USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois : being a general survey of Cook County history, including a condensed history of Chicago and special account of districts outside the city limits : from the earliest settlement to the present time, volume I > Part 74
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Philip was educated in the public schools of Chicago. Immediate- ly after the great fire he went to New York City as stock keeper for Kohn Brothers, but returned to Chicago in eight months and became stock keeper for Cahn Wampold & Company at 204 Monroe street. Later he resigned and accepted a position with the Hamburg-Bremen Insurance company, at 174 LaSalle street, with which concern he continued for twenty-five years in various capacities. He has taken an active and prominent part in public affairs. In 1889-91 he served as alderman from the 14th ward. He was instrumental in securing the high school buildings at Oakley avenue and Potomac avenue and at Augusta and Rockwell streets. He also secured two fire engine houses, fire insurance patrol, a better lighted district and better paved streets west of Hoyne avenue. Largely through his efforts the ele-
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vated railway was kept off of Milwaukee avenue. In 1894 he was candidate for congress but was defeated by Foss with the rest of his ticket. He is a member of the Masonic order, Royal League and Royal Arcanum. On January 11, 1881, he married Bertha Rosen- thal, a native of New York City, and they have the following chil- dren : Edna H., now Mrs. Charles E. Gould, and Ruth. The fam- ily resides at 2152 Alice Place.
Rev. Francis J. Jagielski, rector of St. Salomea's Polish Roman Catholic church, at 11816 Indiana avenue, was born in Brighton, Washington county, Iowa, October 5, 1870, and is a son of Thomas and Josephine (Benda) Jagielski. The father was a native of Ger- man Poland and the mother of Bohemia. The paternal grandparents were Ignatz and Mary, who came with their children to the United States in 1843 and settled in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where they engaged in mining for several years. Later they moved to Michigan, and in 1868 to Iowa. There they engaged in farming and there they finally died. They had seven children: Thomas, deceased; John, Stanislaus, Anna, Peter, George and Mary, de- ceased. Of this family Thomas, father of subject, was born in 1839. He lived with his parents in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Iowa, and took part in their struggle for existence. In Iowa he engaged in farming and died in that state March 22, 1909, in the 71st year of his age. He and wife reared a family of seven children: Francis J., Paul, Anna, wife of John Holihan; Joseph, Henry, Mary and Janie.
Francis J. was reared on his father's farm in Iowa and in youth attended the public schools. In 1888 he entered St. Mary's Sem- inary, Detroit, Mich., and began his studies for the priesthood. He finished his theological education at St. Francis Seminary, Mil- waukee, Wis., and was ordained to the priesthood on June 19, 1898, by Archbishop Katzer, of Milwaukee. His first charge was as assistant pastor of St. Mary's church, South Chicago, where he re- mained for three years. He was then appointed pastor of Holy. Cross church, Joliet, and was thus associated for three years. In 1904 he was appointed pastor of his present parish. It now has a membership of 325 families or about 1,350 souls. The school in connection has 175 pupils under four sisters of St. Joseph. The church property is valued at $40,000. A much larger church will be built in 1910.
Dr. Charles E. Jones is one of the pioneer physicians of Austin, Chicago, Cook county. He has been in continuous practice at this place longer than any other physician except one. He was born in Cincinnati on June 27, 1851, and is a son of John and Martha (Groom) Jones. John Jones, the father, was born near Shrews- bury, England. His parents were Welsh. Martha Jones was English. The grandfather was William Jones, a prominent builder and contractor of that country.
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John Jones and his wife were the parents of six children, one of whom died in Liverpool, another died on the passage to America and the third is the subject of this review. The family crossed the ocean to America in 1848 and were 59 days in making the pas- sage to New Orleans. A little later they came up the river by steamer to Cincinnati where John Jones located and lived the re- mainder of his days. He reached the age of 68 years and erected many buildings in that city. His widow is still living at the resi- dence of her son, Doctor Jones, at the great age of 90 years. Dr. Charles E. received his early education in the public schools of Cin- cinnati. He attended the Woodward high school and later entered the Ohio Wesleyan university. He was graduated therefrom in 1871. He then entered the Miami Medical school, took the full course and was graduated in 1874 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Soon afterward he was appointed assistant city physi- cian of Cincinnati, which position he occupied for two years. He then continued his medical studies at Bellevue Hospital Medical col- lege, New York City, and was graduated therefrom in 1876. For one year the doctor was assistant superintendent of the hospital for the insane at Cleveland.
After practicing seven years with success in Cincinnati he came to Chicago in 1884 and located at Austin, Chicago, Illinois. At the present date he is one of the prominent, reliable and successful physicians of the city. He is a member of the Chicago Medical so- ciety, the American Medical association, the Aux Plaines Medical society and the Illinois State Medical society. He is a Mason and a member of the Royal League. He is medical examiner for the New York Life Insurance company and several other organiza- tions. He was married in 1877 to Miss Emma Whitcomb of Geauga county, Ohio. They have one daughter, Maud, now Mrs. W. W. McFarland, Jr., of Chicago, Illinois.
William Kaspar, at this date president of the Kaspar State bank, 623 Blue Island avenue, was born in Hollitz, Bohemia, on September 1, 1835, and is a son of Joseph and Anna (Michalek) Kaspar. William, their son, was reared in his native city, receiving at the common schools a good education and continuing therein until he had attained the age of eighteen years. Having determined to come to America where he believed better opportunities were open for ad- vancement, he crossed the ocean and on November 3, 1853, landed in New York City. There he learned the baker's trade and was thus occupied for two years. In 1855 he located at Kingston, Mass., where he worked as a journeyman baker until September, 1862.
He then enlisted in the Union army as a private in Company I, Fourth Massachusetts infantry, and was mustered into the service on September 18, 1862. On September 23, 1862, he was promoted to sergeant. During his military career he saw much hard service. On one occasion he showed conspicuous gallantry by volunteering
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as an artilleryman in June, 1863, at the time of the rebel raid upon Berwick, La. At the battle of Hudson, La., June 14, 1863, he was wounded in the leg while acting as sergeant. On August 28, 1863, he was honorably mustered out of the service with his regiment at Lakeville, Mass., but in the fall of 1864 came West and settled in Chicago and embarked here in the grocery and bakery trade, con- tinuing thus successfully occupied until October, 1871, when he sold out. He then for a time returned to Bohemia and visited the scenes and home of his childhood. .
In the summer of 1872, after his return to Chicago, he engaged in the real estate and insurance business, continuing until 1888, when he established a private bank under the firm name of Kaspar & Karel, which partnership existed until 1893, at which time it was dissolved. Mr. Kaspar continued the business alone until 1902 when he organized the Kaspar State bank, at 623 Blue Island avenue, with a capital of $200,000, and of this institution he has been the active head ever since. The institution is in an exceedingly flourishing condition and has the confidence of the entire community. He is a member of the U. S. Grant Post No. - G. A. R., F. & A. M., Royal Arch Masons and Shriners, and also of the Odd Fellows. He served two terms with the board of directors of the public library and in politics is a Republican. He has been married twice, first in 1866 to Julia, daughter of John Wondrejka, of Chicago, by whom. he had six children : May F., wife of Adolph G. Wiese; Belle, wife of Joseph Peshell; Otto, vice-president of Kaspar State bank; Wil- liam, Jr .; Helen, deceased, and George W. His first wife died in November, 1887, and in 1889 he married Paula, daughter of Abram Mandl, of Bohemia, by whom he has one son, Eugene.
John E. Kavanagh was born December 30, 1859, and is a son of Charles Henry and Elleanor (Murphy) Kavanagh, both of whom were natives of County Wexford, Ireland, town of Comolen. In that vicinity Charles H. had charge of lands which were sublet to tenants; in fact, the same lands had thus been managed by Darby Kavanagh, father of Charles H., for many years before this date. Darby Kavanagh participated in the famous Irish rebellion of 1798. As soon as the leases contracted by his father had expired, Charles H. came to the United States, locating at Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1840, and there began the manufacture of shoes and conducted at the same time a retail shoe store. Later he bought a farm in Wyoming coun- ty, New York, and located on the same and there passed the re- mainder of his days engaged in farming. He died February 4, 1860, and his widow in 1886.
John E. was educated in the public schools and in the Normal school at Geneseo, N. Y. In 1881 he came to Chicago and accepted a position in the broom-corn works of W. L. Hubbard & Company. This business had been established in 1867 by Mr. Hubbard on Franklin street near the lake, later on Kinzie street, and, after the
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great fire, at 125 Kinzie street. M. H. Kavanagh, brother of John E., came to Chicago in 1872 and was at first in the employ of A. D. Ferry & Company, continuing until 1878, when he entered the em- ploy of W. L. Hubbard & Company. In 1885 the two brothers ac- quired an interest in the business and in 1898 became sole owners of the concern. Under their sound management the business has grown vastly and become very profitable. They own a large ware- house at Tuscola, Ill., in the heart of the broom-corn district, and in 1908 built a modern five-story warehouse at 1234 and 1236 West Kinzie street, the building being 40x117 feet. They ship broom- corn to all parts of the country. In the fall they have a large num- ber of men in the broom-corn fields selecting, sorting and buying. John E. is president of the Chicago Auto Lock company; vice- president of the Chicago Ferrule company and a director in Sheridan Trust and Savings bank. He was formerly vice-president of the Ravenswood club. He is a member of the Catholic church, and of the Order of Foresters. He has been very active, influential and prominent in local improvements. In his club he is a member of the committee on Sheridan Park and Ravenswood Protective associa- tion. On January 9, 1889, he married Sarah L. Loughren, of New York, and they have the following children: Clarence H., Marie Ethel and Beatrice, deceased. The family resides at 4732 North Ashland avenue.
Albert W. Keller was born September 14, 1869, the son of Alex- ander and Justine (Schlicht) Keller, natives of Switzerland and the Alps. They were married in Chicago in 1864, where the father en- gaged in the milk business on Blue Island avenue and Twelfth street until 1869, then removing to Fifteenth and Jefferson streets till 1877, when he leased the "Silver Leaf Grove" ground for two years. In 1879 he moved back to Fifteenth and Jefferson streets and estab- lished a feed and flour business. He retired in 1886 and is still active at the age of seventy-three years. The mother is also still living and resides with her husband at 3214 West Twelfth street.
The education of Albert W. Keller, our subject, was received in public and private schools and at Bryant & Stratton's Business col- lege. He was employed two years as clerk for W. R. Mumford, board of trade, and later became bookkeeper for the Temple Pump company. He next became manager for the Fisher Livery, Michi- gan avenue and Sixteenth street, and in 1889 became salesman and had charge of the renting department for Hammell & Lange. He then went with Wilson Bros., real estate dealers, having charge of their West side property. He next embarked in the grocery busi- ness for nine years and in 1904 entered his present line of business- general real estate, loans and insurance-at 3214 West Twelfth street. Mr. Keller is a Republican in politics and active locally. He is a member of the Improvement club of South Oak Park, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. November 28, 1901, he mar-
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ried Minnie Parthiers, of Chicago, and they, with their one daughter Edna, reside in Oak Park, Illinois.
John Kikulski, a successful and prominent real estate and in- surance operator at 3350 Diversey avenue, was born in the village of Okinin, Province of Graudeuc, German Poland, on August 29, 1876, and is a son of Ludwig and Catherine (Graf) Kikulski. He is of mixed Polish and French descent. His father died in 1882 from the effects of wounds received in the revolution of 1863 between Poland and Russia.
John Kikulski received his elementary education in the schools of his native land, and in 1889 at the age of thirteen years, crossed the Atlantic and located in Chicago, where he has ever since resided. He attended night schools upon his arrival here to fit himself to meet the new conditions. At the end of about two years he had so far mastered the English language as to be able to speak and under- stand it fairly well. Upon his arrival here he apprenticed himself to the woodmakers' trade, and later followed that occupation up to 1901, at which date he was elected labor official of the Wood Workers' Union, a position he filled acceptably for five and a half years. When the union became amalgamated with the Mills and Factory Carpenters' District Council, he was elected president and served in that trying and responsible position for one and a half years. In 1907 he embarked in the real estate business, adding in- surance. He has been successfully thus occupied ever since. He is a member of St. Hyacinth's Polish Roman Catholic church, Polish National Alliance, Polish Turners' Alliance and Amalgamated Car- penters' union. In politics he is a Republican. He is president of the Republican club of Avondale. On October 8, 1898, he married Miss Mary Wajert, of Chicago, and has two children living: John and Mary. John is a member of the Polish Singers of America.
Vincent J. Klaus, mortgage banker, real estate dealer and fire in- surance operator, at West 48th and Ada streets, was born in Kozlany, Bohemia, Austria, on July 19, 1862. He was reared in his native land until the age of eighteen years, receiving during that period a common school education and learning the weaver's trade. In 1880 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and located in Chicago, where he has since resided. In order to learn the English language he attended evening school. Up to 1887 he secured employment in various capacities in the Stock Yards. He then engaged in the re- tail liquor business, continuing the same for fourteen years, during which period he likewise engaged in the real estate business, adding insurance. To the latter two pursuits he has devoted his whole at- tention since 1901. Mortgage banking was added in 1908. Mr. Klaus is doing a successful and prosperous business and has the con- fidence of the community. He has modern, up-to-date offices at 4800 Ada street. On November 11, -1884, he married Anna, daugh- ter of Anton Kostka, of Bohemia, and has four living children:
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Louise, wife of James Topinka; Antoinette, wife of Frank J. Dub- sky; Robert and Libuse. Mr. Klaus and his son Robert are mem- bers of John B. Sherman Lodge, No. 880, A. F. & A. M .; No. 142 Cesko Slovansky Podporujici Spolek; Jednota Taboritu No. 6 and Sokol Praha. Politically Mr. Klaus is a Democrat.
Emil Klicka, president and general manager of the Joseph Klicka company, manufacturers of moldings at California avenue and 20th street, was born in this city on May 26, 1879, and is the eldest son of Joseph and Emily ( Bernhardt) Klicka, both of whom were natives of Bohemia. The paternal grandparents, Joseph and Kate (Wolf) Klicka, immigrated from Bohemia to this country in 1863, settled in Chicago, and resided there until their respective deaths. They had five children: John, Joseph, deceased; Kate, wife of Frank LeGros; Rose, wife of Harry Shannan, and Frank, deceased. The maternal grandfather was John Bernhardt, a native of Bohemia and of Austrian parentage. He was a pioneer of Chicago and a mer- chant tailor by occupation. Joseph Klicka, father of Emil, was reared in Chicago after the age of nine years, and was educated in the public schools. He learned the silver gilding trade with Ex-Chief of Police Joseph Kipley, and in 1877 founded the business of the present Joseph Klicka company on Lake street near Franklin. He died in 1899, his two eldest sons having joined him in business, the firm having occupied several locations. Since his death the sons have conducted the business. In 1909 they erected a three-story brick factory at their present location and now give employment to from 125 to 175 hands. The officers of the company are Emil Klicka, president and general manager; J. H. Novak, first vice- president ; George Klicka, second vice-president; Joseph Klicka, treasurer and general superintendent, and Fred Klicka, secretary. The sons are thus Emil, George, Joseph and Fred.
Emil was reared in Chicago and here he has ever resided except two years when he was in California. He was educated in the public and grammar schools, and graduated from Bancroft Grammar school in 1895 and subsequently attended Bryant & Stratton Business college. He learned the molding business under his father, master- ing all its details and problems from the lumber yard up, and be- came associated with his father in 1895. Since 1906 he has been president and general manager of the Joseph Klicka company. He is one of the wide awake, progressive and prominent citizens of the city. He is a member of Ben Hur Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Wiley M. Egan Chapter, R. A. M .; and Chicago Commandery, Knights Templar, and is a Mystic Shriner. In politics he is a Republican and takes much interest in the success of his party and in the public welfare generally. On September 10, 1907, he married Jessie, daughter of E. H. Wcegar, of San Diego, California.
William Kolacek, merchant and president of the West Park board, was born February 28, 1867, in Bohemia. His parents, William
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and Mary (Chaoul) Kolacek, immigrated to the United States in . 1869, and coming to Chicago located on the West side. The father worked at his trade of bricklaying and later embarked in mercan- tile pursuits, continuing until his death in 1898. Their children were William, Emil, Joseph and Rose, wife of Joseph Dedouch.
Early in life the subject of this sketch attended the public schools, but in his twelfth year became a cash boy in a dry goods store be- longing to John York. He continued with Mr. York until 1889, then, in a small way, embarked in business for himself at 548 Blue Island avenue. By good business management and courteous at- tention he prospered, and in 1891 moved to 576-78 Blue Island avenue. In order to meet the demands of his growing business, he removed to his present commodious quarters, 559-565 Blue Island avenue, where his four floors and basement 75x80 feet enable him to operate one of the best department stores in Chicago outside the down town district.
While in no sense a politician, Mr. Kolacek is deeply interested in civic prosperity and his money and time have been freely con- tributed to the general good of the community. Early in 1908 he was appointed a member of the West Park board, of which, on March 16, 1909, he became president to succeed John F. Smulski who had resigned. In politics he is a Republican. He is a thirty-second de- gree member of Oriental Consistory, A. A. S. R. Masons and a Knight Templar of St. Bernard Commandery No. 35 and a member of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Bohemian Turners, the Odd Fellows, the Illinois club and the Chicago Association of Commerce. September 12, 1888, he married Celia, daughter of John and Ann (Lukes) Mellichar, pioneer Bohemians of Chicago, and he and wife are the parents of two children: William J. and Celia.
Joseph M. Kolkema was born at Muskegon, Mich., on Novem- ber 5, 1869, and is a son of Maurice and Henrietta (Valk) Kolkema. The father was a native of Holland and came to the United States in the thirties with his parents, locating at Muskegon when he was a small child and when that place was a small but active village in the great lumber region of that vicinity. There he is yet alive at the age of seventy-five years, one of the oldest residents and prominent men of that prosperous city. In early manhood he engaged there in the business of mill-wrighting and carpentering and later in con- tracting. Many of the best of the early houses there were built by him. From 1885 to 1892 he was in the Dakotas, where he took up a government claim, but upon the death of his wife returned to Muskegon, where he is yet active in his business.
Joseph M., his son, was educated in the public schools of Mus- kegon, and at the age of eighteen years went to Dakota with his parents and remained there for two years. He then went to the ยท upper peninsula of Michigan and worked in the lumber camps and on the drive for two years. Then after a short time at Muskegon
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he returned to North Dakota and went to work on his father's farm. For three months in the winter of 1891-92 he was stage driver over the sixty-five miles from Eureka, South Dakota, to Winchester, North Dakota-forty miles from any railroad. In 1892 he re- turned to Michigan, and in 1895 came to Chicago and accepted a position as laundry driver for a cousin-Joseph Banning. In this business he has steadily worked his way upward and is now general manager, secretary and treasurer, and owns a half interest in the business. Recently he erected a large modern building and now employs sixty people. In 1900 the concern was incorporated as the Bee Hive Laundry company. He is a member of the Laundry National Association, Illinois State Laundry Association, Chicago Laundry club, Chicago Laundry Owners' Association, and the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders. He was married November 2, 1898, to Mary Hessenius, of Chicago, and they have Anna H., Ruth J., Joseph M., and Mary G. They reside at 104 South Robey street. Joseph Kopecky, a member of the firm of Salat, Polak & Kopecky, proprietors of the Lawndale Savings bank, at 3113 West 22d street, was born in Kalist, Bohemia, on August 24, 1877, and is a son of Anton and Frances (Svehlik) Kopecky. The parents immigrated to the United States in 1887 and settled in Chicago where the father, a stone cutter by trade, worked at that occupation until his death in 1894. He left a widow and six children-Joseph, Mary, Frances, Antoinette, Sophia and Rose.
Joseph was reared in Chicago after the age of ten years. He was educated in the public schools and began his business career at the age of fourteen years as errand boy in one of the large wholesale clothing establishments of the city. He steadily worked his way up- ward through sheer merit to the responsible position of traveling salesman, and in all remained with this house for fourteen years. In 1904, in partnership with Joseph J. Salat and Joseph F. Polak, he embarked in the banking business and their institution since Jan- uary 1, 1909, has been conducted under the name of the Lawndale Savings bank. Mr. Kopecky is a member of St. Ludinilas Bohemian Roman Catholic church, the Elks, Catholic Order of Foresters, North American Union, Columbian Knights, and in politics is a Republican. On January 29, 1902, he was united in marriage with Rose, daugh- ter of Joseph and Marie ( Pregler) Novak, of Chicago, and they have three children : Helen, Rose and Anton.
Vladimir C. Kornaszewski, a successful mechanical engineer at 1764 North Monticello avenue, was born in Lomza, Poland, on November 8, 1878, and is a son of Marion and Mary (Struzynski) Kornaszewski, who came to the United States in 1892. The parents settled in Chicago and here they still reside. Previous to coming to America, the father served in the Russian army, holding the rank of military surgeon for ten years. After coming to Chicago he con- ducted a barber shop for seven years and then retired from active business.
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His son, Vladimir C., was the only child born to these parents. He attended the technical schools of his native land until the age of fourteen years, after which he attended the public schools of Chi- cago, finishing in the Chicago English High and Manual Training school, also completing a course in metal mining under the instruc- tion of the International Correspondence school of Scranton, Penn. His first employment was with the Gates Iron Works of Chicago, under whom he served an apprenticeship in mechanics, and upon completing the same was appointed to the position of draftsman in 1903, at which date the firm became consolidated with the Allis- Chalmers company. After six months' of service he went west and prospected for one year, returning to Chicago in 1906. He then secured employment as mechanical engineer with Caldwell & Son, continuing thus engaged for about fourteen months. Since then he has been operating on his own responsibility. Already he has shown an inventive turn, being the inventor of a scouring and brushing machine for cleaning clothes ; also a gas engine for automobiles and marine purposes. He has other important patents under considera- tion. He is a member of the Polish Roman Catholic church, Polish National Alliance, Royal League, and is a Republican. On May 5, 1902, he married Mary, daughter of Frank and Florentina Gratza, of Chicago, and has two sons: Victor and Girard.
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