Josef Walter Kavetzki (1871 - 1921)
Josef Walter Kavetski was born in Poland and immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a youth.1) He came to Dawson at the invitation of his brother-in-law, Andy (Andrew) Rystogi, and arrived in town with eight other relatives. Within a few days on his arrival in March 1909, he purchased Austin Brown’s harness business at 304 Third Avenue. The shop made both horse and dog harnesses and Kavetzki had a United States patent for a special breast stap. He and his wife lived over the shop, and they raised three children in town. After an acrimonious parting from his wife, Kavetzki moved a few doors down the street to a place he rented from Andy. Josef Walter Kavetzki remained in business in Dawson until he died at age fifty.2)