He was born on a farm in Zebrakov, Bohemia (now Czech Republic) on March 1, 1884. In 1885 he moved with his parents to Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A.. He was taught in the public schools and later a Y.M.C.A. night school. He join the United States National Guard, being first a private the Illinois National Guard and then a lieutenant in the Nebraska National Guard. He was an inspector of telegraphs in the Philippine Constabulary from 1904 to 1906.

He moved to Norfolk, Nebraska in 1909 to serve as a telegrapher. He became an editor of the Norfolk Daily News until 1924 and a radio commentator and contributor to newspapers and magazines until 1934. He was president of the Stefan Co. and publishers’ agent for magazines and newspapers.

He became a member of congressional committee aiding inauguration of the Philippine Commonwealth Government in Manila in 1935. He was a delegate to the Interparliamentary Union in Oslo, Norway in 1939. He was also an official adviser at the 1945 United Nations Conference in San Francisco, California.

He ran and won to represent Nebraska's 3rd district in 1935 and was reelected eight times. He died while in office on October 2, 1951 in Washington, D.C. He was buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Norfolk.