USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Memoirs of Milwaukee County : from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Milwaukee County, Volume I > Part 67
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MEMOIRS OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
C. M. J. Mallek is truant officer, Louis M. Kotecki is justice of peace. Many minor offices are held by Poles in the different departments of the public life of our city.
Since Judge Paul D. Carpenter has definitely announced that he will not seek re-election, Casimir Gonski, a well-known Polish lawyer and a distinguished literateur, has decided to vie for the position of county judge.
Some of the most prominent figures in political life are: Ignace Czerwinski, Stanley E. Czerwinski, Peter Pawinski, Frank Niezoraw- ski, John Weiher, John C. Kleczka, Frank J. Grutza, Jacob Kubal. John Lemanski, Casimir Gonski, Michael Blenski, Anthony Lukaszewski, F. J. Borchardt, Anthony Szczerbinski, Joseph Domachowski, John Maciolek, Anthony Tomkiewicz, August Gawin, Michael Kruszka, Joseph Komorowski.
COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS LIFE.
This brief sketch of the history of the Poles in Milwaukee would by no means be complete, if we did not cast a glance upon their com- mercial and business life.
A few decades ago, when the Poles began to settle in our city, the only business they seemed to care for was the liquor traffic, the grocery store, the butcher shop, and perhaps also the baker shop. In the later years, however, things have changed wonderfully in this respect. There is, to-day, hardly any craft, trade, or retail business enterprise which would deter the Poles from entering and cultivating its field. Here and there, though yet very cautiously and sporadically only, even greater commercial enterprises, requiring big capital, unu- sual versatility, and great ability, are ventured upon by our Polish fellow citizens.
There are many commercial institutions in which the Poles have invested their money and of which they are joint-owners. Thus for instance several Poles are stock-holders in the Mitchell Street State Bank, a very flourishing financial institution. Sylvester J. Wabiszew- ski is vice president of this bank, Dr. K. Wagner and John Strozyk are its directors, and perhaps a score are share-holders. Other Poles are interested in the German-American Bank, big business houses, etc. The M. H. Wiltzius Company has several Polish stock-holders who prefer, for one reason or another, to remain "silent partners." The Inde- pendent Milwaukee Brewery at the corner of Eighth and Russel streets, is another company in which the Poles have considerable inter- est. Emil Czarnecki, well known in social and political circles, is its
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president. Anasthasius Siudzinski is second vice-president and joint- owner of the Milwaukee Malleable and Grey Iron Works. Layton Park.
The Gawin Mirror and Art Glass Works at 521 Jackson street. is a Polish enterprise, of which August M. Gawin, the present City Comptroller, is proprietor. A few Poles have decided to start an arti- ficial ice factory, The Crystal Ice Company. The organization of this company is not yet completed. The factory and offices will be located at the corner of Clinton and Vine streets, close to the Clinton avenue bridge. The capital stock of this enterprise is $50,000 and John Maciolek will manage the affairs of the company. Lepak Brothers have started during the last year a factory for the manufacture of trunks and traveling bags on 873 Warren avenue. Miski Brothers con- duct a factory of Iron and Wire Work at 561 Becher street. Stanis- laus J. Sawitzki, at 336 Grove street, conducts a well equipped tailor- ing shop, and supplies the Milwaukee police and fire force with uni- forms. Joseph Wnentkowski has a shoe-factory at 22 Wright street. The South Side Lumber Company, having its yard and office at the corner of Greenbush and Roger streets, is also a Polish organization. Stanley F. Polski manufacturers pumps, cisterns, and tanks at Seventh and Lincoln avenues. B. W. Witalski is proprietor of the Art Monu- ment and Statuary Company, 754 Forest Home avenue. Michacl Wabiszewski owns the Lehigh Portland Cement Sidewalk Company, which has had several big contracts. Among the foremost builders and mason contractors stands Frank Niezorawski, also well known in social and political circles, who has built some of the largest and most imposing structures of Milwaukee, as for instance the Public Service building, the Electric Power House, West Allis Machine Shops, Gesu Church, etc. Sylvester J. Wabiszewski has also attained prominence in the same line of business, having built many a school building, church, factory, etc.
It would be utterly impossible to enumerate in this condensed sketch all the minor jobbers, business establishments, and concerns. Suffice it to state that, at present, there is hardly any line of trade or business in which the Poles are not represented. Thus the Poles pos- sess some first class clothing stores, as Celichowski & Gapinski ( Third avenue and Mitchell street), Strzempkoski & Balcer (Second avenue and Mitchell street, L. Petrykowski (441 Mitchell street). John Starszak (First avenue and Becher street). W. Chmielewski (Twelfth avenue and Mitchell), etc. Czechorski Brothers (487 Mitchell street). Michael M. Rozewski (447 Mitchell ), and many others have well sup- plied shoe stores. Prokop & Czatkowski (471 Mitchell street), Steph.
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Rozga (First and Lincoln avenues), Aug. Zamka (46 Clark street), etc., have large furniture stores. Jacob Leszczynski (830 Greenbush), Vinc. Mikna (357 Becher street), S. Walczak (361 Becher) and Czar- apa & Son (796 Greenbush), have wood and coal yards. Kantak Brothers (576 Lincoln avenue), and S. Makowski (813 Lincoln ave- nue), are dealers in flour and feed.
Following are the Polish druggists: Albert H. Czerwinski (457 Mitchell street). Stanley E. Czerwinski (839 Eighth avenue), F. L. Drozniakiewicz (Twelfth and Lincoln avenues), Glysz Drug Com- pany (840 Mitchell street), Peter Glysz (30 Locust street), F. J. Gorski (II Wright street). Jos. S. Gaudynski (Transfer Pharmacy, 263 Mitchel street), F. J. Kowalsky (744 Forest Home avenue), M. J. Kurzawa (862 Muskego avenue), S. T. Marlewski (661 Lincoln avenue), Jos. L. Pawlak (905 Mitchell street), Fr. J. Piszczek (1000 First avenue), S. A. Rakowski (Tenth avenue and Becher street ), Max Szarzynski (786 First avenue), Anthony Tomkiewicz (Fifth and Lincoln avenues), and J. W. S. Tomkiewicz (452 Mitchell street).
For mutual protection and assistance the Polish business men have organized an association, the "Stowarzyszenie Kupcow i Prze- myslowcow Polskich" (The Polish Merchants' and Business Mens' Association ).
Although there is no distinctly Polish bank in Milwaukee, yet there are a few banking associations founded for the mutual benefit of their stock holders. The biggest of these is the Skarb Polski Mutual Loan and Building Society. The officers of this association are: Fr. J. Grutza, president : Ignace A. Przybyla, secretary ; and Albert Smu- kowski, treasurer; Jolin Stanioch, Fr. Rozmarynowski, Fr. Koceja, Michael Nowak, L. Pocwiardowski, John Kantak, Fr. Kotecki, Jos. Witt, and Fr. Rozga are directors. The gross income of this associa- tion for the last year (ending Dec. 31, 1907) was $178.277.13. The Skarb Sobieski Loan and Building Association is another financial in- stitution of similar type. The staff of officers is as follows: Frank Mucha, president ; Vincent Lewandowski, vice-president ; St. Mater- nowski, treasurer; Fr. Poznanski, secretary; M. Tomaszewski, John Paszkiewicz, and Michael Antczak, trustees. The gross receipts of this association were $68,099.75. The Spolka Polsko-Narodowa (The Pol- ish National Loan and Building Association) is a third organization of this kind. Its present officers are: Jolin Heltmach, president ; Anas- tharius Siudzinski, vice-president; Anthony Andrzejewski, treasurer ; Louis A. Fons, secretary ; Albin M. Szybczynski, first assistant secre- tary, and John Tadych, second assistant secretary. Peter Fons, Jacob Kubal, Max Drozewski, Frank Fons, John Bejma, John Kleba, Cas
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Warkoczewski, and Michael Budzinski are directors. Last year's to- tal receipts aggregated $71,808.65. On the north side of the city there is likewise a similar institution, The North Side Loan and Building Society. The officers of this society are: M. Radziejewski, president ; Steph. J. Pozorski, secretary; Frank Tabaczka, treasurer; M. T. Bur- czyk, Michael Rakoczy, Jos. Zielinski, Jos. Polewinski, Fr. Machalin- ski, Edmund Lacki, and M. Radziejewski, directors. The total income for the past financial year amounted to $39.746.22. Of course, all these associations are subject to the examination of the State Bank Inspect- or. Being well managed, they are a great help to the common labor- ing classes. Many a polish immigrant has been solely by means of these associations, enabled to build a house of his own and clear off the indebtedness within six or seven years.
Our Polish settlement in Milwaukee has some very prominent real estate men. The best known among these, and most influential is Ignace Czerwinski, whose office is located at 453 Mitchell street. Mr. Czerwinski is also well known in the American financial and political cirlces of our city. Jolin Strozyk (Fourth avenue and Mitchell), Fons & Wawrzyniakowski (656 Grove street), Frank Grutza & Co. (391 Mitchel), Bol. Jazdzewski (852 Franklin place), Albert Trzebiatow- ski (Brady and Racine streets), John Inda (542 Mitchell street), and others are all prospering in the real estate and insurance business.
ARTISTIC PHASES.
We have been trying to group, under different headings, the mani- fold phases of the public life of the Polish Milwaukecans. We have omitted the artistic life of the Poles in Milwaukee, because it is still in its infancy. Besides the two painters who have gained some dis- tinction, Ignace Zabinski and John Malewicki, we have nobody else. Of the vocal and musical art we have spoken elsewhere.
In regard to architecture, the most imposing and gorgeous of all the buildings, as has already been said, is undoubtedly St. Josaphat's church. The parishes of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Casimir have, likewise, very beautiful churches. The interior of the oldest Polish church in Milwaukee, the St. Stanislaus church at the corner of Mich- ell and Grove streets, is by far the richest and most beautiful as re- gards interior decorations. The sumptuous marble altars and railings, the marble-plated walls, and the artistic stucco work of the ceiling, make it the richest of all the Catholic churches in Milwaukee.
In the southern part of the city is found Kosciuszko Park, named after the Polish hero who fought valiently not only for the freedom of
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his own country in 1794, but also for that of the United States at an earlier date. To him have the Poles of Milwaukee raised a monument that cost $14,000 in round figures. The base is made of granite, and the statue of bronze is about fifteen feet in height. It was designed by Signor G. Trentanove. On June 18, 1905, this monument was sol- emnly dedicated. Kosciuszko Park and the neighboring streets could not hold the vast throngs of Poles that gathered, not only from Milwau- kee but from all over America. The occasion was still more solemn because Archbishop A. Symon, the first Polish bishop that ever visited our American shores, was present at the dedication and delivered an address. The monument represents Thaddeus Kosciuszko mounted on a fiery steed. The inscription on the pedestal of this monument-"To the Hero of Both Hemispheres"-indicates the purpose the Poles had in rearing this statue.
PROFESSIONAL MEN.
There is, perhaps, no other city where the higher walks of human life are entered upon as eagerly as in our dear "Cream City." Even now there is a goodly number of young Polish aspirants to the medi- cal, legal, and other professions. Some of the leaders of Polish social life are prominent physicians. Dr. Karl Wagner, of 625 Fourth ave- nue, is known far and wide, not only in Milwaukee, as a distinguished physician and a great social organizer and leader. He has presided at some of the conventions of the largest Polish organizations, and there is hardly any celebration of which this Polish patriot is not the mov- ing spring and the leading spirit. His junior in age, Dr. Fr. S. Was- ielewski, of 480 Mitchell street, seems to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Wagner, and is rapidly coming to the front. Dr. Jos. Sholdski, of 200 Wisconsin street, is an acknowledged specialist in diseases of the ear, nose, and throat. The other Polish physicians are: Dr. Al. J. Heller, 417 Mitchell street : Dr. S. S. Salinko, 453 Mitchell street ; Dr. A. A. Krygier, 456 Mitchell street ; Dr. A. A. Diorszynski, 1009 Bremen street : Dr. L. J. Bachinski, 27 Wright street ; Dr. L. J. Droz- niakiewicz, 841 Eighth avenue, and Dr. F. J. Schultz, 495 Mitchell street.
Dr. Joseph Mietus, 425 Mitchell street, is a very popular and able dentist. His brother, Dr. John A. Mietus, 29 Wright street, is an- other Polish dentist who enjoys considerable popularity among his fellow countrymen. Dr. F. A. Michalski, 542 Mitchell street, and Dr. A. Rozmarynowski, 456 Mitchell street, are other popular Polish dentists.
Another Polish patriot. well known to the American public by his
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contributions to the daily papers of different articles on various Polish topics, is Casimir Gonski. His ability as a lawyer is readily acknowl- edged by all. At present he has decided to be a candidate for county judge. Michael Blenski, of Blenski & Cordes. 434 Mitchell street, is a prominent, popular and sympathetic lawyer. Mrs. Peterson-Jackowska, of 546 Mitchell street, is the only female lawyer of Polish descent in Milwaukee.
CONCLUSION.
Who ever has carefully perused these few pages, which are de- voted to the Poles of our metropolis, has no doubt noticed how much the Polish immigrants are attached to their religion, language, and national traditions. And so it is indeed. But can such a people become a desirable acquisition to our American commonwealth, to the land that boasts of having severed every bond that could possibly fetter it to any European potentate? Such are the questions that have often arisen in the minds and hearts of the one-sided patriots. Yes, we answer. in all honesty and sincerity. If there is a nation that can and does show gratitude for the least favor bestowed upon it. it certainly is the Polish nation. The blood of Kosciuszko and Pulaski sprinkled the American soil in the ever-memorable struggle for freedom and political indepen- dence : the readiness and enthusiasm of the valiant Kosciuszko Guard for the American cause during the Spanish-American war ; the numer- ous incidents where the Poles were always ready to stand for the de- fense of right, law, and American institutions, is an evident and unde- niable proof of the unfeigned loyalty of the Polish immigrants to their second mother.
Yes, though our Polish colony in Milwaukee has justly been called the "Gem of the Polish Colonies in America," yet our Polish compatriots are ever ready to shed the last drop of blood, if need be, for the dear Stars and Stripes. Let them, therefore, foster and cherish true Polish patriotism. Let them continue to be Poles. This will not in the least alter or weaken their loyalty to our country. Nay, we venture to make this paradoxical statement, proven by actual experi- ence : The Poles love America because they love Poland-Poland, which is the synonym for liberty and freedom.
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