives his political support to the republican party and has been called to fill a number of township offices. He is a Master Mason, belonging to lodge No. 6, at Marion. Mrs. Miller affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal church. Not only has Mr. Miller seen Linn county grow from a wild country with only a few white inhabitants to a rich agricultural distriet, containing thousands of good homes and many growing towns inhabited by an industrious, prosperous, en- lightened and progressive people, but he has participated in the work of develop- ment which was necessary to produce a change that has placed this part of the country on a par with the older east.
LESLIE B. YOUNG, D. D. S.
Dr. Leslie B. Young, who is now successfully engaged in farming in Fayette township, has spent his entire life in this section of the state and is a worthy rep- resentative of a prominent and influential family. He was born in Benton county on the 9th of November, 1878, and is a son of Thomas Young, whose birth occurred in Montgomery county, New York, September 30, 1822. On leaving his native state the father removed to Indiana where he spent fourteen years, but in 1854 came to Iowa and took up his abode in Benton county. As the years passed he became one of the most extensive stoek dealers in this section of the state and was one of the wealthiest men of Benton county. Two years after his arrival there he purchased his first farm and added to his property from time to time until at his death he was the owner of about three thousand aeres in Benton and Linn counties. He was a man of excellent business ability and sound judgment, was industrious and progressive, and to these characteristics may be attributed his suecess, for on coming to this state he was in limited circumstances. In 1857 he married Miss Charlotte IIutehins, who was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, and they became the parents of nine children, namely: John; Elmer; Charlie ; Frank; Edward; Orvil ; Katie; Thomas; and Leslie. The father passed away in 1890 at the age of sixty-seven years, and the mother died on the 2d of January, 1904, at the age of sixty-three years.
Dr. Young passed his boyhood and youth in much the usual manner of farm boys, pursuing his studies in the local schools and later in the graded schools of Cedar Rapids. Ile subsequently took up the study of dentistry and was grad- nated from the Chicago College of Dental Surgery in the class of 1901. He then opened an office at Houston, Texas. where he remained, however, but six months and then returned to Cedar Rapids, being engaged in practice there for over two years. In June, 1904, he decided to retire from his profession and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits with which he had beeome thoroughly familiar during his early life upon the home farm. For five years he owned and operated a farm in Benton county, but in the spring of 1910 he sold that place and pur-
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