Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 3 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 35

In a history of business enterprise in Milwaukee mention should be made of Mark L. Patek, who for a long period was prominently associated with commercial activity here. He was born in this city in 1864, his parents being Gottlieb and Elizabeth (Hirschberg) Patek, both of whom were natives of Austria. Attracted by the opportunities of the new world they came to the United States about 1850 and immediately made their way to Milwaukee, where the family home was established. For an extended period the father engaged in the business of handling net and twine. He had reached a ripe old age when in 1915 he was called to his final rest, having at that time passed the eighty-fourth milestone on life's journey. His wife died several years before.

Mark L. Patek was the eldest in their family of four children. He enjoyed the educational advantages offered by the public schools and afterward became a student in the University of Wisconsin, from which in due course of time he was graduated. He received his initial business training under his father's direction and for some time was engaged in the net and twine business, but eventually became associated with his younger brother, George W. Patek, in organizing the firm of Patek Brothers for the manufacture of paints and the jobbing of plate and window glass. While they started out in a modest way their patronage developed rapidly and it was not long before they were compelled to seek more commodious quarters, in order to meet the growing demand for their products. It was in 1916 that they removed to Water street, where they secured a large building with extensive storage and warehouse facilities. Mark L. Patek concentrated his efforts and attention in very large measure upon the development of the trade and was an important factor in the steady and substantial growth of the business, with which he continued his connection to the time of his demise.

Mr. Patek was united in marriage to Miss Retta Shroder, a daughter of Judge Shroder of Cincinnati, Ohio, and they became the parents of two sons: John, born in 1902, who is now in his twentieth year; and Richard, born in 1905. who is in his seventeenth year. The family circle was broken by the hand of death in 1920, the husband and father departing this life on the 6th of October. He had long been a faithful follower of the Masonic fraternity and was well known as a member of the University Club and other prominent social organizations. The sterling worth of his character was attested by all who had business relations with him or came within the close circle of his friendship. He had always lived in Milwaukee and his life ever measured up to high and creditable standards, so that his passing was a matter of deep regret to many friends as well as to his immediate family.