Biographical Sketch of W. J. Slais, Washington County, Missouri

>From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and 
Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing 
Company, 1888.

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W. J. Slais has been closely identified with the business interests of
Potosi for the past twenty-two years.  He was born in Bohemia December
24, 1840.  His parents were natives of the same country.  His father,
John, was a miner and immigrated with his family to the United States
in 1848, first settling in Pittsburgh, Penn., whence he went to St.
Louis, where the mother died, and the father then moved to Kingston,
Ill., where he lived until his death in 1878.  W. J. learned the trade 
of a saddle and harness maker; he traveled and worked at his trade in
different places, and during the war he was living in New Orleans at
the time Gen. Butler took possession of that city, he obtained from him
a pass and went by way of New York to St. Louis.  He located in Potosi
in 1866, and opened a shop, but was burned out and lost about $900. Not
discouraged, he resumed business in the harness and saddle line and
added a stock of furniture, but again met a similar fate, losing about
$1,200.  Phoenix like, he arose from the ashes, and opened once more a
large and well selected stock in his line, and is doing a satisfactory
business.  His is the only exclusive house of the kind in the county.
He commenced without means and what he has accumulated is the fruit of
his own labor.  He was married in 1865 to Miss M. Ziska.  To them were
born two daughters, both deceased.  Mrs. Slais died October 3, 1887.

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