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JOSEPH PAWELKA, farmer, Oxford Twp., Sec. 14; P.O. Oxford Junction; born in Austria in 1843; came to America in 1854, and settled in Jones Co., and owns 160 acres, and this season has built a fine house and large barn; the improvements are of the substantial kind. His wife, Adelia Morvace, was born in Austria in 1847; came to America in 1857, and settled in Jackson Co., married in 1866, and have four children—Joseph P., Frankie, Annie, Emmond. In politics, Republican; in religion Catholic. Mr. Pawelka enlisted July 20, 1861, in the 26th I.V.I.; mustered out in 1863; engaged at the battle of Arkansas Post, and was wounded in the leg; has been School Director and Road Supervisor for a number of years.
Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 595.
Joseph Pawelka occupies one of the fine homes of Oxford Junction and is known as one of the progressive citizens of his part of the county, as loyal to public interests and the general welfare as he was to the old flag when in the fortunes of war he followed the stars and stripes upon southern, battlefields. He was born in Bohemia, January 13, 1843, and was a youth of eleven years when he came to Jones county, Iowa, with his parents Wensel and Katharine Pawelka. The father preempted forty acres of land on section II, Oxford township, in the year of his arrival. The family took up their abode upon that farm, which through the efforts of the father was converted into a rich and productive tract of land. He spent his remaining days thereon, while his widow died at the home of a daughter in Tama county, Iowa. By a former marriage the father had four children, and by the second union there were three children: Joseph; Antone, deceased; and Annie, the wife of John Dolize, of Tama county, Iowa.
 Joseph Pawelka spent the first eleven years of his life in the land of his nativity and on the 13th of September, 1854, arrived at Iowa City in company with his parents. Soon afterward he took up his abode on what became the family homestead in Oxford township, Jones county, and remained with his father for a short time, but later began to work for Solomon Pence in Wyoming township, in whose employ he remained for eight years. He was afterward in the services of different men until he enlisted in the Civil war, being enrolled among the boys in blue on the 13th of September, 1861. He was one of the first three years' men from this district. He joined Company I, Twenty-sixth Iowa Infantry, with which he served for one year and nine months, when he was honorably discharged, having had his ankle crushed by an ambulance. He was transferred from one hospital to another, owing to the outbreak of typhoid fever. He took part in the battle of Little Rock, Arkansas, and in Sherman's charge at Vicksburg and the campaign of the Yazoo river. Being taken ill he was sent to the hospital at Memphis, Tennessee, and was at length discharged at Benton Barracks, St. Louis. He then returned home but was laid up for a year with his injured ankle. He afterward engaged in threshing for two years, at the end of which time he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 14, Oxford township. This he improved, residing on it until 1904 when he came to his present home in Oxford Junction. In the years which he devoted to general agricultural pursuits he met with substantial success, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation, his energy and diligence being the chief factors in his prosperity. On coming to Oxford Junction he erected a fine residence, one of the most attractive homes of the town. He has now retired from active business but is a stockholder in the Oxford Junction Savings Bank.
It was in 1863 that Mr. Pawelka was united in marriage to Miss Delia Morivick, who was born in Bohemia, May 4, 1845, and in December, 1854, came with her parents, John and Barbara Morivick to the United States, the family home being established in Jackson county, Iowa, where both her father and mother passed away. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pawelka have been born four children: Joseph, now living in Hale township; Frank, whose home is in Oxford township; Annie, the wife of Henry Shimerada of Oxford township; and Emanuel, at home. They also lost four children: John, who died in infancy; Fannie, at the age of three years; and Eddie, at the age of six years; and Eddie, the second of that name.
Mr. Pawelka holds membership in the Grand Army post at Oxford Junction. When he was enrolled his name was placed on the records as Joseph Pawelka, but he prefers to retain the original Bohemian spelling. He was a most loyal defender of the stars and stripes and at all times has been a faithful citizen, devoted to the best interests of his adopted country.
Earnest, persistent labor brought him success, and he is now living retired in the enjoyment of rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.
Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 141.
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