Paul Waszkowiak. a merchant of LaSalle, Illinois, is of Polish birth and
early education. He was born in Poland, Germany, January 15, 1858, and is a
son of John and Anna (Candeika) Waszkowiak. His father died in Poland in
1866, at the age of fifty-two years, and his mother is still living, a
resident of this country. To them were born the following children: John,
Frank, Joe, Paul, Mary and Anton. Their son John came to this country and to
LaSalle in 1870, the following year Frank came, and in 1873 their widowed
mother, with three of her children, — Paul, Mary and Anton, — also came to
LaSalle. The mother, now seventy-four years of age, is still living in
LaSalle. At the time of her coming to America her son Joe was in the German
army. He joined the other members of the family here in 1875, and at this
writing all of them, except Frank, reside in LaSalle.
Paul, the subject of this sketch, was fifteen years old when he landed on
American soil. He had gained a fair education in his native language, but
after coming to this country never went to school. However, he has learned
to read and write as well as speak the English language. Immediately after
he came to LaSalle he obtained employment as a horse driver in the yards of
the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Company, at a salary of one dollar and ten
cents per day. Afterward he was given work in the furnace department of the
zinc works, at better wages, and for several years held a position with the
company. He saved his earnings and was thereby enabled to go into business
for himself. This he did in the year 1894. He engaged in the grocery and
saloon lousiness, in which he has continued, achieving success, building up
a good trade, and gaining for himself a splendid reputation as a business
man.
In 1879 Mr. Waszkowiak was united in marriage to Miss Bozalija Siekieska,
and to them have been born five sons and one daughter. He and his family are
members of the Polish Catholic church, and he belongs to the Catholic Order
of Foresters.
Extracted 17 Jul 2017 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 499-500.
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