An enterprising, wide-awake young business man of LaSalle, Frank B. Zwick
may be justly termed self-made and self-educated. Starting into business
here a few years ago, he has steadily advanced financially and in every way,
winning the respect and high esteem of all with whom he has been associated
or had dealings.
A native of Germany, our subject is a son of
Casimer and Anna (Loerke) Zwick, of the same country. The father emigrated
to the United States in 1871 and in the spring of the following year sent
for his family, who arrived in LaSalle April 22. The eldest daughter, Rosa,
with her husband, John Waszkowiak, had located in this place in 1870, and it
was largely through her influence that the others concluded to cast in their
fortunes with the citizens of this state. Pauline, the second daughter, is
now deceased, as are Anton and one who was born in this county and died when
young. Augusta is married, Wynoa. Casimer is a merchant in this city, and
Anna is married and lives in Chicago. The parents are still living here, the
father being seventy-six years of age and the mother in her sixty-seventh
year.
When he was but eleven years of age, Frank B. Zwick was
obliged to leave school, which he had attended but three years, and from
that time to the present he has been one of the world's busy workers. He was
fourteen and a half years old when the family came to the United States, and
though he obtained a position in a general store in LaSalle soon after his
arrival here he had no knowledge of English and had a very difficult
experience in being initiated into the language and customs of our people.
He was bright and ambitious, and ere long had acquired familiarity with
these necessary things. He now speaks, reads and writes English well, and is
well posted in general affairs. For three years he worked in a grocery,
after which he was employed in a cement works for two years. Then, for six
months he was with the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Company, and subsequently
with the Illinois Zinc Works. At length, in November, 1883, he embarked in
business for himself, opening a dry-goods and gentlemen's furnishing goods
store. His capital was small at first, but his ambitious undertaking has
been very successful, and he has branched out quite extensively, keeping a
well selected stock of goods and meriting the large patronage he enjoys.
On the 12th of June, 1887, Mr. Zwick wrote his first fire-insurance
policy, and since that time has been the local agent for about all of the
leading fire-insurance companies in this country. He is active in the
support of the Democratic party. For a time he served as deputy county
clerk; in 1890 he was made a notary public; the following year he was
elected to the office of justice of the peace, and at the expiration of his
term he was re-elected, and again, in 1897, was honored with the position.
His marriage to Miss Julia Mathys was celebrated January 29, 1894. They
belong to St. Hyacinth's Polish church, and, as both have musical talent,
they give their services to the congregation, he leading the choir and his
wife acting as organist.
Extracted 19 Dec 2018 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 556-557.
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