William Alexander Leistikow, son of Jan Fryderk and Luiza Leistikow, was born in Konin, West Prussia, Poland, February 18, 1860. William married Maria Waeker and they had their first two children while still in Prussia. He immigrated in 1893 and changed his last name to Leistiko at that time. Their third child, Fredrich was born on the boat.
The family lived first in Montana, then moved to North Dakota. According to their granddaughter, Marian Martinez, the William Alexander Leistiko family farmed in N. Dakota, but when most of their boy's were grown and left home, they sold the farm and moved to Claskanie, Oregon, where they raised strawberrys. However, during World War II, because they were German, people would not buy from them. So they sold the farm and moved to Portland.
William and Maria had 13 children:
Henry Leistiko | Born 1890 in Prussia. |
Carl Leistiko | Born 1892 in Prussia. |
Fredrich Leistiko | Born 1893 on the boat while immigrating to the U.S. |
Ida Leistiko | Born 1896 in Montana. |
Wilhelmina Leistiko | Born 1897 in Montana. |
Otto Leistiko | Born 1899 in North Dakota. |
Alexander Leistiko | Born 1900 in North Dakota. |
Marie Leistiko | Born 1902 in North Dakota. |
Emma Leistiko | Born 1904 in North Dakota. |
Adolph Leistiko | Born 1905 in Fessenden, North Dakota. |
Lenora Leistiko | Born 1907 in North Dakota. |
Paul W. Leistiko | Born 1909 in North Dakota. |
Alma L. Leistiko | Born 1911 in North Dakota. Alma married Anthony Fisher and had four children: Mike, Tony, Loren, and Joe. |
Front Row: Alma, Maria, Alexander, Paul Second Row: Lenora, Minnie, Mary, Emma, Ida, Adolph Back Row: Alex, Carl(?), Otto, Henry(?), Fred |