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 II > Part 26
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Stanislaus A. Rakowski, Ph. G., conspicuous among the young druggists of Milwaukee, conducts a store at S11 Tenth avenue. Hc is a native of the Cream City, born April 3. 1880. a son of Andrew and Pauline ( Biesek) Rakowski, who immigrated to the United States in 1870 and settled in Milwaukee. The father was a car- penter by trade and soon after coming to the city engaged in the carpenter contracting business. He met with well-earned success
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and carried on his business until his death, July 17, 1898, at the age of fifty-six years. During his life he reared a family of eight sons and five daughters: Joseph, Valeria, the wife of Stanislaus Kamienski ; John, who died Oct. 9, 1908, at the age of thirty-seven, leaving a family of seven children ; Frank, Robert, deceased ; Mary, the wife of Peter Kaminski; Catherine, the wife of Joseph Malich ; Stanislaus A., Andrew, Michael, Frances, Bernard and
Cecelia. Stanislaus, the subject of this sketch, was
reared in his native city 'and received his prepara- tory education in the parochial schools of the city. Subse- quently he attended Marquette College and began the study of pharmacy in 1894. In 1898 he received his first diploma, admitting him to practice as an assistant, and four years later, in 1902, re- ceived a full diploma. The same year he established himself in business at the corner of Tenth and Becher streets. Mr. Ra- kowski's trade increased and he found it necessary to find a larger building and has occupied his present fine store since 1905. On Aug. 8, 1906, Mr. Rakowski married Sophia, the daughter of An- ton and Mary (Rosewski) Szubert, of Milwaukee. The family are devout Catholics and members of St. Hyacinth's Polish Catholic church. Mr. Rakowski is a member of the Polish National Alli- ance. Stowarzyszenie Polskie, the St. Augustine Society, Polish Sharpshooters and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Society. He is affili- ated with the Knights of Columbus and belongs to the Wisconsin Pharmaceutical Association. Mr. Rakowski belongs to no party, but exercises his privilege of franchise as his conscience dictates. He is always interested in questions pertaining to the welfare of the municipality and votes for the man he thinks best fitted for local and national office.
Theodore T. Marlewski, the manager of the S. T. Marlewski drug store at the corner of Lincoln and Ninth avenues, is one of the progressive young business men of Milwaukee. He is a native of the Cream City, born Feb. 2, 1883, being the son of Stephen and Eve (Gradalla) Marlewski. His father was a native of Bygdoscz, Germany, of Polish descent. He came to the United States in 1873 and settled in Troy, N. Y., but remained only one year, when he came to Milwaukee, where he still resides, and for nearly fifteen years he has been employed in the rolling mills of the Illinois Steel Company. The family consisted of nine children: Catherine, the wife of Vincent Lewandowski; Antoinette, the wife of John Pap- rocki ; Sylvester T., deceased ; Veronica, the wife of Joseph Kam- inski; Mary. Theodore T., August, Louis and Frank. Theodore was reared in Milwaukee and received his education in the St. Stanislaus parochial schools. After finishing his preliminary studies he took a short course in the pharmacy department of Mar- quette College, and finished his course in the store of his brother, Sylvester T., who established himself in the drug business in 1894. Since this brother's death in 1907 he has conducted the store for the estate. Mr. Marlewski is a member of the Milwaukee Pharma- ceutical Association and the National Association of Retail Drug-
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gists. For three years he was a member of Company K, First Wis- consin National Guard, from which he was discharged April 12, 1907, by reason of the expiration of his term of service. He is one of the singers in St. Hyacinth's church choir and is a member of the Lutnia Singing Society. Formerly he was a member of St. Stanislaus church choir, which gave the first opera in Polish in America, "The Chimes of Normandy." The Lutnia Singing So- ciety, which is composed of the members of the St. Stanislaus choir, and is the largest society in the United States, will give the opera "Halka," composed by Stanislaus Moniuszko, in 1909.
Timothy Driscoll, the vice-president of the Board of Trustees for Milwaukee county, who lives at 190 Pleasant street, is a native of the Cream City, born Nov. 22, 1862, a son of Michael and Mary (Keohane) Driscoll, who were born and raised in County Cork, Ireland. They immigrated to the United States and were among the pioneer settlers of Milwaukee, where the father was engaged in the fishing trade for many years. The family consisted of seven children: John, Mary, Michael, Jr., Jeremiah, Timothy, Johanna and George, who is the deputy sheriff of Milwaukee county. Timo- thy, the subject of this review, was educated in the Third ward public school and served his time at the printer's trade, which he followed for fifteen years. For one year he engaged in the real estate business, but became a liquor dealer and has continued in that vocation for the past eleven years. Mr. Driscoll married June 12, 1900, Margaret, the daughter of John Waters, of Milwaukee, and they have three children: Helen, Gerald and Clement. Mr. Driscoll is a member of St. John's Cathedral Catholic church, also a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, and is an ex-member of the Sheridan Guards. Politically he is a Democrat and takes an active interest in his party and the welfare of the municipality. He has held several important offices and is now one of the trustees of the Milwaukee county poor. He served six years as supervisor of the Third ward of Milwaukee and was chairman of the county board for two years. Mr. Driscoll is a warm-hearted, public- spirited man and has won a high place in the esteem of his asso- ciates and friends by his sound judgment and ready sympathy.
Henry Bulder, a prominent merchant tailor of Milwaukee, with a well-established business at 86 Oneida street, was born in Emden, Germany, March 30, 1867, a son of Henry and Anna (Stilwacht) Bulder. He was reared to manhood in his native country and educated in the public schools. After finishing his studies he served his apprenticeship at the tailor's trade for three years, and for eight years worked as a journeyman tailor at Hanover, Germany. In 1891 he immigrated to the United States and landed in New York City Nov. 27. He came directly to Milwaukee, where he worked as a journeyman tailor for eight years, then went to Chi- cago for about a year, but returned to Milwaukee in 1900. Since coming to this country. Mr. Bulder had made careful investments, and not being a man content to remain a paid employe for another, embarked in business for himself the same year he returned from
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Chicago, and has successfully continued in his chosen calling. He is a warm-hearted, generous man and has always taken an active interest in public affairs, particularly in the park system for the outdoor life of the children of the city. He has been instrumental in establishing public play grounds in the congested districts, and in 1905 started a movement to establish a zoological garden at Washington Park. It was through his influence that the first elephant was purchased, which was named in his honor, "Countess Heine," and through this movement he has come in contact with the leading citizens of Milwaukee, and in connection with the park he has become famous as one of the leading philanthropists of the city. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Knights of Pythias and Fraternal Order of Eagles. In poli- tics he is a Democrat and was elected alderman at large of the city in the spring election of 1898.
John F. Polczynski, one of the leading real estate and insur- ance agents of Milwaukee, with an office at 32 Locust street, is a native of the Cream City, born March 15, 1874. His parents were Joseph and Agnes (Nenz) Polczynski, natives of Poland who came to the United States in 1873 and settled in Milwaukee, where the father has been engaged for thirty years as a successful grading contractor. He has reared a family of fourteen children, of whom nine survive: John F., Dominica, Mary, the wife of Constantine Zawatzki; Frances, the wife of Joseph Kuczkowski; Victoria, Jo- seph, Klemes, Casimir and Annie. John was raised in Milwaukee and received his elementary training in St. Hedwig's parochial school and then took a course in Marquette College before going to Pio Nono College, at St. Francis, Wis., where he was graduated in 1897, and for nine years taught in St. Kasimir's parochial school. In 1906 he engaged in his present business and has met with grati- fying success. Sept. 27, 1898, he married Susie, the daughter of Albert and Mary (Wielgyosz) Niedzielski, pioneer settlers of Mil- waukee. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Pol- czynski: Josephine and Raymond. With his family he is a mem- ber of the St. Kasimir's Polish Catholic church, and also belongs to the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, Stefan Czarnecki Society of St. Kasimir, also St. Kasimir's Cadets, and is organist of St. Kasimir's Catholic church.
Casimir Klos is one of the prominent Polish residents of the south side. He was born in Lubasz, in the province of Posen. Ger- many, Jan. 4, 1864, being the son of Albert and Albertina ( Necker) Klos, both residents of this famous old town on the Netze river. Casimir was reared to manhood in his native country and received his educational advantages under the tuition of his father, who was a well-known teacher in the public schools of Lubasz. Upon reach- ing his fourteenth year he was placed in charge of a private tutor and instructed in the higher branches. He continued his studies until he was seventeen and then was sent to a large agricultural tract of seven thousand acres to learn farming. For five years he devoted his time and attention to agricultural pursuits and became
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thoroughly acquainted with all the branches of farm industry. A year after attaining his majority he entered the German army, where he served for two years. His excellent education enabled him to act as secretary in the quartermaster's department of his company and he occupied this office during his entire time of en- listment. After leaving the army he accepted a position as over- seer of a farm, but after two years determined to avail himself of the great possibilities of a newer country and in 1890 immigrated to the United States. Soon after landing he located in Milwaukee, where he has since resided. . When Mr. Klos first came to the city he engaged in carpenter work, but soon gave that up to go into a grocery store and left this position to accept a more lucrative place as shipping clerk in the yeast depot of the National Distilling Co. He severed his connection with the distilling company a year later to accept a more congenial occupation as clerk in the City Hall and Court House. Mr. Klos' educational advantages, combined with his natural ability as a business man, enabled him to make successful investments, and by 1894 he had accumulated a sufficient capital to establish himself in business, and since that time has run a cafe, which has proved to be one of the most popular in the city. On Jan. 9, 1894, he was united in marriage with Antonia, the daughter of Joseph and Josepha (Wojiechowski) Palaszynski, natives of Russian Poland. Five children have come to brighten their home : Maryan ; Stephen; Wanda; Leo and Josephine. The family are members of St. Stanislaus' Polish Catholic congregation and Mr. Klos is affiliated with the Polish National Alliance, the Polish As- sociation of America, the Polish Sharpshooters, Polish Turners and Sokol society. Mr. Klos is a stanch supporter of the cause of the Republican party, but has never sought political honors of any kind. He is a member of the commission of Polish colonization of the Polish National Alliance, and a stock holder and director in the Polish Kuryer Publishing Company.
Lucas Szatkowski, one of the progressive citizens of the Cream City and the junior member of the firm Prokop & Szatkowski, prominent furniture dealers and house decorators with an estab- lishment at 469 Mitchell street, is a native of Germany, born in the province of Posen, German Poland, in October, 1870. He is the son of Michael and Julia (Grezarwoski) Szatkowski, who immi- grated to America in the spring of 1871, and within a short time of landing in the United States settled in Milwaukee. The elder Szatkowski was a mason by trade and followed this vocation with great success for nine years. He was careful and frugal and in 1880 had saved sufficient money to buy a farm in the township of Posen, Mich., which was settled up by his countrymen and named after the historic town of the Fatherland. He cleared the farm and continued to run it successfully until his death, Dec. 5, 1907, at the hale old age of seventy-two. Seven children were reared on the hospitable old homestead in the pines: Thomas, deceased ; Stanislaus ; John ; Lucas ; Ignatius ; Agnes, the wife of Frank Misisk, and Helen, the wife of Andrew Kroll. Lucas was nine years old
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when his parents moved to Michigan and received his scholastic discipline in the parochial schools near his home. In 1801 he left the farm to make his way in the world and returned to Milwaukee, where he found employment in a furniture store. He was asso- ciated with various firms for some time and learned the business in a practical manner and in 1905 engaged in the business for him- self. He became associated with Michael Prokop under the firm name of Prokop & Szatkowski. They have built up a large and prosperous business, as a result of fair dealing and a successful .effort in catering to the wants of their patrons. Today the firm is one of the most substantial and carries the largest stock of any furniture house on the south side. Mr. Szatkowski was married on May 30, 1893, to Anna, the daughter of Thomas Vincent, a resident of Milwaukee, and five children have come to bless and brighten this union: Roman, Palieza, Julia, Stanislaus and Joseph. The family are devout Catholics and members of St. Stanislaus Polish Catholic church. Mr. Szatkowski is a stanch Democrat in his po- litical adherency, but has never had any desire for political office.
Stephen J. Pozorski, who is engaged in the real estate and in- surance business and has a steamship agency at 1009 Bremen street, is one of the representative and progressive business men of the Cream City. He is a native of Germany, born in the province of West Prussia, Sept. 1, 1856, being the son of Michael and Frances (Zalikowski) Pozorski. When Stephen was twenty-five years old his father immigrated to the United States with his family and lo- cated in Milwaukee in 1881, where he resided until his death, which occurred at the home of Stephen in September, 1904, when he was eighty-six years old. Mr. Pozorski had reared three children : Cath- erine, the wife of Leo Zychski, who lives in Sauk county, Wis .; Wladislaus T. ; and Stephen, who grew to manhood in Prussian Po- land and received his elementary education in the public schools of his native country. After finishing the common branches he at- tended the polytechnic school and took a thorough course in engi- neering. Soon after coming to Milwaukee he entered the employ of the A. P. Allis Co., now the Allis-Chalmers Co., as a pattern maker ; from this position he was rapidly advanced and traveled all over the country setting up machinery for the company. He remained with the Allis company about nine years, but was not content to re- main a paid employe for any length of time and in 1890 entered the grocery business for himself. Three years later he was able to dis- pose of the grocery to advantage and erected a planing mill, which he conducted for some time. Mr. Pozorski sold his interest in the planing mill and again engaged in the grocery business, which he carried on until 1896; he had a large store and built up a large and prosperous business, based on fair dealing and successful effort in catering to the wants of his patrons. Immediately after going out of the grocery business he embarked in his present line and has been remarkably successful. Since 1896 he has been secretary of the North Side Loan and Building Society, of which he was one of the promoters, and which he has done much to put upon the sub-
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stantial basis it now occupies. On May 14, 1883, he married Rosa- lia, the daughter of Karl and Maria (Kupkowski) Kosecki, both na- tives of Prussian Poland. The issue of this union was three chil- dren, two of whom are deceased. On May 14, 1908, Mr. and Mrs. Pozorski, with their daughter, celebrated the twenty-fifth, or silver wedding anniversary, and the close of a quarter century of happy and congenial married life was made the occasion of a happy fam- ily gathering. Mr. Pozorski's political support is given to the Dem- ocratic party, of which he is a prominent member. He is a liberal and progressive citizen and is ever ready to lend his co-operation in the promotion of enterprises for the general good of the city and municipal progress. The family are devout Catholics and members and supporters of St. Kasimir's Polish Catholic church. Mr. Pozor- ski is a popular member of the Polish American Alliance, the Ger- mania Society and the National Union.
Stanislaus W. Kaminski, a well-known baker at 897 Racine street, Milwaukee, was born in the province of Posen. German Po- land, on April 23, 1863. He is one of the seven children of Joseph and Antonia (Dlurenska) Kaminski, who came to the United States in 1881, locating in Milwaukee. The mother died here in 1901, at the age of seventy-five years, and the father passed away in 1908, at the age of eighty-six. They reared to maturity a family of seven children-Martin; Mary, deceased, the wife of Joseph Kotechi ; Frances, the wife of W. Bartozenicz; Katie, wife of Stanley Cofta ; Joseph ; Stanislaus W., and Antonia. Stanislaus W. Kaminski, the subject of this review, was reared in the stern school of necessity in his native land and his education was restricted to the training af- forded by the institutions of learning there. In 1881, with his par- ents, he came to Milwaukee and found employment in a tannery, where he served until 1899. In that year he became a baker and opened a bakery for the sale of home-made goods. By persistence and skillful work he has built up a large patronage, which now fur- nishes him a goodly income, and his products are becoming known all over the city for their excellent quality. Fraternally he is identi- fied with the Polish National Alliance, and in political matters is a Democrat, but the stress of business affairs has restrained him from becoming a candidate for public office. On April 29, 1890, Mr. Kaminski was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Artmann, a daughter of Albert and Antonia (Vadinski) Artmann, of Milwau- kee. Four children have come to bless this union-John, Edward, Estella and Julia. The family are all communicants of St. Hedwig's Polish church.
Charles Stachowiak, a prominent hardware merchant of the Cream City, was born in the province of Posen, Germany, on July 20. 1872. He is a son of Valentine and Josephine (Kowalski) Stach- owiak, who came to Milwaukee direct from the old country in 1882. The father died in 1905, at the age of seventy-five years, leaving be- side his widow nine children-Mary, wife of Martin Wroblewski; Patronnella, wife of John Jankowski: Lawrence: Albert; Agnes, wife of Frank Mareda; Joseph ; Charles ; Casimir, and Stanislaus.
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From the time that he was ten years of age Charles Stachowiak was reared in Milwaukee and received his educational advantages in the public and evening schools. Brought up in a home where frugality and enterprise were habits, he became thoroughly imbued with the principles of industry and thrift. His first labors were as an appren- tice in the tinner's trade and after he had mastered the vocation he labored as a journeyman. In 1898 he had accumulated sufficient capital to embark in the business under his own name. Success at- tended his efforts from the first, due in large measure to his skilled workmanship and adaptability. He has the unique distinction of having been the first Polish tinner to engage in business for himself, and today he is the only one in Milwaukee. In religions matters hc is identified with the Polish Catholic church, being a communicant of the St. Cyril and Methody edifice. Politically he is a Democrat, but has never sought public office. On July 3, 1894, Mr. Stachowiak was united in marriage to Miss Anna Szukalski, a daughter of Paul and Constantia (Budzbanowski) Szukalski, of Manitowoc county, Wis. Of the children born to this union five survive-Eugene, Theresa. Clara, Clementina and Leonard.
Abraham Breslauer, the founder and president of the A. Bres- lauer Company, and a leading figure in the commercial life of Mil- waukee, was born in Germany on June 17, 1832, a son of Jacob and Olga Breslauer. Jacob Breslauer was a tailor by vocation, and lived all his life in his native country. Abraham Breslauer took advan- tage of the educational opportunities afforded by the schools of his native land and in 1854 came to the New World to seek his fortune. He located first in Pennsylvania, but the business prospects there were not to his liking so after four years he came to Milwaukee. His first business here was as a clothing merchant at Third and Chestnut streets and he continued in that line until 1883. In that year he established the liquor business in which he is now engaged. His inherent traits of frugality and industry and his absolute integ- rity, coupled with his personal popularity, soon built up for him a large and flourishing patronage, which has steadily increased from year to year until now it has no equals in the city. By 1893 the industry had developed to such an extent that it became necessary to enlarge the quarters of the company, and the new and commo- dious building which the company now occupies was erected. In politics Mr. Breslauer has been a Republican ever since he took out his naturalization papers, casting his first vote for Fremont. He is one of the most loyal and devout members of the Jewish Temple in Milwaukee, and his fraternal associations include membership in the Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Knights of Pythias and B'nai B'rith. Mr. Breslauer has been twice married. He was united to Miss Johanna Wiener in July, 1856, and by her had three children : Samuel, born on May 25, 1857: Joseph, born on Nov. 25, 1858; and Bertha, born on Feb. 7, 1862. His second wife was Emma Meissner, and by her he was the father of three children-Arthur, Harry and Freida, whose ages are twenty-eight, twenty-three and nineteen, respectively.
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Richard G. Owens, administrator of the Owens estate and a prominent dealer in real estate in Milwaukee, was born in this city on March 22, 1846. He is a son of Richard G. and Mary Ann (Jones) Owens, the former of whom was born in Anglesea, Wales, on Jan. 8, 1811, and the latter in Montgomeryshire, Wales, in 1821. The father, Richard G. Owens, was the pioneer brewer of Milwau- kee and one of the most prominent figures in the history of the city. At the age of twelve years he was left an orphan, and from that age he made his way in life alone. Until he had attained his majority he spent most of his life on a farm in his native country, and in June, 1832, sailed for the United States. He arrived on Aug. 8 of the same year, and for a period of twelve or thirteen months worked on a farm on Long Island. From there he went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he learned the art of manufacturing French buhr millstones. After fifteen months he removed to Buffalo, N. Y., and there en- gaged as a contractor in the millstone business, making stones and selling them to the dealers. Later he opened a store and made some real estate investments, the latter of which proved worthless, as the lake encroached and covered the property. His first arrival in Mil- waukee was about Oct. 1, 1837, but it was then only as a stop-over on a journey to Galena, Chicago, St. Louis and other points. This trip consumed about a month, and upon his return to Milwaukee he purchased a land claim in the town of Greenfield, and spent the win- ter in clearing it. In the spring of 1838 he went to Buffalo, but re- mained there only three months before returning to Milwaukee. He next went to St. Louis and there was engaged at his trade of mill- stone maker until June 1, 1840. From his return to Milwaukee at that time until the time of his death he made this city his home. The idea of a brewery was formulated soon after Mr. Owens' re- turn, and on June 12, 1840, he went to Michigan City, Ind., and brought from there the first 130 bushels of barley used in the pro- cess of making ale, and he superintended the brewing of the product. He continued in the brewing business until 1864, when he rented his place to M. W. Powell & Company, under whose direction the business was continued. During the remainder of his active life he was engaged in the care of his realty, buying, selling and renting. Fiis demise occurred on Nov. 10, 1882. His wife was a daughter of Evan Jones, who migrated to Chicago from Wales, arriving in the Windy City on July 1. 1839. The ocean trip was made by a slow sailing vessel to New York, thence to Albany by steamer, a canal boat to Buffalo and the steamer Illinois to Chicago. Her father had eleven hundred dollars in gold on his arrival in Chicago and seven hundred of it he invested in a farm near Des Plaines. He suc- cumbed to cholera in 1852 in his seventy-second year. The mar- riage of Richard G. Owens, Sr., and Mary Ann Jones occurred on June 7, 1841, and the same day they started for Milwaukee on the steamer Illinois. The vessel was of such draught that it could not make the harbor, and the bridal party was transferred to the Trow- bridge, a smaller vessel, which brought them up the river to where Wisconsin street now crosses. They stopped at the Milwaukee
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