Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 4 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 6

Through a period of more than eighteen years Joseph John Kozourek has been connected with the C. W. Fischer Furniture Company, of which he is now the treasurer, his identification with the business as a member of the company dating from 1914. Intelligently directed industry has been the basis of his steady rise in the business world until step by step he has reached a place of prominence in commercial circles. Milwaukee numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred on the 17th of October, 1878. His father, Matthias Kozourek, was a native of Posen, Austria, and of Bohemian ancestry. Coming to America in 1872, he resided for a time in New York and then came to Milwaukee, where he engaged in business as a box-maker. He was a young married man of about twenty-one years when he came to the United States, his wife being Eva (Wagner) Kozourek, who was also born in Austria, in which country they were married. Mr. Kozourek departed this life in April, 1910. His widow makes her home in Milwaukee.

Joseph J. Kozourek was educated in the parochial schools, attending St. Wenceslaus North school on Scott street, and afterward the public schools of the eighth ward, while later he was a student in the Spencerian Business College. He started out to provide for his own support by working in the south side branch of the Schlitz Brewing Company for a year or more, as checking clerk. He then entered the St. Paul shops at West Milwaukee, occupying a position in the storekeeper's office and in the time department for four years, winning advancement to the position of weighmaster. In July, 1903, he entered the employ of the C. W. Fischer Furniture Company as a bookkeeper and from time to time has gained promotion, purchasing an interest in the business in 1914 and steadily advancing until he became treasurer and director in 1917. As the financial man of the company he has been active in directing its affairs and promoting its success and is now classed with the prominent and representative merchants of the city.

On the 16th of June, 1903, Mr. Kozourek was married to Miss Antoinette Koubeck, a (laughter of Anton Koubeck, a cabinetmaker of Milwaukee, who has been connected with the St. Paul shops for twenty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Kozourek are the parents of four children: Alice, who is attending the South Side high school; Dorothy, in St. Matthew's parochial school; Gertrude, attending the same school; and Loretta.

In politics Mr. Kozourek is a republican but has never been an active party worker. He and his family are of the Catholic faith, identified with St. Matthew's parish. Fraternally he is an Elk, belonging to the Milwaukee lodge, and he is also a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, of which he has served as secretary. He is fond of bowling and has won second place in the city contest. He was a member of the Fischer team in the Commercial League which won the championship in 1920. He also greatly enjoys fishing and every phase of outdoor life, especially touring in a motor car. The daughter Alice bids fair to become a vocalist of superior ability and is now studying under Madame Kavel. She is likewise proficient as a pianist. The family home is at No. 463 American avenue, a property which Mr. Kozourek purchased in 1910 and which they have since occupied.