WI BIO - Kenosha Co - SCHLECHT, W. G.

History of Kenosha & Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Lyman. Clarke Publishing, 
1916, v 2, pp 448-449

W. G. SCHLECHT, cashier of the Silver Lake State Bank, who has been connected 
with banking since beginning his independent career, was born 28 May 1872 in 
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, a son of Gottlieb and Catherine SCHLECHT, who 
were born in Germany and France, respectively. Upon emigrating to America in 
1846 they located in Chicago, where Gottlieb SCHLECHT was a pioneer butcher 
and meat packer.

W. G. SCHLECHT attended a German kindergarten until ten years of age, after 
which he was a student in the public schools until eighteen years old. He 
then entered the employ of the Austin State Bank, with which he remained for 
six years, after which he was connected with the Metropolitan National Bank 
of Chicago for a considerable period, or until that institution was sold. He 
then returned to the Austin State Bank, where he remained until November 
1905, when he came to Silver Lake [Salem Township, Kenosha County], Wisconsin.

During the first three years of his residence here he spent about two months 
of each year in the employ of the Austin State Bank, but since 1908 has given 
his entire time to the affairs of the Silver Lake State Bank, which he 
assisted in organizing on 19 September 1908. The institution was established 
with a capital of ten thousand dollars, which was increased on 29 May 1912 to 
fifteen thousand dollars. At the organization of the bank the directors 
were: B. H. STOCKER, R. M. DIXON, W. G. SCHLECHT, George BRUEL, F. H. 
SCHENNING, John DIXON, Charles BERNHOFT, August MATTHEWS and Albert 
SCHENNING, both of the latter deceased. [See the Kenosha County SCHENNING 
biography.] R. M. DIXON was elected president; B. H. STOCKER, vice 
president; and W. G. SCHLECHT, cashier; and they are still serving in those 
capacities. The business of the bank has shown a substantial [p 451] gain 
each year and its affairs are in vary satisfactory condition. Its constant 
growth has been due in large measure to the ability and enterprise of Mr. [W. 
G.] SCHLECHT, who is not only thoroughly familiar with the routine of banking 
but also understands the principles of finance upon which it is based.

In 1898 Mr. [W. G.] SCHLECHT was married to Miss Ada Lillian BARBER of 
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. He is a Republican in politics, but has been 
too much occupied with his business affairs to hold office.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly