FRANK J. HRABIK proprietor of a bakery, confectionery and grocery store, is one of the self-made men of the city. He began life empty-handed, but has steadily worked his way upward, and as a result of his enterprise and perseverance his acquired a comfortable competence. He was born in Dolan, Bohemia, July 7, 1853, and is a son of John and Annie (Stankovsky) Hrabik, both of whom were natives of the same country. The father was a farmer by occupation and followed that pursuit throughout his entire life. The parents never left their native land. In the family were five children, but only two are now living.
Our subject, who is the second in order of birth, was reared in his native province and attended the gymnasium or Latin school for three years, thus acquiring a good education, which fitted him for the practical duties of life. In 1871, at the age of seventeen years, he bade adieu to home and friends and sailed for the New World. He boarded an ocean steamer at Bremen and at length arrived in New York, whence he made his way to St. Louis. He there learned the trade of manufacturing confectionery and also learned the baker's trade, in the Quentin Bakery of that city. In 1877 he came to Murphysboro, where he began working as a baker in the employ of E. Loosley, with whom he continued until 1881. During that time, through his industry and economy, he had acquired some property and he now began business for himself at the corner of Broad and Mulberry Streets, building an oven and engaging in trade as a baker. He afterward added a stock of groceries and confectionery and is now doing a good business. The public soon found that it would fair well at his hands, and his courteous treatment and straight-forward dealing have secured for him a liberal trade.
The marriage or Mr. Hrabik was celebrated in Murphysboro in 1881, when Miss Henrietta Schoch became his wife. The lady was born near Oraville, Jackson County, and is a daughter of Conrad Schoch, a native of Germany, who is numbered among the early settlers of this community. They have become the parents of four children, a son and three daughters, Annie, John, Lillie and Lena.
In politics Mr. Hrabik is a supporter of the Republican party. He has never been an office seeker, his time and attention being entirely taken up by his business interests, in which he is meeting with good success. His prosperity is certainly well merited, for with nothing to depend upon except his own exertions he has become one of the substantial citizens of the community. Socially, he is connected with the Independent Order of Forresters.
Extracted from Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois, published in 1894, page 231.