Jacob J. Blahnik

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Jacob J. Blahnik (August 23, 1881 - early 1954) was an American farmer, businessman, teacher and legislator from Algoma, Wisconsin. He served one term as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Kewaunee County seat, and was an unsuccessful candidate for various other offices.

Background

Blahnik was born in the

University of Wisconsin, spent two years as a schoolteacher, worked as an assessor, and helped re-organize the local telephone company. Before election to the Assembly, he had served as a director of the local federal land bank, the Algoma Farmers Cooperative, and the Bank of Algoma, and was an examining committee
member of the latter; but in 1930 he described his occupation as "farmer".

Public office

General Assembly

After defeating former Assemblyman

elections.[5]

In the spring legislative session, a bill introduced by Blahnik to reduce the salaries of all state workers and officials making more than $90 a month (later modified to $150) drew a great deal of attention, but little support. Blahnik argued that this would give the workers and officials a chance to display

automobiles.[8] A committee of representatives from farm organizations later announced a renewed push for Blahnik's wage-cut bill, explaining that because of the lower prices of farm products, farmers' expenses must be reduced by cutting prices, and that Wisconsin was called upon to set an example in order to push private employers to slash wages nationwide and then cut prices paid by farmers.[9]

Run for Congress, and after

In 1932, rather than seek re-election to the Assembly as previously reported,

Albert Shimek's 3,663 and Republican Joseph M. Mleziva's 2,170.[13]

He ran again for the Democratic nomination in 1934, losing the primary to Shimek by 589 to 1,184; and ran in the general election as an "Independent Progressive Democrat", polling 716 votes to Shimek's 2,525 and Progressive Oscar Berg's 2,089.[14] He did the same thing in 1936, drawing 776 votes to Shimek's 985, and this time running in the general as an "Independent Democrat", coming in second with 1,546 votes to Shimek's 2,704, Progressive Arthur Johns' 1,160 and Republican Emil Leitschow's 987.[15]

Later years

By 1950, he had been living in

Robert E. "Bobby" Lynch. He had been working for various Green Bay firms, having retired after 32 years of farming in Kewaunee County.[16] He lost to Lynch, who drew 2,911 votes to Blahnik's 795.[17]

In February 1953, he was a candidate for the joint position of

county supervisor in Green Bay's sixth ward, by which time he had been in that city for eight years. He was a widower with one child.[18] In February 1954 an announcement was published in the Press-Gazette to settle his estate, although no date of death was given.[19] Online genealogical websites claim that the date of death was January 30, 1954; that he had married Emma Nolde (1883–1945) on November 20, 1900; and that their daughter Valeria Catherin (1910-1996) was the only child to outlive him.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Pioneer Passes Away; Jacob Blahnik, Sr., an Old Pioneer Resident Passes Away at His Home in This City Wednesday" Algoma Record November 13, 1908 (Vol. 36, No. 23)]
  2. ^ "Blahnik, Jacob A." at genealogyvillage.com; accessed February 18, 2022
  3. Newspapers.com
  4. ^ Everett, Winter. "Around the Statehouse" Wisconsin State Journal June 24, 1932; p. 2, col. 3
  5. ^ Kelly, Alice, ed. The Wisconsin Blue Book 1931 Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer, 1931; pp. 182, 225, 571, 577
  6. ^ Associated Press. "Patriotism He Says Was Cause" Oshkosh Northwestern March 13, 1931; p. 3, col. 1
  7. ^ United Press. "Requests Special Congress Session" Kenosha News June 10, 1931; p. 1, col. 2
  8. Marshfield News-Herald
    April 17, 1931; p. 1, col. 5
  9. ^ Everett, Winter. "Around the Statehouse." Wisconsin State Journal July 28, 1931; p. 3, col. 6
  10. ^ Everett, Winter. "Politics in Wisconsin" item. La Crosse Tribune December 16, 1931; p. 7, col. 4
  11. ^ "Enters Fight as Independent for Two State Offices" The Post-Crescent September 24, 1932; p. 2, col. 7
  12. ^ Everett, Winter. "Around the Statehouse" Wisconsin State Journal October 6, 1932; p. 3, col. 3
  13. ^ Witte, Edwin E.; Kelly, Alice, ed. The Wisconsin Blue Book 1933 Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer, 1933; p. 553
  14. ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., ed. The Wisconsin Blue Book 1935 Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer, 1935; pp. 557, 626
  15. ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., ed. The Wisconsin Blue Book 1937 Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer, 1937; pp. 359, 431
  16. ^ "Biographies Intended As Guide for Voters: First District Assembly" Green Bay Press-Gazette September 13, 1950; p. 13, col. 1
  17. ^ Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., ed. The Wisconsin Blue Book 1952 Madison: State of Wisconsin, 1952; p. 680
  18. ^ "More Sketches Of Candidates" Green Bay Press-Gazette February 27, 1953; p. 16, col. 6
  19. ^ State of Wisconsin, County Court, Brown County. "In the Matter of the Estate of Jacob J. Blahnik, Deceased." Green Bay Press-Gazette February 19, 1954; p. 20, col. 7
  20. familysearch.org
    ; accessed February 18, 2022
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