Walter Celichowski was an early, but significant, merchant in Milwaukee's Polish community. He was the sixth of at least eight children born to Wincenty Celichowski and Ludwika (Ryterski) Celichowski who appear to have been married in Smogulec, Poland in 1863. Walter was born June 13, 1877, and he, along with the rest of his family, immigrated to the United States in 1886 when he was nine years old. His father, who was a mason by trade, quickly found work at the Pabst Brewery.
Unfortunately, Walter's father died just a year later at the young age of 49, leaving his wife and eight children. It is not known how the family made ends meet, but they managed to not only survive, but to prosper. Walter's older brother Bronislaus spent six years at Marquette College (now Marquette University) and then entered the St. Francis Seminary. He was ordained in 1898 and at one time or another would serve as the pastor of St. Hedwig's, St. Casimir's and Ss. Cyril and Methodius Churches.
Walter spent his early years at St. Hyacinth's School and then also went on to Marquette College. After graduation he became a clerk at T.A. Chapman & Co. After several years, he became a clerk at the Milwaukee County Register of Deeds. He spent a year there and then served a year at the office of the State Treasurer in Madison. In 1901, he returned to Milwaukee to open a men's clothing store. That first store was on the corner of Brady and Warren Streets. He married Josepha Baranowski soon after in August, 1902, then next year, he took on another new partner, this time in business. His brother-in-law, Dominic Gapinski, joined the business, and they moved the store, now known as "Celichowski & Gapinski" to Third and Mitchell. In 1907, they moved again, this time just down the block to 476-478 Mitchell Street, where it grew to become the second largest men's clothing and furnishing store on the south side.
In 1908, the management of the store changed suddenly when Dominic Gapinski was shot and killed while trying to foil a robbery of the Skarb Sobieski Building and Loan Foundation. (See the blog entry up-coming the week after Memorial Day for details.) It may be at this point that Walter brought his older brother Casimir, into the business.
The store moved at least one more time to 738 W. Mitchell. Walter Celichowski continued to operate the store until the Great Depression forced its closure. (It was then sold to another up-and-coming self-made Pole, Myron L. Mayer, who would also operate a men's clothing store there and who would later be known as the "Mayor of Mitchell Street.")
In 1934, Walter became president of the State Savings and Loan. He would continue to hold that position until the year of his death, at which time, his son Stanley took over the position from him. The association would later change names and then in 1969, as American Savings and Loan, merge into First Federal Savings and Loan. During his tenure as president of the Savings and Loan, Walter also served as the state president of the Wisconsin Building and Loan League and on the County Board of Public Welfare.
After leading a full and varied life, Walter Celichowski died in Milwaukee on August 2, 1958.
Relation to Nearest Featured Profile (Hattie Baranowski, Featured Profile #12): brother-in-law
Walter Celichowski was also the father-in-law of Ray Buivid.
In addition, Bronk Hibner, Walter's nephew, married Esther Fons, daughter of Louis A. Fons, Featured Profile # 7, and his niece Eleanor (Baranowski) Fons married the son of Louis A. Fons, Alois Fons. Just to round out the picture, Louis A. Fons' son Louis R. Fons married June (Baranowski) Fons, who was a first cousin to Eleanor (Baranowski) Fons through Eleanor's father, Walter Baranowski. There is no known connection between Walter Baranowski and Hattie Baranowski although it seems likely that there is one to be found.
Casimir Celichowski, brother of Walter, married Anna (Czerwinski) Celichowski, niece of Roman Czerwinski, Featured Profile #10. She is the daughter of John Czerwinski who will be the subject of an up-coming Featured Profile.
Path From Nearest Featured Profile: Hattie Baranowski > sister, Josepha (Baranowski) Celichowski > husband, Walter CelichowskiWalter Celichowski was also the father-in-law of Ray Buivid.
In addition, Bronk Hibner, Walter's nephew, married Esther Fons, daughter of Louis A. Fons, Featured Profile # 7, and his niece Eleanor (Baranowski) Fons married the son of Louis A. Fons, Alois Fons. Just to round out the picture, Louis A. Fons' son Louis R. Fons married June (Baranowski) Fons, who was a first cousin to Eleanor (Baranowski) Fons through Eleanor's father, Walter Baranowski. There is no known connection between Walter Baranowski and Hattie Baranowski although it seems likely that there is one to be found.
Casimir Celichowski, brother of Walter, married Anna (Czerwinski) Celichowski, niece of Roman Czerwinski, Featured Profile #10. She is the daughter of John Czerwinski who will be the subject of an up-coming Featured Profile.
Sources (page references on newspapers are to the page on Google News):
"American Savings to Join First Federal," Milwaukee Journal, January 27, 1969, p. 16
"Board Change Clears Hurdle," Milwaukee Journal, January 12, 1951, p. 16
"Building, Loan Parley Opens Tuesday," Milwaukee Sentinel, October 10, 1938, p. 3.
"Fr. Celichowski Had Served Three Milwaukee Churches," Milwaukee Sentinel, Jan. 1, 1952, p. 1.
"Polish Immigrant Became 'Mayor of Mitchell Street,'" Milwaukee Journal, May 16, 1966, p. 4.
Watrous, Jerome Anthony, Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Vol. 2, for Walter Celichowski, see pg. 883.
For Bronislaus Celichowski, see pg. 125.
