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 Hanna Leistikow was born September 15, 1834, in the village of Labenz. Labenz is located in County (Kreis) Scheifelbein in the country of Pomerania, which 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. Both are buried in the Galpin Church Cemetery, located between Nashua and Fort Peck, Montana, along with their son Albert and son-in-law Jacob Daum. (Note the dates of death in the plot map don't appear to be correct.)

Jan's obituary, published in the Nashua Independent newspaper, reads as follows:"

"AGED GALPIN MAN DIED LAST WEEK: J. Fred Leistiko, father of Albert Leistiko of Galpin, died on Friday Nov. 15, 1918, at the home of his son at the age of 84 years. He was loved by all who knew him, being a kind and devoted father and upright and honorable citizen. He passed quietly away at a ripe old age. Funeral services were held at the Galpin cememtery the first of the week. Three sons besides Albert attended the funeral. They were August, of Great Falls, Otto, of Livingston, and Alex who resides in North Dakota. He leaves to mourn his passing, two daughters, forty-eight grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren."

Luiza passed away May 10, 1922, at the home of her son John August at their boarding house on 505 5th Av S. Great Falls, Montana. Leona (Leistiko) Bergman, granddaughter of Jan and Luiza, remembers Luiza, her Grandmother had a back room in the house and as a child she would go in to visit her. She spoke German. The only thing she wanted to eat at the last was sausage.

Jan and Luiza had 8 children (note the "w" was apparently dropped off the end of the family's last name upon emmigrating to the U.S.):

First published June 21, 2001. Last revised September 24, 2014. If you have comments, corrections or additional information or pictures you would like to contribute, feel free to contact Dave Nims.