Bio: |
Ignac Cesnik (History 1878) |
Contact: |
Janet Schwarze |
Email: |
Posted4U@aol.com |
Surnames: |
CESNIK |
----Source: 1918 History of Clark County, Wisconsin
IGNAC CESNIK, the chief promoter of the
village of Willard, Hendren Township, where he now resides, and who
has had much to do with the development of this township, is a man
with a remarkable history. He was born in Austria, July 31, 1878, a
son of John and Helena Cesnik. When only 15 years old he was seized
with the ambition to come to the United States, but had to run away
in order to do so, and, accordingly crossed over the frontier line
into Italy, where he tried to buy a ticket to this country. The
agent refused to sell him a ticket to the United States but advised
him to go to South America. He therefore went to that part of the
Western Hemisphere and stayed there nine years, meeting with
various adventures and at one time Beilig sold as a slave. He was
married in Brazil to Zera Zedell, a native of Austria, and later
came with two children to the United States. Locating at Joliet,
Ill., he engaged in the real estate business and with remarkable
energy built up a subdivision to that city and also the village of
Rockdale, a few miles from there, now having a Population of 1,250
people. In 1908 Mr. Cesnik engaged with the Foster Lumber Company
to come to Clark County and develop the section around what is now
the village of Willard, though there was then no village there. He
arrived on a hand-car on the Fairchild North Eastern Railroad and
at once set to work to start immigration to this locality. The
result of his efforts is a now prosperous community, with stores, a
cheese factory and other profitable industries, giving employment
to a growing population. His work has been truly beneficial to this
part of the county and he is a man held in high respect. He has
represented his township three terms on county board, as town
chairman. He was also the first director of the school district,
serving six years. Mr. Cesnik and wife are the parents of four
children: Mary and John, who were born in Brazil, and Anna and
Ignes, born in Joliet, Ill. John is now department agent at
Willard.
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