One
of the notable examples of self made men who have won success in
Johnson county is John J. Kadera, a well-known and popular citizen of
Graham township. He was born in Bohemia, April 1, 1858, son of
Joseph and Kate (Cervenk) Kadera, the former of whom died February 13,
179 as a result of being overheated in the harvest fields some time
previous. The mother now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Krock,
in Cedar county, Iowa, at the age of seventy-four years. John J. was
the first born of their eight children, and the responsibility of
caring for his mother and some of the younger children devolved
upon him for some years after the father's death. Of the children
born to this couple four now survive, namely: John j., of this sketch;
Wesley is a farmer of Cedar township; Jacob W., lives in Union
township, and Mary, the only surviving daughter, married Nicholas J.
Krock, and they reside in Cedar county. The other four children died in
childhood.
At the age of eighteen years, in 1876, John J. Kadera
came to America, landing in Baltimore and going at once to Cedar
Rapids, where he had an uncle. He worked by the month at farming for
the first seven years and at odd times was engaged at the trade of
mason. His parents came to America with the other children in
1877. Upon his father's death John Kadera was the mainstay of his
mother, who was left with several small |  | 
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children,
and those were trying times for all. He received six dollars a
month for his first month's work, thirteen the second month and in the
second year eighteen dollars per month, and sixteen the third year, on
account of hard times, and this was considered good pay for a youth at
that time. During these years he was learning the lessons of economy
and thrift which enabled him to get so good a start in life afterwards.
By his twenty-fifth year, he had been relieved of the care of the other
members of the family and had been able to save $800, so he felt
justified in marrying and starting to farm on his own account. He
had landed in Cedar Rapids on May 27, 1876, with a capital of but ten
cents, and had need of his store of energy and ambition to enable him
to see brighter days ahead. He has justified his faith in his own
ability to get on and in the opportunities to be found in the land of
his adoption.
Upon his marriage, Mr. Kadera purchased forty-five
acres of land and soon afterwards added another twenty-five acres, in
Cedar county, and occupied that farm fifteen years, during which time
he had greatly developed it and land had increased in value there to
such an extent that he was able to sell it for a good price. He
then purchased a farm of 160 acres in Section 23, Graham township,
which is a most desirable location for general farming and stock
raising. The place, which was known as the old Harrison estate,
was transferred to him on February 22 (Washington's Birthday), 1898, he
being the third person to whom the deed was transferred. There
were several buildings there, and in 1908 he erected a fine modern
residence and during three years expended $8,000 in improving the
place. In 1911 he erected a fine barn, 50 x 54 feet, with a capacity of
120 tons of hay; his fields are well fenced, and he has put tiling
wherever it would add to the value and productiveness of the land. He
has raised sixty-five bushels to the acre, average on fifty acres of
corn, and forty bushels to the acre of oats and other grains. He has
set out a fine orchard, and the 500 catalpa trees which he set out are
the first of the kind in the neighborhood and give the place the name
of Catalpa Farm. Mr. Kadera is interested in local matters and in
politics is a democrat. He is affiliated with Camp No. 5059, M. W. A.,
of Oasis. His religious views are liberal.
In 1883 Mr. Kadera
was united in marriage with Mary Zenisek, by Father Emmons. She was
born in Johnson county March 25, 1864, of a prominent family. She is a
daughter of Albert and Anna (Kodl) Zenisek. Her father died in
Cedar township and her mother resides with her son, Mika A. Zenisek, in
Cedar township. Of their eleven children, seven are living and have
families. To Mr. and Mrs. Kadera seven children were born, and six of
them survive: Emma, born November 8, 1883, is the wife of Frak J.
Grezel, a farmer of Scott township, Johnson county, and they have one
son, Leo Frank, born June 2, 1910; Joseph, born July 16, 1885, helps
his father on the home farm; Marie, born September 8, 1889, married
Joseph J. Hora, they reside in Pleasant Valley township; Clara A., born
May 28, 1897; Lilly Blanche, born August 8, 1899, and Charles, born
March 20, 1901. Lilly B. died in infancy.
Source: Leading Events in Johnson County, IA, Cedar Rapids, Western Historical Press 1912-13; pg. 466)
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