JOSEPH SATRAN
When the news came to Wilson Tuesday morning of last week that Joseph Satran had died the night before on his farm nine miles northeast of town there was not a person that knew him but felt that the community had met with a distinct loss and they had been bereft of a good friend.
Joseph Satran was born in Wesek in the province of Roudnice in north central Bohemia, July 4, 1851, and departed this life October 2, 1916, being 65 years, 2 months, and 28 days old. His parents emigrated with him to America in 1856 when he was five years old and settled in Milwaukee, Wis., where he received his education in the city schools. When but twelve years old he quit school to go to work first in a shoe factory and later at carpenter work. At this trade he traveled over the country considerably. He wanted to own a farm and learning through F. J. Swehla of the Bohemian settlement in Ellsworth county he came here in May 1877 and bought a relinquishment of a quarter section and homesteaded on eighty adjoining, all in southern Lincoln county. To this land other land was added until at the time of his death he and his sons were farming over five hundred acres.
In 1880 he was united in marriage to Catherine Peterka and this union was blessed with seven children who brought happiness to their home. They are Rosa (Mrs Vaclav Dolezal), Joseph, George, Ladislav, Frank, Vaclav, Benjamin, and Victor, all living except Victor who died August 19, 1912, from a stroke of lightning. He and his good wife worked hard and prospered and there was no one in the entire community who was more esteemed. The funeral which was held Friday, October 6th, at the Excelsior Methodist church was one of the largest ever held in the county. Doctor Iska of Chicago came out to deliver the funeral oration and his body was laid to rest in Pleasant Valley cemetery. Mr. Satran was a member of the A. O. U. W. lodge of this place and that order attended the funeral in a body and took part in the services.
Mr. Satran was a bright man, keen in intellect, a good reasoner, an independent thinker, and a strong executive. He always was planning to better the conditions of his neighbors, the farmers and it was through his efforts that the Farmers Elevator was organized and put on such a stable foundation. He was president of this company from the time of its organization until his death. He served his neighbors in many ways as township or school officer and was always ready to do his share of work for the betterment of his community. In politics he claimed to be a socialist. It was an inherent part of his being to want to do something that would make conditions of the workingmen better. He was respected and loved for his straightforward manly course in life for his unswerving intergrity and honesty and his loyalty to his friends. He was a born leader and his leadership was recognized by his closest friends. Truly a great man has passed away in the death of Joseph Satran.
This work was published before January 1, 1929 and is anonymous or pseudonymous due to unknown authorship. It is in the public domain in the United States as well as countries and areas where the copyright terms of anonymous or pseudonymous works are 95 years or less since publication.
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