Jacob J. Litza, Sr. (1851-1919)
Happy Father's Day! Today, we remember Jacob J. Litza, Sr., whom the
Milwaukee Journal dubbed "Father of Milwaukee's Largest Family."*
The following article appeared in the
Milwaukee Journal on December 26, 1912:
Some of you may remember that Gilda Gray (
Featured Profile #32) had her professional debut at "Jack Litza's Polish Saloon." That was probably either the establishment run by Jacob, Sr., or the one run by Jacob, Jr., who also had a bar on Mitchell, two blocks down from that of his father's.
When Jacob, Sr. died on February 24, 1919, Milwaukee's
Kuryer Polski ran an obituary (the original of which appears at the end of this article). The following is a translation. [Many thanks to Chris Stolz for providing the original obit. and the majority of the translation.]
Sp = in holy memory Funeral Mr.J. Litza is going to be
on Saturday morning from Saint Josephat's church. Three sons of the
deceased that are serving in military are coming to honor their
deceased father.
On Saturday morning from Saint Josephat's church is going
to be Mr. Litza funeral, who died at the age of 67 at his home 1089
1st Ave. at 1:45 pm. The deceased left a large family and was known
by many people in Milwaukee as the one from the older polish pioneers
in Milwaukee.
The deceased was a father to 21 children, from which
five sons were, or are serving in American military.
Mr. J. Litza belonged to polish pioneers, after 54
years of living in America.
He was born near Gdansk. He did not attend school
because he did not have the opportunity. When he approached military
age, he traveled to America because he did not want to serve his
eternal enemy, the Prussian military.
Upon arrival to America, Mr. J Litza was living in
Geneva, Illinois working on a farm. Later he came to Milwaukee and
set a property title claim on Jones Island.
He worked 21 years for Illinois Steel Co., until he
lost his leg in a work accident. He was in the hospital for some
time. After gaining strength, he filed a law suit against the
company. The court awarded him a settlement totaling $6000.
Next, Mr. J. Litza opened a saloon on 1089 1st Avenue
that was operating until the last day of his life. He was in this
business for over 25 years.
Mr. J. Litza was married twice. His first wife Julia
Cyskowska from the Cyskowski family who died about 24 years ago.
Second wife was from the Mudlaff family, Anna Mudlaff.
He was a father of 21 children. The marriages were
sealed with many children, 21 welcomed the world, 13 of them are
still living.
Living children from his first wife are: Jacob, Joseph,
Bernard, and Julius.
Living children from his second wife are: Alex,
Michael, Felix, Roman, Jacob, Cecilia, Maria, Agnes, and Clara.
Characteristically, although the late Jacob Litza
fled from Germany so as to avoid military service, he brought up his
sons to be brave soldiers. Indeed, five of his sons served or are
currently serving in the American military.
The eldest son, Jacob Litza, was a soldier during
the Spanish-American War. He was also a deputy sheriff at the time
of the sheriff's office Franke'go [?], and later an assemblyman for
the 8th District in 1913, and now runs one of the nicest buffets in
town at 481 Mitchell Street. Son Jacob Litza was also a delegate to
the last Democratic convention in St. Louis and voted for President
Wilson, and was also at the inauguration ceremony in Washington when
President Wilson took the oath to begin a second term in office.
Mr. Bernard Litza served in
the army during the war of the Japanese [?] - Aleks – served in an
engineers unit in France with the troops of General Pershing; Michael
is in a company of heavy artillery, and Julius was a sailor that
toured around the world on the ship "Connecticut" during
[Theodore] Roosevelt's time in office.
Relation to Nearest Featured Profile: (Stanley Maternowski, Featured Profile #30): No near relationship.
Path From Nearest Featured Profile: Stanley Maternowski > wife, Frances (Markowski) Maternowski > sister, Elizabeth (Markowski) Kitzki > husband, Stanley Kitzki > brother, Gustaf Kitzke > wife, Victoria (Rosploch) Kitzke > sister, Angeline (Rospoch) Napientek > daughter, Clara (Napientek) Gigowski > husband, John Gigowski > brother, Edward Gigowski > wife, Angeline (Mazurkiewicz) Gigowski > brother, Harry Mazurkiewicz > wife, Eleanor (Brefka) Mazurkiewicz > mother, Appolonia (Gazinski) Brefka > sister, Mary (Gazinski) Knapinski > husband, Anton Knapinski > brother, Jacob Knapinski > wife, Anna (Mudlaff) [Knapinski] Litza > second husband, Jacob Litza, Sr.
*"Jacob J. Litza, Politician Dies," Milwaukee Journal, November 22, 1922, p. 8
