Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
ROSHEK, John J.
ROSHEK, John J. (Linn County, IA, Jan. 22, 1873--Dubuque, IA, Mar. 14, 1945). President, Roshek Brothers Company. In 1893 John J. Rosek, a buyer for Siegel and Cooper of Chicago; his brother Frank H. Roshek, a traveling salesman for a Philadelphia wholesale house; and A.E. Rubash, a dress good buyer for Denneck Yetter of Cedar Rapids, established a dry goods business in Dubuque. The Roshek, Rubash & Company was located in the Horr Building at 556 Main. Rubash sold out and a Mr. Aimann joined the business. On April 6, 1896 the firm's name became Roshek, Aimann & Company.
Mr. Aimann sold out around 1900 and the Roshek Brothers Dry Goods firm and later Roshek Brothers Company was established. A store was constructed at the corner of 8th and Main. The company temporarily occupied the first two floors of a building while they remodeled the rest. Roshek's inaugurated the "bargain basement" in Dubuque, a concept then sweeping the large cities of the United States.
John J. Roshek served as president of the department store that carried his name and as an influential member of the community helped organize political forces to obtain a hard surface road system in northeastern Iowa.
[[Image:JJR.JPG|left|thumb|300px|John J. Roshek flight training in 1937 at the Dubuque Airport. Image courtesy: Thomas ROSHEK, Jr.Roshek was president of the DUBUQUE CLUB in 1912 and served as a director of the Chamber of Commerce from 1918 to 1938.