My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE GORZNY. Since his early youth our subject has manifested a degree of enterprise which has redounded to his credit and resulted in worldly prosperity. He is one of the leading business men of Chester, where he has resided since the year 1879. A native of Poland, our subject was born April 23, 1856. His father, Valentine Gorzny, was born in the same place as his son. He emigrated to America in 1866 with his family, and located in Chester, where he was engaged as a day laborer. He died in 1886. He was married to Ann Grott, likewise a native of Poland, who bore him twelve children, of whom four are still surviving. They are: Zack, a resident of Chester; Mary, the wife of Stephen Jany, a prominent farmer in this county; Rosa, who is the wife of Mike Wolshock, and resides in Chester; and George.

Our subject attended school only two months in his life, but has improved every opportunity to grasp knowledge, and being of an observing disposition, has made of himself a practical and sagacious business man. He began in life for himself when but ten years old, working for his board and clothes on a farm for seven years. He then received some pay for his labor, when, a year later, he engaged with Wolf Brothers as a farm hand, near Evansville, Ill. After eighteen months’ time, our subject came to Chester and commenced to learn to manufacture soda water, but not making a success of this enterprise, he again worked on a farm. In 1879 he engaged in the cigar business in Chester, continuing in this for two years, when he took up his present business, that of liquor dealer. In this latter under taking he has been prosperous, and by his diligence and perseverance has been successful.

Mr. Gorzny is a devout Catholic in his religious belief, and is a member of the Western Catholic Union, being Trustee of that order. He is one of the leading Democrats in the county, and takes an active part in all political matters.