Genealogy Index to Lannon Residents - Past & Present
Vincent Galbavy II and the United Stone Corporation quarry
Compiled and Edited by Michael R. Reilly
Last Revised 03/03/2005
Information source - Sussex Sun, issue Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000, article " Stone cutting was an art for Galbavy" by Fred Keller (?)
Vincent Galbavy II was born on Sept. 5, 1929 in the Fussville-Lannon area (?) of the Town of Menomonee to parents Vincent Galbavy I and Stella nee Micuda; recent immigrants from Czechoslovakia in the late 1920's. He was the third child born, the first being a son, then a daughter.
His father was a stone cutter but due to health problems had to quit working at the local quarries and work only part-time as a janitor at the Lannon State Graded School. His mother went to work at hospitals in nearby Milwaukee becoming the main family bread-winner.
Exempt from WWII because his brother was already serving and he was needed at home, he finished through the 10th Grade at Lannon but had to quit MFHS during his Senior year to help support his family. While at MFHS he played football for the Falls in the 4C Conference.
Vince was only 13-14 years old when he first started working in the quarries like Schneider Quarry, but later he worked for American Motors in Milwaukee. Work was inconsistent there and he found himself working more and more at quarries such as Harvey Mann's Quarry and Wislanco.
On Jan. 4, 1952 he married Madeline Quartaro (?) and had seven (or six?) children with one only living for a short time, the fourth girl. His first four were girls, followed but four boys.
In 1962, Vincent Galbavy II., working at the Wislanco quarry, decides to buy a small 6-acre quarry located north of the Bugline Railroad and just south of the Lannon Farmers & Merchants Bank (now Associated Bank) by about two blocks from brothers Brian and Patrick Cull. Today (Oct, 2000) known as the United Stone Corporation run by 1st son, Vincent Galbavy III, a 1975 Hamilton High School graduate.
During 1965 he moved his family to Marcy Rd. about three blocks south of Good Hope Rd., within shouting distance of his quarry's 19200 Good Hope Road entrance.
Though retiring at age 65, he still works part-time at the quarry helping out. The father and son team make whatever the customer wants - steps, stone caps, weather edge, veneer, flag stone, mantels, hearths, sills, and wall stone.