While Joseph J. Moritz made a humble start in business life, he has for a number of years occupied a position of trust and responsibility that indicates the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens, for since 1909 he has been secretary of the hoard of education in Racine, his native city. He was born on the 30th of April, 1883, a son of Michael and Anna (Heaton) Moritz. The father was born in Bavaria, Germany, and about 1869 arrived in Racine, where he followed the machinist’s trade, which he had previously learned. He afterward turned his attention to the dry goods business, with which he was connected for many years, and at the present time he is one of the employees of the J. T. Case Threshing Machine Company. In this city he wedded Anna Heaton, a native of Racine and a daughter of John Heaton, one of the early settlers here, casting in his lot with the pioneers of the County.
Joseph J. Moritz completed his public school education by graduation from the high school of Racine with the class of 1901. He had pursued a business course during his high school days and he made his initial start in the business world as timekeeper with the Racine Boat Company. Two years later he entered the employ of the Fish Brothers Wagon Company and after acting as assistant bookkeeper for two years was promoted to the position of head bookkeeper. in which capacity he continued for three years, also acting as private secretary to the president, Mr. Johnson. He was alert, energetic, enterprising, and loyal and his business record was most commendable, his employers and his associates speaking of him in terms of warmest regard. He is secretary of the Wisconsin Implement Company of Racine but is not taking an active part in its management. hi 1909 he was called upon for public office through appointment to the position of secretary of the board of education and again his systematic and methodical habits, his diligence and determination have made him an excellent officer, so that he has remained the incumbent in that position through the intervening period, covering seven years.
Mr. Moritz is of the Catholic faith, belonging to St. Mary’s church, and he is also identified with the Knights of Columbus. He finds pleasant social relations in the Deutscher Club and among his fellow members of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In politics he has always followed an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment without regard to party lines. Having been a lifelong resident of Racine, he is well known here and has an extensive circle of warm friends. Moreover, he has been familiar with every phase of the city’s development for a third of a century and at all times has manifested a public-spirited devotion to the general good.