W. J. Jandl, engaged in the real estate business in Racine, was born in Bohemia September 7, 1864, a son of Hynek and Magdeline (Korab) Jandl. The paternal grandfather, who also bore the name of Hynek Jandl, was born in 1797, and served as a soldier in some of the European wars. Both the parents of W. J. Jandl are now deceased.
It was in the year 1881 that W. J. Jandl came to Racine, being then a youth of seventeen years. His financial condition was such as to render employment an immediate necessity and he began work with the M. M. Secor Trunk Company, in which connection he learned the business of manufacturing trunks. He followed the trade for ten years and on the expiration of that period became agent for the Atlas Brewing Company of Chicago, which he represented for eleven years save for the year 1899 which he spent in Europe upon a visit. In February, 1904, he turned his attention to the real estate business, opening an office at No. 1656 Douglas Avenue, where he has since conducted a general real estate and insurance business. He has gained a good clientage in both departments and has negotiated many important property transfers which have added to the business activity of the community. He is a director of the American Trades and Savings Bank of Racine.
On the 28th of November, 1888, Mr. Jandl was married to Miss Frances Jansa, who was born in Bohemia and in her girlhood came to the United States. The children of this marriage are five in number: Bessie, who is assistant register of deeds in Racine: Charles O., who is a graduate of the State University of Wisconsin and is now an instructor with the Telluride Association in the west Otto, who was graduated from the high school in Racine and spent one year in the State University, while at the present time he is in business with his father: Libbie, who is a graduate of the Chicago School of Music and teaches music, and Vlasta June, who is a graduate of Northwestern University.
Mr. Jandl is a member of the Slavic C. S. B. S. He also belongs to Narodin Jednota, which was organized in 1861, and in both he is active, while in both he has served as a trustee. He is a member and trustee of the Tel Jed Sokol Mladocech, which is a non-sectarian organization for the benefit of the young and is similar to the Young Men’s Christian Association. It has about seven thousand members in the United States and more than one hundred in Racine. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic Party and in 1898 he served as supervisor from the fourth ward. A resident of the new world from the age of seventeen years, dependent entirely upon his own resources throughout the entire period, he has made an excellent record as an enterprising business man and is now the possessor of a substantial competency.