JOHN STOFFELLA
March 15, 1914
Yuma Sentinel


John Stoffella, one of Yuma's best known citizens, laid down 
his burden and passed over the great divide at three o'clock 
Thursday morning.  The immediate cause of his death was heart 
failure. He had been ill but a few days and no one, not even 
his family, suspected that the end was near until the hour of 
dissolution arrived. He was down town Monday and met his many 
friends in his usual pleasant manner, seemingly in the best of 
health and spirits.

The funeral will be held at the Catholic Church at eight o'
clock Saturday morning.

John Stoffella was one of Yuma's big business men. He was a 
large owner of Yuma real estate and one of the half dozen 
largest tax payers in the county. Most of the property which 
he owned he had accumulated by industry and close attention 
to business since coming to Yuma twenty four years ago.

Mr. Stoffella was born in Austria, December 25, 1864 and in 
his native country was a miner by trade.  He spent a few years 
in Germany and lived for several years in Paris. He spoke 
half a dozen languages.

In 1887 he migrated to the United States and found his first 
occupation in the coal mines of Pennsylvania where he secured 
a contract.  In three months he made a net earning of $3,000.  
He then drifted West to Chicago and for a time he engaged in 
mining in Minnesota. Having read somewhere of Yuma, he 
decided to come West.  He landed in Yuma in 1889 and lived 
in and about Yum until his death.  For some years he 
worked at mining, three years of that time being with H.W. 
Blaisdell at the old Paymaster Mine. In two years he lost 
but a single day, Sundays included. He went into business 
for himself as a merchant twenty one years ago.

In 1899 he united in marriage with Anna Stoffella.  To this 
union three children were born, two girls and a boy, John 
Stoffella Jr., Louisa and Amy.

Those who are best informed as to the value of the deceased's 
estate estimate it at $200,000.

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