John Leicht / Leight family

Research in progress
This page updated 28 July 2001


Do you recognize this house?
Amelia (Leicht) Grupe's daughter found this among her family photos
but does not know where it was taken or who the people pictured are.
(Click on the photo to see a larger version)

Color of cell and text
indicates source of data
From the family
From my research From other researchers

Info on living family members kept private.
NOTE: I have not verified information from other researchers.

Back to start

Jacob Leicht
b. 30 Sept. 1855
married 1 April 1878
to
Lucetta Wolfgang
d. 15 Nov 1941
Sheboygan
Siblings: Moritz (1850-1935); Mary (abt. 1854-?); Lena or Helena (abt. 1857/59-?); Catherine or Katie (abt. 1859/60-?); Christian (abt. 1862/63-?); Frederick or Fritz (abt. 1864/65 - 1925); Henry or Heinrich (1868-1900)
Their mother:
Bertha [Trincks?/Drinks?/Deink?]
b. 19 July 1825 Saxony, Germany
d. 20 May 1891 Town of Sheboygan
His father:
John Leicht
b. Jan 1819/20? Saxony, Germany
d. 24 Jan 1908 Sheboygan Co.
Her mother
born Germany
Her father:
born Germany
His mother:
born Germany
His father:
born Germany

Most birthdates are from the federal census unless noted below.

1860 census, Sheboygan Co., WI, City of Sheboygan, 4th Ward, p. 98 (Dwelling 846, Family 767)
John Leicht (40), brewer, born Saxe Coburg, listed with Bertha (36) also born Saxe Coburg, Moritz (10 - at school), Mary (6), Jacob (5), Lena (3), and Catherine (1). John's real estate was valued at $200, and his personal estate at $30. All the children were listed as born in Wisconsin, but see information below about John Moritz Leicht.

1870 census,Sheboygan Co., WI, Town of Sheboygan, p. 13
John Leicht (50), day laborer, born Saxe Coburg, listed with wife Bertha (45) "keeps house," also born Saxe Coburg, and children Jacob (13), Helena (11), Kathy (10), Christian (8), Fritz (5), and Heinrich (3) all born in Wisconsin. Jacob is listed "at home" (meaning he probably worked, because he had not attended school that year) while Helena, Kathy, and Christian went to school.

Sheboygan Co. marriages, Vol 2 p. 353 (microfilm reel #1275568, 1875-1881)
Name of husband: Jacob Leicht
Name of wife previous to marriage: Lisette Wolfgang
Occupation of husband: Farmer
Residence of husband: Town Sheboygan
Birthplace of husband: City Sheboygan Wis
Place where marriage was contracted: Office of C Risler
Date when marriage was contracted: 1 April 1878
By what ceremony contracted: "By swearing the parties & joining hands" [as best I can decipher]
Name of person pronouncing marriage: Chas. Risler
Reisidence of person last named: Town Sheboygan
Names of subscribing witnesses:
Julius Kraas [Krass?] and Henry Toepel
Date of certificate of marriage: 1 April 1878
Name of father of husband: John Leicht
Name of mother of husband: Bertha "
Name of father of wife: Jacob Wolfgang
Name of mother of wife: Martha "

1880 census, Sheboygan Co., WI, Town of Sheboygan, ED 213, sheet 7, line 47 - sheet 8, line 5:
Jacob Leicht, farmer (24), listed with wife Sadah (24) and son Willie (2). (I suspect that "Willie" is really baby Amelia.)
Listed next is John Leicht (60), farmer, with wife Bertha (55), and children Katie (21), Christ (18), Frederick (16), Henry (11). John and Bertha were born in Saxony.

Wisconsin Registration of Deaths, Sheboygan Co (1886-1901) Vol 2, p. 173 #1108
Mrs Bertha Leicht, housewife, age 65, wife of John Leicht. Only her father's last name is listed - "Trincks" (no mother's name given). Born Saxony, Germ. July 19, 1825; died Town Sheboygan May 20, 1891 of pulmonary tuberculosis., buried Wildwood Cemetery, Sheboygan.

Sheboygan Evening Telegram, Thursday, May 21, 1891
"The death of Bertha Leicht, wife of John Leicht, occurred yesterday, aged 65 years and ten months, at her home in the town of Sheboygan. Deceased leaves a husband and eight children five sons and three daughters viz: Moritz, Jacob, Christian, Fred and Henry, Mesdames W. Kuehling [Katie], Christian Schuchert and Robert Smith all of whom reside in this city with the exception of Christian who resides in Milwaukee. She was an old resident of this county having came here in 1852. The funeral will take place to-morrow. The burial will be made in Wildwood cemetery. Rev. Mysch will conduct the funeral services."

1900 census, Sheboygan Co., Wisconsin, E.D. 80, sheet 8, lines 43-54:
Jack Leight (44), farmer, listed with wife Luzetta (44) who had given birth to 10 children, 9 still living. Jack's parents both born in Germany, but Luzetta's father was born in Germany and mother in Norway. Children: Emelia (21), Emma (20), Henry (16), Francis [sic-daughter] (14), Katie (12), Charles (9), Meta? ( age 6 crossed out, replaced by 2?), Willie (5), Albert (10 months) - all born in Wisconsin
Listed next but as a separate household:
John Leight (81), widower, no occupation given, born in Germany, immigrated 1860

1900 census, Sheboygan Co., Wisconsin, E.D. 77, sheet 14, lines 16-21:
At 918 Erie Ave, City of Sheboygan, J Moritz Leicht (48), born in Germany (listed as naturalized but see below), listed with wife Franziska (48) and children, John (25), Albert (24), Lulu (21), and Fred (19). Franziska was born in Norway and the children in Wisconsin. I'm pretty darn sure his wife Francisca is the sister of Jacob's wife Lucetta nee Wolfgang.

Wisconsin Registration of Deaths, Sheboygan Co (1886-1901) Vol 3, p. 537 #2781
Henry Leicht, moulder, age 32, husband of Tine Leicht. Parents John and Bertha Leicht (both born Germany). Born Town of Sheboygan, 20 Nov 1868; died Sheboygan 25 June 1900 of perforation of bowels. Residence at time of death 1138 Michigan Ave.

Sheboygan Telegram, Monday, 25 June 1900
"Death of Henry Leicht
- Henry Leicht, a saloonkeeper at 1538 Calumet Plank road, and living at the southeast corner of Twelfth street and Michigan avenue, died this morning at ten o'clock after an illness of thirty-six hours. His death was due to stomach trouble. The decedent was thirty-three years old and leaves a wife and one child. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Jacob Leicht of the town of Sheboygan. The funeral arrangements are not complete."

Sheboygan Telegram, Saturday, 25 January 1908
"Old Settler Dead - Father of Maurice Leicht Passes Away at Age of 88 Years
- John Leicht, aged 88 years, a well known old settler of Sheboygan county, died yesterday afternoon at his home on the old School Land road just outside the northwestern limits of the city. He was the father of Maurice Leicht, city collector for the C. Reiss Coal Co. and had lived hereabouts for nearly half a century. His wife died seventeen years ago but besides Maurice Leicht there are the following children who survive: Chris. of Racine, Jacob who lives on the homestead, Fred Leicht town Sheboygan, Mrs. Chris. Schuckart and Mrs. Wm. Thiele of this city. The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at two o'clock from his late home. Rev. Mr. Krueger will officiate and the interment will be made in Wildwood cemetery.

Information from the Sheboygan Co. Circuit Court Naturalization index at the Milwaukee Urban Archives:
John Moritz Leicht, certificate no. 1574747, date May 10, 1921
Born Aug. 20, 1850 in Gotha, Germany
Arrived in US May 30, 1853 at New York, New York.
Names of witnesses: Edwin Koellmer and Albert Truttsche.
wife Francisca, age 70 yrs, 710 Niagara Ave, Sheboygan Wis.
[I still need to find the actual petition with ship's name etc. (I hope) so I can see who brought him to the US, but I assume this is the same son Moritz listed with John and Bertha Leicht in the 1860 census, even if it did say he was born in Wisconsin.]

From the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center obituary clippings
19 November 1935 death:
"Hold Last Rites for J.M. Leicht Here On Friday [Nov. 22]
Funeral services for J.M. Leicht, pioneer Sheboygan resident who died Tuesday [Nov. 19], were held Friday at 2 p.m., at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Leicht, 710 Dillingham avenue."


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