Joseph Rechlicz
19th century Polish American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jozef T. (Joseph) Rechlicz (March 21, 1862 – September 23, 1921) was a Polish American immigrant, merchant, and Democratic politician. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the south side of the city of Milwaukee during the 1899 session.
Joseph Rechlicz | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Milwaukee 5th district | |
| In office March 8, 1899 – January 7, 1901 | |
| Preceded by | Albert Woyciechowski |
| Succeeded by | Fred Esau |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 21, 1862 |
| Died | September 23, 1921 (aged 59) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Resting place | Saint Adalberts Cemetery, Milwaukee |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Anna Kantak |
| Children |
|
| Occupation | Laborer, merchant |
Biography
Jozef Rechlicz was born in Poznań, in what is now western Poland. At the time of his birth, the area was part of the Kingdom of Prussia. As a child, he emigrated to the United States with his parents and came to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1880. He immediately went to work as a laborer at the E. P. Allis manufacturing company. He remained there for many years and was promoted to work as a shipping clerk.[1]
In the 1890s, he started his own business, operating a grocery and saloon.[1]
He was active in the Polish American and Catholic communities in Milwaukee; he was secretary of the St. Stanislaus Mutual Aid Association, a co-founder of the Polish Association of America, and a member of the board of trustees of the United Catholic societies of the United States.[1]
During the 1899 Wisconsin legislative session, incumbent state representative Albert Woyciechowski died of a sudden case of pneumonia. Local Democrats quickly coalesced around Rechlicz as their choice to succeed Woyciechowski.[2] A special election was held February 28, 1899, in which Rechlicz defeated Republican F. J. Holtz with 60% of the vote.[1][3] He did not run for re-election in 1900.
Rechlicz died in Milwaukee on September 23, 1921.[4]
Personal life and family
Rechlicz was a son of John Rechlicz and his wife Justina (née Brzezińska). Jozef Rechlicz married Anna Kantak, also an immigrant from Polish Prussia.[5] They had seven children, though three died in infancy and two others died relatively young.