The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-04-10
MORTUARY.
Francis varga

day evening April 5, 1902, aged "a years,
months and 81 days.
In the death of this venerable man
Leon and Decatur county lost most
excellent man, one whose place will
meyer be filled by another, and man
who had most remarkable career.
Among the papers Of Mr.. Varga was
found the following sketch of his life,
evidently prepared with care and it
truthfully tells the story of his life:
81, Francis Varga, was born Aug. s,
1917, in Hungary, in the city of Debrec-
Yin. My father, Stephen Varga, was
professor Of theology in the great Pres
byterian college at the same place. My
mother, Clara Peczely, was the daugh-
ter of the celebrated Joseph Peczely,
who was Presbyterian minister, and
was the sister of Joseph jr., who was
most prominent professor of universal
history, latin and greek eloquence, and
who, having lost my father in 1880, as
my second father, shaped my future
career. In 1910 l was admitted to the
bar and was practicing law in the south
ern part of the country, in the county
of Torontal. In the year of 1913, when
the Hungarian Revolution broke out
was appointed as presiding Judge to a
special tribunal created to punish trea-
son. l was elected as Vice Lord Lieu
tenant of the county of Torontal, and
was intrusted by the government as
commissioner to act with full power in
said county. When my native country
was subdued by Russian bayonets, |
was at Villages when Gorgei laid down
the arms into the hands of the Russians,
and we were, by Russian orders, escort
ed towards the north, but on the third
day succeeded in escaping from their
custody and entered upon my secret
pilgrimage in the country. In such
condition concealing myself under dis
guised name and occupations, l spent
eleven months before was able, with a
forged passport and under false colors
to make my escape from the country,
stopping at Hamburg and Altoona for
six months. In January 1851 l went to
London where l spent another six
months in hopes that circumstances
might make it possible that 1 could
return to my native home. Our hopes
being frustrated, we determined to hunt
second home. 1t was easy for us to
decide that there is but one free, happy
country in the world, this being these
United States of America, and we with
three friends started on our voyage in
July 1851. Having been raised on the
continent of Europe. isolated from Eng.
land, not having the English language,
and also induced by my companions, we
blindly followed Governor Uhazy who,
the year before, selected the Grand
River country in Decatur county, and
settled on congress land south Of New
Buda where was farming until 1857,
when, disposing of my lands, I moved
to the southwest corner of Long Creek
township where made my second farm.
In the fall of 1864 was elected clerk
of the court and clerk of the Board of
Supervisors, in which capacity served
in 1865 and 1866. and when the then
county Judge and recorder resigned his
Office, for two weeks 1 filled those Offices
also. In 1866 was unanimously nomi.
mated for the same office but was defeat
ed by the opposite political party. In
1867 was again unanimously nominal
ed for treasurer, but my party being
defeated returned to my farm, and
was elected justice of the peace, and for
years was honored as school director
and president of the school board. For
two Yeas l represented Long Greek
township as member of the board of
supervisors. In 1871 I was elected
treasurer of Decatur county and was
reelected to the same position in 1873
and 1875. For these renewed express
sions of kind confidence on the part of
the people of Decatur county it was my
aim to serve the people and the county
with faithfulness. In the year 1858
was married to my dear wife who with
wonderful attention shared with me,
during all those years the joyous as we'll
as the troublesome days of life. We
were blessed with children, two of whom
have gone before, and seven have been
spared to make our life happy. / vas
so fortunate that our children remained
around us. They are Stephen Varga,
Mrs. Clara Frazier, Mrs. Emma Gatchell,
Mrs. Rosa Hamilton, Mrs. Esther Coder,
Mrs. Mary Slade and Mrs. Nellie Dorm.
They, with their children were my Joy,
my consolation. God bless them. In
my native home my older brother,
Louis, went before me, leaving his good
wife, one son, Geza, celebrated doctor,
and daughter, Mary, married, with
two little children; my dear sister was
also taken away, leaving only one son,