John W. Andrle

Probably no man is better known in Penn township or more thoroughly identified with the affairs of North Liberty than John W. Andrle, the subject of this sketch. From the day he reached his majority until the current year of 1911 he has been an active factor for the promotion of the best interests of his community, industrially, socially, and morally. His word is always quoted at par, and he has the respect and friendship of all good men of his acquaintance.

Our subject's father, John Andrle, and his mother, Christina Andrle, were natives of Bohemia, in which country our subject also was born, December 6, 1856. The Andrle family emigrated to America in August, 1867, landing in New York City. From that point they journeyed westward to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, whence they were taken by team to Shueyville, Johnson county, their destination. They settled on fifteen acres in Jefferson township and erected a story and a half log cabin, 14x18. Subsequently this was sold, but not torn down and destroyed,' as so many of its kind have been, but is still in evidence and may be seen at the intersection of the Solon and Shueyville roads, doing duty as a residence, having been improved by the addition of siding and a porch. John Andrle added to his holdings in Jefferson township until at one time he owned seventy acres. Farming, however, was seemingly out of his line. He was a natural musician, and for forty years he played in the Shueyville band, of which he was one of the original organizers. He died on the home farm in

1905, at the age of seventy-five years. His wife preceded him, dying August 5, 1896. Both were sterling good people, tenderhearted and kind, a true father and mother. They were blessed with five children: Annie, wife of Frank Staffan, of Cedar Rapids; Rosa, wife of John Staffan, brother of Frank, of Cedar Rapids; John W., our subject; "Wesley J., died June 2,

1906, from an operation; Helen, wife of W. J. Kedlec, a prominent official of Jefferson township.

John W. Andrle received a limited education in the common schools of his township, as his boyhood days were occupied by hard work. At the age of thirteen he drove an ox team to a big breaking plow, and for three summers broke the ' ' stubborn globe" of the Iowa bills. His youth was spent on the home farm. In 1875, at the age of nineteen, he worked in

North Liberty and that year plowed for Nicholas Zeller the very ground on which his own modern house now stands. Two years later, having attained his majority, he decided to learn the harness trade. He was successful in this, and in 1881 owned his own place of business in North Liberty, having bought a half interest in H. B. White's grocery store, carrying that on in connection with his harness shop. He sold this business, however, and bought J. F. Price's interest in the

RESIDENCE OK J. W. AXlHiLK.

George & Price Mill, the name of which was thereafter changed to North Liberty Steam Saw & Sorghum Mill, Jacob George retaining his interest. Later Mr. George retired and Wesley J. Andrle, our subject's brother, became a member of the firm. The steam sawmill did a prosperous business and was known far and near as the Andrle mill. Our subject retired from that mill years ago, but he still retains his liking for machinery, and today owns an interest in a sawmill in Florida. He also owns an Ideal gasoline engine, and for twenty-six seasons has run a threshing outfit. As a mechanician lie is called on frequently in his home town, especially when automobiles become recalcitrant. For a number of years he was employed by the Northwestern Railroad Quarries as a drilled, but at this time he is a drilled on his own account in the Cedar Rapids quarries. Wesley J. Andrle, who was associated with our subject in the Andrle sawmill, was an inventor. He invented and patented several valuable inventions, among them being a three-horse draft equalizer, patented March 15, 1881, which he manufactured and sold. His untimely death was a distinct loss to the industrial world. Our subject has erected a number of houses in North Liberty, his first attempt being the residence where he and his fair bride began housekeeping, located in the northern part of the town, same being now the property of M. F. Stoner. The residence which he at present occupies is composed in part of the creamery building, the remains of an enterprise which our subject launched in North Liberty in 1893, but which was abandoned on account of lack of support by the farmers, after a loss of $6,000.00. Mr. Andrle and his wife labored hard to make that enterprise a success. It was a credit to North Liberty and ought to have been sustained. The present residence of our subject, it is claimed, is the first modern house to be erected in North Liberty, and is fully equipped with private water system and acetylene gas plant.

Mr. Andrle was married in Cedar Rapids, October 18, 1881, to Miss Kathrine B. Zak, daughter of Joseph and Margaret Zak, both natives of Bohemia, who came to the United States about the close of the Civil War and now reside a short distance north of their daughter in North Liberty. The Zak family resided in Chicago seven years and in Cedar Rapids twenty-nine years. Mr. Zak sold his Cedar Rapids property in 1902 and removed to North Liberty. Two daughters, one the wife of our subject, were born in Bohemia, and two more and a son were born in America. One daughter died from right during the great Chicago fire at the age of seven years. Mr. Andrle unhesitatingly says that the best job of his life was when he met, wood and won his charming and industrious wife. She has been a true helpmeet and a model mother. Of their four children, two died in infancy. The survivors are: James F., graduate of the Shueyville high school, married to Miss Augusta Kephart, resides at North Liberty; Pearl M., graduate of the ShueyviUe high school, and graduate in the dental department, State University of Iowa. Mr. Andrle was for eight years a member of the board of trustees of Penn township, and, without solicitation, was elected chairman at the last regular meeting in 1911. Mr. Andrle has been foremost in advocacy of public improvements, has done probably more than any other man in promotion of bridge building, and has consistently and persistently pushed for the welfare of his community in every respect. Always a temperance man, he has opposed the saloon, believing it to be an evil in any community. He is a republican, and has served his party as a delegate in county conventions. Is a member of White Marble Lodge A. F. & A. M., of North Liberty; also charter member of White Rose lodge M. B. A., the name of which was suggested by Mr. Andrle. < >ur subject is known as "the handy man" of North Liberty in the repairing of machinery, but in this respect he is closely seconded by his son James, who has the reputation of being a genius in that line. The Andrle home is the only stopping place for the traveler in North Liberty. The coziness of the house and the quality of Mrs. Andrle 's home-cooked meals have given it a warm place in the affections of travelers.

As printed in Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa, history (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.