Johann Fryderyk and Luiza Leistikow

Jan and Luiza Leistikow with grandson Paul. Our best guess is that Paul is the son of Jan and Luiza's son Otto and his first wife Marie. Marie died of TB in 1903, and it is believed that Jan and Luiza raised Paul until he left home around the age of 19. This picture would then have been taken around 1904.

Johann Fryderyk Leistikow, called "Jan", the son of Andreas and Hannah Leistikow was born September 15, 1834, in the village of Labenz, County (Kreis) Scheifelbein located in an area of the country of Pomerania that is now part of Poland.

Luiza Rapsch, daughter of Gottlieb Rapsch (wife not known), was born in Konin, West Prussia, Poland in 1838.

Jan and Luiza were married around 1856, and had all of their children in Konin prior to emmigrating to the United States in 1892, (except for Mary, who was born in Lodz, a major city about 50 miles southeast of Konin).

According to the memories of his granddaughter Emma, Jan settled on the Missouri River near Glasgow, Montana. He fished on the river, and sold the fish to folks in Glasgow, sending the fish to town every Friday with the mailman. Though Jan's education ended at the 4th grade, he was a talented man and learned to do many things on his own.

Jan died at age 84 in 1918. Luiza died 4 years later in 1922, also at age 84.

First published June 21, 2001. Last revised February 3, 2002. If you have comments, corrections or additional information or pictures you would like to contribute, feel free to contact Dave Nims.