San
Joaquin County
Biographies
FREDERICK R. POLENSKE
Since coming to Lodi in 1914,
Frederick R. Polenske has built up a splendid business entirely through his own
efforts, and now as proprietor of the Service Laundry, his patronage is
steadily increasing. Mr. Polenske is a
native of Nebraska, and was born at Kenesaw, Adams County, December
25, 1890. His father, Emil G. Polenske,
is one of the largest brick manufacturers of the Middle West, and was the
founder of the firm of Polenske Bros. & Schellak
Brick Manufacturing Company, their plant at Hastings, Nebraska having a
capacity of 20,000,000 brick per year.
The family removed from Kenesaw to
Hastings, Nebraska, and here Frederick R. Polenske attended the public schools,
later taking a business college course.
From the age of fifteen he was associated with his father in the brick
manufacturing business, remaining there until 1914, when he came to California,
locating at Lodi. Here he entered the
employ of the Lodi Steam Laundry and after a few months bought a half-interest
in the concern. He operated this laundry
until August, 1920, when he started a laundry business of his own, under the
name Service Laundry, of which he is the sole owner. He purchased a lot at 505 North Sacramento
Street and there erected a modern building, especially equipped for this business,
and he has been successful from the start, two wagons now being kept busy in
handling his increasing trade. He has
solicited all his business personally and still continues to give individual
attention to all its details, a feature much appreciated by his patrons. His first week’s receipts were $147, and the
twenty-first week show a business of $480, while the 112th week
showed a business of $900, demonstrating plainly that he was living up to his
motto, “the best of service.”
On July 7, 1914, at Humboldt, Iowa,
Mr. Polenske was married to Miss Olga Kuchnast, who
was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and they are the parents of two children, Emma
Louise and Virginia. Progressive in all
his ideas, Mr. Polenske can be depended upon to contribute to any movement for
the upbuilding of his community, and is a member of the Lodi Business Men’s
Association and the National and State Laundrymen’s Associations, and the
Exchange Club of Lodi of which he is a director.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1007. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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