Vaclav Stuchlik - Early Czech Settler in Chicago

This article was found in "History of Cook County", Volume 2, Pages 718 to 721, Editors: Weston A Goodspeed and Daniel D. Healy, published by Hammond Press in 1909.

"William Stuchlik, now. living a retired life from active business pursuits at 1915 South Ridgeway avenue, was born in Bohemia, October 15, 1844. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Velibil) Stuchlik, immigrated to America in 1853, first locating in Canada, subsequently, in May, 1854, establishing a home in Chicago at Clark and Van Buren street, where they resided three years. Mr. Stuchlik then leased land at Twelfth and Dearborn streets where he continued the same business until 1859, then moving to a farm near Eastman, Crawford county, Wis. Tiring of backwoods life, he returned to Chicago with his family in 1862 and lived at the corner of Clinton and Taylor Streets and here worked at his trade of mason and in a lumber yard until his death. William Stuchlik, the subject of this sketch, is the only child living born to his parents. After ten years of age he has lived in the United States, his education having been acquired in the public and_ German Catholic schools of Chicago. When seventeen years old he was apprenticed to the machinist's and engineer's trade, serving five years, and during the civil war acted as assistant engineer for three months on the steamer "War Eagle," plying on the Mississippi river. From then until 1881 he worked at his trade in Chicago, the succeeding twelve years being passed in the grocery business at Fisk and Eighteenth streets. He then continued in the same line at Eighteenth street and Nutt Court until he retired from active business pursuits in May, 1895. Mr. Stuchlik is remembered by the old settlers and by those who know him as an honorable, industrious citizen and a credit to the city. He married Margaret, daughter of William and Anna (Brabec) Razney, natives of Bohemia, who settled in Chicago in 1867, and to them have been born seven children: Anna (now Mrs. Frank Jindrich), William A., John, Frank (deceased), Mary (now Mrs. James Friedl), Edward and Emily (the wife of Joseph Kadec). Mr. Stuchlik, on matters of national importance, is a Republican. He and wife are members of the Bohemian Old Settlers' association of which Mrs. Stuchlik has been vice-president since 1899.

William A. Stuchlik, a prominent pharmacist of 1758 West Twelfth street, is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Chicago and perhaps the first Bohemian family to settle in Cook county. William Stuchlik, his father, appropriate mention of whom appears elsewhere, was the only child of Joseph, the pioneer. William A. Stuchlik was born in Chicago, at Thirty-ninth street and Wentworth avenue, July 14, 1872, and attended in youth the public schools, the Lutheran German grammar school and the Cook County Normal school. In 1904 he was graduated from the Chicago College of Pharmacy and the following year embarked in the drug business in partnership with his brother John. He thus continued until 1899, when he engaged in the business alone at the corner of Eighteenth and Wood streets. Ability and natural aptitude in his profession has brought him success in a marked degree. On October 24, 1905, he married Louise, daughter of Frank and Antonia (Kvasnicka) Kreml, of Chicago, and they are the parents of one daughter, Helen, born in 1906. Mr. Stuchlik is a member of the Chicago Retail Druggists' association, the Social Drug club, the Masonic fraternity, the Bohemian club and the Dobrosky, an organization composed of Bohemian Masons. In politics he is a Republican on national issues and is active in party affairs.

Edward Stuchlik, a prominent and successful pharmacist at 1012 W. Eighteenth street, was born in Chicago, May 11, 1883, and is a son of William and Margaret (Razney) Stuchlik, pioneer Bohemians of Chicago. He was reared in this city and educated in the public schools, the Medill High school and was graduated in pharmacy from the University of Illinois in 1904. From 1902 to 1904 he served as assistant pharmacist in various drug stores of this city and after his graduation was employed for a year and a half in the chemical department of Armour's laboratory and later for the same period was manager of the drug department of the Fair, Charles H. Fitzner, J. S. Stiles and others. In 1907 he embarked in business for himself at his present location in the drug store which had been founded by his brothers.William A. and John, in 1894.  He now has one of the best equipped drug stores in this part of the city and his trade is large and his reputation excellent. At the present time he is teacher of pharmacology and chemistry in the College of Physicians and Surgeons. This fact is so notable and unusual as to be worth special attention. He is a member of the National Association of Retail Druggists, Illinois Pharmaceutical association, the Alumni association of the Chicago College of Pharmacy and is a shareholder in the Chicago Wholesale Drug company and the Asepta Product company. He is also a member of Arcana Lodge No. 717 of the Masonic fraternity."