CODY, PAUL J.

CODY, LEVENSON, RANDA, EGLAND

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/17/2004 at 16:38:26

Biography reproduced from page 525 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Paul J. Cody is one of the well known and respected citizens of Kossuth county, located on section 35, Eagle township, where he is successfully engaged in the cultivation of a highly developed farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He was born in Norway, January 11, 1869, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Levenson) Cody, both of whom are natives of Norway and who emigrated to the United States in 1880, locating in Humboldt county, Iowa, where the father purchased land and engaged in farming. In 1908 he retired from active work and since that time has maintained his home in Badger, Iowa. He had a family of five children, four of whom are living: Paul J., the subject of this review; Levi, who is engaged in farming in Eagle township, Iowa, and resides near his brother Paul J., the subject of this sketch; Emil, who resides at home with his father in Badger, Iowa; Bertina, whose death occurred in 1911, at the age of twenty-nine years; and Elsie, who resides at home in Badger, Iowa. The mother of the family passed away October 1, 1907.

Paul J. Cody was reared at home and received his early education in the public schools of Norway. At the age of twelve years he emigrated to the United States with his parents who established their home in Humboldt county, Iowa, where he continued to live until he had attained his majority. He then started in life for himself as a farm hand, in which occupation he continued for several years and later engaged in independent farming for himself on rented land. In February, 1902, he removed to Kossuth county, where he rented a farm located on section 35, Swea township, and continued to operate that property until 1905, at which time he established his home on one hundred and twenty acres of land which he had purchased during the previous year, situated on section 35, of the same township. In addition to his home farm he also rents an additional one hundred and twenty acres, all of which he cultivates and is also making a specialty of raising pure-blooded stock and high-grade Angus cattle and Poland China hogs. In addition to the stock raised on his home farm he buys stock which he feeds and prepares for the Chicago market. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company and also in the Cooperative Creamery Company of Swea City, Iowa.

Mr. Cody was united in marriage in 1904, to Miss Minnie Randa, a daughter of Peter and Sarah (Egland) Randa, both of whom are natives of Norway. The father was by occupation a farmer and emigrated with his family to America in the early ‘70s, shortly after his marriage. He and his wife are now living on a farm eight miles east of Emmetsburg, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Randa six children were born, five of whom are still living: Ole, who is engaged in farming near Emmetsburg, Iowa; Annie, deceased; Minnie, the wife of the subject of this review; and Peter, Carrie and Thomas.

To Mr. and Mrs. Cody five children have been born, three of whom are living, Joseph, Melvin, and Sylvia Bernice, an infant. Mr. Cody is a loyal member of the republican party and has served as justice of the peace in Eagle township for one term. He is one of the enterprising and successful farmers of Eagle township and a man who is interested in every public measure intended to advance the conditions of the people in the community in which he lives.