 |
| Jacob Litza, Jr. as published in the Milwaukee Journal |
Jacob J. Litza, Jr. (1879 - 1922)
Somewhat surprisingly, of the two Jacob Litzas (father and son) it is the younger which appears in Memoirs of Milwaukee County, (edited by Jerome Anthony Watrous ). Here is his entry which appears at pages 999-1000:
Some of you may remember that his father mentioned in this article was Jacob J. Litza, Sr, (Featured Profile #40.)
Memoirs of Milwaukee County (from which the above article was taken) was published in 1909. However, it was almost out of date as far as Jacob, Jr. (or "Jake") was concerned. Despite the fact that it states Jake never aspired to public office he, in fact, did. Jake started his political climb in 1910 when he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Milwaukee. He served in that capacity for two years and then was elected to the State Assembly. He served one two-year term and then went back to his restaurant/bowling alley business. His 'joint" soon became the hang out for the Polish politicians on Milwaukee's south side. He also got more involved in his favorite sport, baseball, and by 1918, he was managing the Kosciusko Reds, the team formerly led by Louis Fons (Featured Profile #7)
Despite the fact that Jake., had served as a Deputy Sheriff, he was not immune from having his own scrapes with the law. While serving as state assemblyman, he was arrested as part of a large raid at a cockfight. (See, Big Collar at the Cock Fight). Later, during Prohibition, he was arrested in a massive sweep to stem the illicit trade in alcohol. Finally, in 1921, the room above his café was raided as being a gambling parlor, although Litza himself appears not to have been arrested.
It was just about that time (1920), that Jake got out of the café business, and became president of the Berthelet Pipe and Supply Co. He served in that capacity for just two years before his death in 1920.
The following is his obituary which appeared in the Milwaukee Journal on November 6, 1922:
Relation to Nearest Featured Profile: (Jacob J. Litza, Sr., Featured Profile #40): Son.
Path From Nearest Featured Profile: Jacob Litza, Sr.> son, Jacob Litza, Jr.
Sources:
"Jake Litza Denies Rumor He'll Retire," Milwaukee Journal, May 9, 1919, p. 27.
"Koskys Go to Sheboygan for the Sabbath," Milwaukee Journal, September 15, 1918, p. 25
"Litza, Gus Miller, Olinger, and Eleven Other Plead Not Guilty After Arraignment," Milwaukee Sentinel, January 5, 1921, p2.
"Nab 20 in Litza Café Building," Milwaukee Journal, May 4, 1920, p. 2
State of Wisconsin Blue Book, 1913 p. 673
