Biography of Eli & Darius Loda, Clay Co, AR

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From: 
The Goodspeed Biographical and Historical Memoirs of N. E. Ark.
Biographical Information.

Loda & Bro., proprietors of the Knobel House at Knobel Station, Clay County,
Ark. This is one of the finest hotels in the State, and was erected in 1884 by
the Iron Mountain Railroad Company at a cost of about $10,000, and was first
opened to the public in June of that year, being placed under the management of
the Loda Bros., who are experienced hotel men. Eli, the elder member of the
firm, was born in Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1853, and is the
seventh of twelve children born to Leision and Adelaide (Boler) Loda, who were
natives of Lower Canada. The father was a ship builder by trade, and later
followed the business of hotel keeping, which occupation received his attention
until his death, which occurred in 1865. His wife died in 1871. Eli Loda
attended school until his father's death, and then secured employment on the
lake steamers for several years, and after that was engaged in the railroad
business for three years as fireman and engineer. In 1874 he came to St. Louis,
Mo., securing employment on the Iron Mountain Railroad, and ran the engine of
the pay-car for several years, and in 1884 made a run of over 3,900 miles with
engine No. 380, of the Missouri Pacific, which is the longest run ever made by
an engine; and on this trip he hauled the general manager of the road, Mr. A. A.
Talmadge. He gave up railroad work in June, 1884, leaving an excellent record
behind him, for during his experience on the road he never had an accident
happen to one of his trains. In 1883 he assumed the management of the Belmont
Hotel, at Belmont, Mo., it being conducted by his wife (whose maiden name was
Miss Ida Cloud, and whom he married in 1877) and by his brother, Darius. The
following year he and his brother assumed the management of the Knobel House,
which they have since carried on with the best of success. The younger member of
the firm, Darius, was also born at Cape Vincent, N. Y., in the year 1857. He was
engaged in steamboating for about nine years, acting as steward the most of the
time, but in 1878 he gave up this work and went to Colorado and opened a
restaurant at Georgetown, where he remained for about three years, being also
occupied in mining to some extent. He next went to Wyoming Territory, and was
engaged in hotel keeping at Laramie City for several months. In 1882 he came
east as far as Missouri, and in partnership with his brother soon after opened
the Belmont Hotel. These gentlemen are extensive stock raisers and farmers, but
devote the most of their fine farm of 120 acres to stock raising, and give their
principal attention to the propagation of horses. They purchased their fine
Norman. Percheron stallion, St. John, in Illinois, in 1887, at a cost of $600.
He is a draft horse of about 1,800 pounds, and is a colt of St. Benoit. Jr., by
the imported horse St. Benoit, owned by the Browns. St. John is one of the best
animals ever brought into Northeast Arkansas. The Loda Bros. also keep twelve
breeding mares. Owing to the enterprise of these men, there is a growing desire
among the citizens for a better grade of stock, and this feeling is being shown
by an improved class of stock on the farms. Eli Loda has about 140 acres of land
under cultivation, which he devotes to raising such crops as are needed for his
stock. In 1888, in partnership with W. P. McNalley and Harry Flanders. he
purchased 100 acres of land adjoining the station and railroad land at Knobel,
and they immediately had their land surveyed and laid out into city lots, and
their enterprise will secure a fine town here as soon as this point is made the
terminus of a division. Mr. Flanders is master of transportation for the South
Division of the Iron Mountain Railroad, and Mr. McNalley is passenger conductor
for the same division. Three children have been born to the marriage of Eli Loda
and wife: Guy, who is deceased; Mabel. and Nellie Irene.