Immigrant from Hüllhorst, Westfalen, Pruessen (what is now the Minden-Lübbecke district, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany). The German name was Lücking. Christian was the son of Ernst Heinrich Lücking and Anna Sophie Marie Grosse Habbert. According to family history, he was sent to this country by his widowed mother to avoid conscription in Prussia. He lived with Frederich Habbert in Lampeter Township, Lancaster County. Ironically, he was drafted from Manheim Township, Lancaster County, during the Civil War.
A sister, Katherine Leeking Broeker emigrated in 1884. Another unmarried sister, Anne Marie, remained with the mother in Germany.
Obituary: 14 Nov 1918, Thursday, Lancaster New Era (Lancaster, Pa.), p.3
"Death of Christian Leeking
Christian Leeking died at the home of his son, Christian, at Millway early this morning, from a paralytic stroke, after an illness of two days. He was in his eighty-fifth year and is survived by the following children: Henry and William, of Lancaster; Frank, New Jersey; Mrs. Mary Graybill, Reading; Christian G., Millway; Edwin, Rothsville; Nathan, New Haven, Connecticut; and Mrs. Harry Brinser, Reading. A sister, Mrs. Catherine Bricker of St. Claires, Illinois, and twenty-three grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren also survive.
The funeral will be held from his late home Monday morning at 9:30 o'clock, with services at the Lutheran Church at Rothsville at 10 o'clock. Interment will be made in the adjoining cemetery."
Jerusalem Lutheran Church Records: Christian Leeking died Nov. 14, 1918, at 84 years, 6 months, and 21 days. He was born Apr. 23, 1834.
Notes:
Christened Christian Friedrich Luecking in Evangelische, Hüllhorst.
Oral family history states that he emigrated from Prussia with aunt (unknown; possible Brookmeyer) to avoid service in the Prussian military. The naturalization record filed in Lancaster County states that he emigrated in 1845, in his 12th year. According to family story, he lived with relatives in the Lampeter area. It is also the family story that his father was killed in service to the military and that Christian was the last male of his line.
In 1852 Christian probably returned to Germany to visit family. He is recorded as entering the country in the Philadelphia Ship Lists as Christian "Leukens" from Lancaster County.
Petition for admission to citizenship filed with the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County on October 11, 1858. Christian "LeKing a Native of Hern Hut Prussia" forswore allegiance to Frederick Wilhelm the 4th, King of Prussia. His petition was attested to by David Landis.
Marriage in the records of Zion Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Reel 411 (Lancaster County Historical Society) November 20, 1859: Christian "Liking" (Muenden, Preussen) and Louisa Doerr (Lancaster, Pa).
1860 census: Pa/Lancaster County/Warwick Township/p. 518/House 432/Family 449/17 July 1860
Christian Wise; age 65; farmer; real estate/8700; personal/1075
Anna Wise; age 40
Wallace Wise; age 6
John Wise; age 2
Catherine McCutcheon; age 21; domestic
Henry Wise; age 42; day laborer
Allen Heuber, age 18; teacher at school
*Christian Leaking; age 25; day laborer
*Louissa Leaking, age 20 (Note: Louisa was actually 18 at the time, having been married at 17)
According to the 1864 Lancaster County Atlas, the Christian Wise residence was at the western end of Millport, within a few houses of the mill.
Prior to his military service, Christ and Louisa moved to the farm in Manheim Township. This is clear from the fact that he was drafted from that Township. Also, in Pension Declarations dated April 24, 1909 and June 10 1912, he stated that he lived at Oregon for 22 years ending April 1, 1884. Further, Christian and William Leeking are listed as residents of Oregon in the 1884 Lancaster City and County Directory (p. 707).
Another family story states that Christian received the farm in return for serving as a substitute for someone in the Reist family. No such substitute record exists, and Christ served in a drafted unit. So unless the Reist family had sufficient power as to control the draft lists, this story is probably erroneous.
But he did manage to somehow acquire property. The farm appears on the 1864 Atlas of Lancaster County, marked as "Cn. Leeking. " In order to be listed on the atlas, he must have owned the property, although no deed record could be found. Nonetheless he was enumerated in Warwick Township in all censuses, presumably because he was just over the line.
From April 1, 1884 to April 1, 1888, he stated that he lived at Rome, Pa. After that, his address was Millway, presumably with Christ Jr. and Elizabeth.
1869 Lancaster County Directory: Leeking, Christian; farmer, Oregon
1870 census: Pa./Lancaster County/Warwick Township/Rothsville P. O./p. 352/Dwelling 20/Family 21/23 June 1870/Frank Stanton (Image 3)
(This census is hard to read and the enumerator was sloppy...has Christian born in PA)
Leeking, Christ; age 35; personal estate/$600
Leeking, Louisa; age 28
Leeking, Henry; age 9
Leeking, William; age 8
Leeking, Franklin; age 6
Leeking, Sarah; age 4
Leeking, Christ; age 9/12
Derr, Philip; age 62; at home; born Bavaria
(After the death of his wife, Margaretha, on 26 Dec 1869, Philip Doerr came to live with Christ and Louisa.)
1880 census: Pa./Lancaster County/Warwick Township/p. 304/10 Jun 1880
Leeking, Christian; age 46; farmer; Prussia
Leeking, Louisa; age 38; wife; keeping house
Leeking, Henry; age 20; farm hand
Leeking, William; age 18; farm hand
Leeking, Benjamin; age 16; farm hand
Leeking, Annie; age 14; house maid
Leeking, Christian; age 11; farm hand
Leeking, Edward; age 8
Leeking, Nathan; age 6
Leeking, Laura; age 2
Leeking, Alice; age 2
Derr, Philip; age 73; father-in-law; retired laborer; born Bavaria
At the time of Louisa's death, all of the children were still at home, including Henry and William. A few years later, in 1883, Christ began the application process for a civil war pension. His very thick file in the National Archives in Washington, DC includes many affidavits from neighbors and physicians regarding his health. While in the service, in May and June of 1863, he was treated by a regimental surgeon, Dr. George Mays, for rheumatism and bronchitis. These conditions had not cleared by the time of his discharge. Since Dr. Mays was, at that time, practicing in Lititz, he continued Christ's care for a number of years after discharge. Dr. Mays later moved to Philadelphia.
In answer to various questions posed by the pension board in June 1883, Christ answered that he had "contracted rheumatism and general disability while in the army caused by exposure to all kinds of weather and by having to sleep on damp ground."
A neighbor, Benjamin L. Landis of Manheim Township, testified to having known Christ for "years" prior to his enlistment, and that he was "an ablebodied and healthy workingman and especially free from rheumatism" prior to his enlistment, but that "on his return late in July 1863 he was afflicted with chronic rheumatism."
The most interesting letter in the file is dated May 28, 1884 and is signed "Friederrick Habbert" who responded to the Pension Board's questions by stating, "I have known Christian Leeking since he was about 14 years of age having come to live with me at that age and from that time to the present he has always lived with me or in my close neighborhood from that time to about two years before his entering the army in the fall of 1862, up to that time he called my house his home and had his washing and mending done in my family." Mr. Habbert also testified that Christ was healthy before his service in the Union Army and afflicted with rheumatism afterwards. Incidentally, Mr. Habbert's return address was Wheatland Mills, which is at the junction of East and West Lampeter townships and Strasburg Township.
An intensive search of census records for Mr. Habbert yielded only one household in the East and West Lampeter and Strasburg areas approximating the name. In the 1850 census for West Lampeter Twp. (p 236) Frederick Hubberd, age 28, a laborer born in Germany, is living with his wife, Mary, two daughters, Anna and Elizabeth, and Frederick Sr, age 60, also a laborer. By 1870 Frederick Sr. was deceased and the name is now listed as "Hubert." In the 1869-1870 Directory of Lancaster County (p 276) there is a listing for Frederick Hubbard. Clearly, the name was undergoing evolution from the German to an anglicized form. Since Hubbard is the maiden name of Christ's mother as given in his death certificate, it is likely that Christ was sent to live with his mother's family. I have not found a listing for Christ in the 1850 census. At 16 years of age he was probably working and boarding elsewhere. Frederick Hubbert Jr. is buried at Mellinger's Mennonite Cemetery. His dates are 9/18/1821 to 8/6/1893 (71 yrs, 10 mos, 18 days). Frederick Habbert (Jr) signed a petition to be naturalized in Common Pleas Court of Lancaster County on November 4, 1848, renouncing aliegiance to Frederick Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia.
Christian Leeking was finally awarded a $2 per month pension on September 16, 1884, retroactive to March 26, 1883. It was increased to $4 per month on July 28, 1886; $6 per month on February 23, 1888; $8 per month on June 11, 1890; $12 on June 20, 1901; $15 on March 5, 1907; $20 on April 27, 1909; and finally, $22.50 on June 12, 1912.
He filed many claims for increases, each of which was accompanied by a Surgeon's Certificate. His physical appearance was described as five feet, five inches, with light complexion, light hair, grey eyes with declining physical health.
When a new pension act was enacted in 1890 and Christ was forced to reapply for his pension, he was awarded less than his previous amount and complained bitterly to the Commissioner of Pensions in Washington, stating that he was "indeed not pensioned high enough for the degree of disability. I am absolutely not fit at my age of 64 years, in my broken-down condition, to do any work at all; and I cannot earn anything. If it were not for some of my children, I hardly could exist." He refused to surrender his old Pension Certificate and apparently continued at his old rate.
In 1913 and 1916 when the Pension Board was slow to act on his applications, he enlisted the support and aid of the Hon. W. W. Griest of the 9th Congressional District to push them along.
His final pension check dated Feb 4, 1919 was returned to the Bureau of Pensions by Christian D. Leeking with a notice that his father had died. The original returned envelope which had contained the final pension check is in the file.
1890 Special Schedule: Surviving soldiers, sailors and marines and widows:
SD 2/ED 142/ Minor Civil Division:East Warwick/p 8/line 35/house 205/family 224
Christian Leeking (Elizabeth, widow of - this is incorrect) Private; B company; 178th PA; enlistment date: 6 Nov 1862; discharge date: 27 July 1863; 8 mos, 21 days; militia; Millway; disability: rheumatism.
The 1890 census has been lost due to a fire. But we can speculate that it showed, Christ Sr., age 56; Edward, age 18; Nathan, age 16; and the twins Alice and Laura, age 12, all living in Millway with Christ Jr. (age 21) and Elizabeth Zartman Leeking and their son, Monroe, age 1. The 1890 City and County Directory lists Christian and Frank Leeking as farmers living in Rothsville.
1910 census: Pa./Lancaster County/Warwick Township/ED 146
Leeking, Christian; Head of House; age 40; married 22 years; born in PA; father born in Germany; mother born in PA; farmer/owns farm; owns home
Leeking, Lizzie; wife; age 41; born in PA; father and mother born in PA; 9 children born/7 living
Leeking, Monroe; son; age 21; laborer/oil works (Southern Pipeline per Doris Witwer)
Leeking, Edwin; son; age 19; laborer/oil works
Leeking, Lloyd; son; age 15; laborer/farm
Leeking, Mabel; daughter; age 13
Leeking, Elva; daughter, age 11
Leeking, Ivan; son; age 5
Leeking, Edna; daughter; age 2
Leeking, Christian Sr; father; age 76; Born in Germany; mother and father born in Germany; laborer/stone quarry; veteran of the Union Army.
The replacement gravestone erected by Richard Eitnier says "1846 Immigrant Father." In fact Christ may have emigrated in 1845 according to naturalization papers.
A sister, Katherine Leeking Broeker emigrated in 1884. Another unmarried sister, Anne Marie, remained with the mother in Germany.
Obituary: 14 Nov 1918, Thursday, Lancaster New Era (Lancaster, Pa.), p.3
"Death of Christian Leeking
Christian Leeking died at the home of his son, Christian, at Millway early this morning, from a paralytic stroke, after an illness of two days. He was in his eighty-fifth year and is survived by the following children: Henry and William, of Lancaster; Frank, New Jersey; Mrs. Mary Graybill, Reading; Christian G., Millway; Edwin, Rothsville; Nathan, New Haven, Connecticut; and Mrs. Harry Brinser, Reading. A sister, Mrs. Catherine Bricker of St. Claires, Illinois, and twenty-three grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren also survive.
The funeral will be held from his late home Monday morning at 9:30 o'clock, with services at the Lutheran Church at Rothsville at 10 o'clock. Interment will be made in the adjoining cemetery."
Jerusalem Lutheran Church Records: Christian Leeking died Nov. 14, 1918, at 84 years, 6 months, and 21 days. He was born Apr. 23, 1834.
Notes:
Christened Christian Friedrich Luecking in Evangelische, Hüllhorst.
Oral family history states that he emigrated from Prussia with aunt (unknown; possible Brookmeyer) to avoid service in the Prussian military. The naturalization record filed in Lancaster County states that he emigrated in 1845, in his 12th year. According to family story, he lived with relatives in the Lampeter area. It is also the family story that his father was killed in service to the military and that Christian was the last male of his line.
In 1852 Christian probably returned to Germany to visit family. He is recorded as entering the country in the Philadelphia Ship Lists as Christian "Leukens" from Lancaster County.
Petition for admission to citizenship filed with the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County on October 11, 1858. Christian "LeKing a Native of Hern Hut Prussia" forswore allegiance to Frederick Wilhelm the 4th, King of Prussia. His petition was attested to by David Landis.
Marriage in the records of Zion Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Reel 411 (Lancaster County Historical Society) November 20, 1859: Christian "Liking" (Muenden, Preussen) and Louisa Doerr (Lancaster, Pa).
1860 census: Pa/Lancaster County/Warwick Township/p. 518/House 432/Family 449/17 July 1860
Christian Wise; age 65; farmer; real estate/8700; personal/1075
Anna Wise; age 40
Wallace Wise; age 6
John Wise; age 2
Catherine McCutcheon; age 21; domestic
Henry Wise; age 42; day laborer
Allen Heuber, age 18; teacher at school
*Christian Leaking; age 25; day laborer
*Louissa Leaking, age 20 (Note: Louisa was actually 18 at the time, having been married at 17)
According to the 1864 Lancaster County Atlas, the Christian Wise residence was at the western end of Millport, within a few houses of the mill.
Prior to his military service, Christ and Louisa moved to the farm in Manheim Township. This is clear from the fact that he was drafted from that Township. Also, in Pension Declarations dated April 24, 1909 and June 10 1912, he stated that he lived at Oregon for 22 years ending April 1, 1884. Further, Christian and William Leeking are listed as residents of Oregon in the 1884 Lancaster City and County Directory (p. 707).
Another family story states that Christian received the farm in return for serving as a substitute for someone in the Reist family. No such substitute record exists, and Christ served in a drafted unit. So unless the Reist family had sufficient power as to control the draft lists, this story is probably erroneous.
But he did manage to somehow acquire property. The farm appears on the 1864 Atlas of Lancaster County, marked as "Cn. Leeking. " In order to be listed on the atlas, he must have owned the property, although no deed record could be found. Nonetheless he was enumerated in Warwick Township in all censuses, presumably because he was just over the line.
From April 1, 1884 to April 1, 1888, he stated that he lived at Rome, Pa. After that, his address was Millway, presumably with Christ Jr. and Elizabeth.
1869 Lancaster County Directory: Leeking, Christian; farmer, Oregon
1870 census: Pa./Lancaster County/Warwick Township/Rothsville P. O./p. 352/Dwelling 20/Family 21/23 June 1870/Frank Stanton (Image 3)
(This census is hard to read and the enumerator was sloppy...has Christian born in PA)
Leeking, Christ; age 35; personal estate/$600
Leeking, Louisa; age 28
Leeking, Henry; age 9
Leeking, William; age 8
Leeking, Franklin; age 6
Leeking, Sarah; age 4
Leeking, Christ; age 9/12
Derr, Philip; age 62; at home; born Bavaria
(After the death of his wife, Margaretha, on 26 Dec 1869, Philip Doerr came to live with Christ and Louisa.)
1880 census: Pa./Lancaster County/Warwick Township/p. 304/10 Jun 1880
Leeking, Christian; age 46; farmer; Prussia
Leeking, Louisa; age 38; wife; keeping house
Leeking, Henry; age 20; farm hand
Leeking, William; age 18; farm hand
Leeking, Benjamin; age 16; farm hand
Leeking, Annie; age 14; house maid
Leeking, Christian; age 11; farm hand
Leeking, Edward; age 8
Leeking, Nathan; age 6
Leeking, Laura; age 2
Leeking, Alice; age 2
Derr, Philip; age 73; father-in-law; retired laborer; born Bavaria
At the time of Louisa's death, all of the children were still at home, including Henry and William. A few years later, in 1883, Christ began the application process for a civil war pension. His very thick file in the National Archives in Washington, DC includes many affidavits from neighbors and physicians regarding his health. While in the service, in May and June of 1863, he was treated by a regimental surgeon, Dr. George Mays, for rheumatism and bronchitis. These conditions had not cleared by the time of his discharge. Since Dr. Mays was, at that time, practicing in Lititz, he continued Christ's care for a number of years after discharge. Dr. Mays later moved to Philadelphia.
In answer to various questions posed by the pension board in June 1883, Christ answered that he had "contracted rheumatism and general disability while in the army caused by exposure to all kinds of weather and by having to sleep on damp ground."
A neighbor, Benjamin L. Landis of Manheim Township, testified to having known Christ for "years" prior to his enlistment, and that he was "an ablebodied and healthy workingman and especially free from rheumatism" prior to his enlistment, but that "on his return late in July 1863 he was afflicted with chronic rheumatism."
The most interesting letter in the file is dated May 28, 1884 and is signed "Friederrick Habbert" who responded to the Pension Board's questions by stating, "I have known Christian Leeking since he was about 14 years of age having come to live with me at that age and from that time to the present he has always lived with me or in my close neighborhood from that time to about two years before his entering the army in the fall of 1862, up to that time he called my house his home and had his washing and mending done in my family." Mr. Habbert also testified that Christ was healthy before his service in the Union Army and afflicted with rheumatism afterwards. Incidentally, Mr. Habbert's return address was Wheatland Mills, which is at the junction of East and West Lampeter townships and Strasburg Township.
An intensive search of census records for Mr. Habbert yielded only one household in the East and West Lampeter and Strasburg areas approximating the name. In the 1850 census for West Lampeter Twp. (p 236) Frederick Hubberd, age 28, a laborer born in Germany, is living with his wife, Mary, two daughters, Anna and Elizabeth, and Frederick Sr, age 60, also a laborer. By 1870 Frederick Sr. was deceased and the name is now listed as "Hubert." In the 1869-1870 Directory of Lancaster County (p 276) there is a listing for Frederick Hubbard. Clearly, the name was undergoing evolution from the German to an anglicized form. Since Hubbard is the maiden name of Christ's mother as given in his death certificate, it is likely that Christ was sent to live with his mother's family. I have not found a listing for Christ in the 1850 census. At 16 years of age he was probably working and boarding elsewhere. Frederick Hubbert Jr. is buried at Mellinger's Mennonite Cemetery. His dates are 9/18/1821 to 8/6/1893 (71 yrs, 10 mos, 18 days). Frederick Habbert (Jr) signed a petition to be naturalized in Common Pleas Court of Lancaster County on November 4, 1848, renouncing aliegiance to Frederick Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia.
Christian Leeking was finally awarded a $2 per month pension on September 16, 1884, retroactive to March 26, 1883. It was increased to $4 per month on July 28, 1886; $6 per month on February 23, 1888; $8 per month on June 11, 1890; $12 on June 20, 1901; $15 on March 5, 1907; $20 on April 27, 1909; and finally, $22.50 on June 12, 1912.
He filed many claims for increases, each of which was accompanied by a Surgeon's Certificate. His physical appearance was described as five feet, five inches, with light complexion, light hair, grey eyes with declining physical health.
When a new pension act was enacted in 1890 and Christ was forced to reapply for his pension, he was awarded less than his previous amount and complained bitterly to the Commissioner of Pensions in Washington, stating that he was "indeed not pensioned high enough for the degree of disability. I am absolutely not fit at my age of 64 years, in my broken-down condition, to do any work at all; and I cannot earn anything. If it were not for some of my children, I hardly could exist." He refused to surrender his old Pension Certificate and apparently continued at his old rate.
In 1913 and 1916 when the Pension Board was slow to act on his applications, he enlisted the support and aid of the Hon. W. W. Griest of the 9th Congressional District to push them along.
His final pension check dated Feb 4, 1919 was returned to the Bureau of Pensions by Christian D. Leeking with a notice that his father had died. The original returned envelope which had contained the final pension check is in the file.
1890 Special Schedule: Surviving soldiers, sailors and marines and widows:
SD 2/ED 142/ Minor Civil Division:East Warwick/p 8/line 35/house 205/family 224
Christian Leeking (Elizabeth, widow of - this is incorrect) Private; B company; 178th PA; enlistment date: 6 Nov 1862; discharge date: 27 July 1863; 8 mos, 21 days; militia; Millway; disability: rheumatism.
The 1890 census has been lost due to a fire. But we can speculate that it showed, Christ Sr., age 56; Edward, age 18; Nathan, age 16; and the twins Alice and Laura, age 12, all living in Millway with Christ Jr. (age 21) and Elizabeth Zartman Leeking and their son, Monroe, age 1. The 1890 City and County Directory lists Christian and Frank Leeking as farmers living in Rothsville.
1910 census: Pa./Lancaster County/Warwick Township/ED 146
Leeking, Christian; Head of House; age 40; married 22 years; born in PA; father born in Germany; mother born in PA; farmer/owns farm; owns home
Leeking, Lizzie; wife; age 41; born in PA; father and mother born in PA; 9 children born/7 living
Leeking, Monroe; son; age 21; laborer/oil works (Southern Pipeline per Doris Witwer)
Leeking, Edwin; son; age 19; laborer/oil works
Leeking, Lloyd; son; age 15; laborer/farm
Leeking, Mabel; daughter; age 13
Leeking, Elva; daughter, age 11
Leeking, Ivan; son; age 5
Leeking, Edna; daughter; age 2
Leeking, Christian Sr; father; age 76; Born in Germany; mother and father born in Germany; laborer/stone quarry; veteran of the Union Army.
The replacement gravestone erected by Richard Eitnier says "1846 Immigrant Father." In fact Christ may have emigrated in 1845 according to naturalization papers.
Immigrant from Hüllhorst, Westfalen, Pruessen (what is now the Minden-Lübbecke district, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany). The German name was Lücking. Christian was the son of Ernst Heinrich Lücking and Anna Sophie Marie Grosse Habbert. According to family history, he was sent to this country by his widowed mother to avoid conscription in Prussia. He lived with Frederich Habbert in Lampeter Township, Lancaster County. Ironically, he was drafted from Manheim Township, Lancaster County, during the Civil War.
A sister, Katherine Leeking Broeker emigrated in 1884. Another unmarried sister, Anne Marie, remained with the mother in Germany.
Obituary: 14 Nov 1918, Thursday, Lancaster New Era (Lancaster, Pa.), p.3
"Death of Christian Leeking
Christian Leeking died at the home of his son, Christian, at Millway early this morning, from a paralytic stroke, after an illness of two days. He was in his eighty-fifth year and is survived by the following children: Henry and William, of Lancaster; Frank, New Jersey; Mrs. Mary Graybill, Reading; Christian G., Millway; Edwin, Rothsville; Nathan, New Haven, Connecticut; and Mrs. Harry Brinser, Reading. A sister, Mrs. Catherine Bricker of St. Claires, Illinois, and twenty-three grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren also survive.
The funeral will be held from his late home Monday morning at 9:30 o'clock, with services at the Lutheran Church at Rothsville at 10 o'clock. Interment will be made in the adjoining cemetery."
Jerusalem Lutheran Church Records: Christian Leeking died Nov. 14, 1918, at 84 years, 6 months, and 21 days. He was born Apr. 23, 1834.
Notes:
Christened Christian Friedrich Luecking in Evangelische, Hüllhorst.
Oral family history states that he emigrated from Prussia with aunt (unknown; possible Brookmeyer) to avoid service in the Prussian military. The naturalization record filed in Lancaster County states that he emigrated in 1845, in his 12th year. According to family story, he lived with relatives in the Lampeter area. It is also the family story that his father was killed in service to the military and that Christian was the last male of his line.
In 1852 Christian probably returned to Germany to visit family. He is recorded as entering the country in the Philadelphia Ship Lists as Christian "Leukens" from Lancaster County.
Petition for admission to citizenship filed with the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County on October 11, 1858. Christian "LeKing a Native of Hern Hut Prussia" forswore allegiance to Frederick Wilhelm the 4th, King of Prussia. His petition was attested to by David Landis.
Marriage in the records of Zion Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Reel 411 (Lancaster County Historical Society) November 20, 1859: Christian "Liking" (Muenden, Preussen) and Louisa Doerr (Lancaster, Pa).
1860 census: Pa/Lancaster County/Warwick Township/p. 518/House 432/Family 449/17 July 1860
Christian Wise; age 65; farmer; real estate/8700; personal/1075
Anna Wise; age 40
Wallace Wise; age 6
John Wise; age 2
Catherine McCutcheon; age 21; domestic
Henry Wise; age 42; day laborer
Allen Heuber, age 18; teacher at school
*Christian Leaking; age 25; day laborer
*Louissa Leaking, age 20 (Note: Louisa was actually 18 at the time, having been married at 17)
According to the 1864 Lancaster County Atlas, the Christian Wise residence was at the western end of Millport, within a few houses of the mill.
Prior to his military service, Christ and Louisa moved to the farm in Manheim Township. This is clear from the fact that he was drafted from that Township. Also, in Pension Declarations dated April 24, 1909 and June 10 1912, he stated that he lived at Oregon for 22 years ending April 1, 1884. Further, Christian and William Leeking are listed as residents of Oregon in the 1884 Lancaster City and County Directory (p. 707).
Another family story states that Christian received the farm in return for serving as a substitute for someone in the Reist family. No such substitute record exists, and Christ served in a drafted unit. So unless the Reist family had sufficient power as to control the draft lists, this story is probably erroneous.
But he did manage to somehow acquire property. The farm appears on the 1864 Atlas of Lancaster County, marked as "Cn. Leeking. " In order to be listed on the atlas, he must have owned the property, although no deed record could be found. Nonetheless he was enumerated in Warwick Township in all censuses, presumably because he was just over the line.
From April 1, 1884 to April 1, 1888, he stated that he lived at Rome, Pa. After that, his address was Millway, presumably with Christ Jr. and Elizabeth.
1869 Lancaster County Directory: Leeking, Christian; farmer, Oregon
1870 census: Pa./Lancaster County/Warwick Township/Rothsville P. O./p. 352/Dwelling 20/Family 21/23 June 1870/Frank Stanton (Image 3)
(This census is hard to read and the enumerator was sloppy...has Christian born in PA)
Leeking, Christ; age 35; personal estate/$600
Leeking, Louisa; age 28
Leeking, Henry; age 9
Leeking, William; age 8
Leeking, Franklin; age 6
Leeking, Sarah; age 4
Leeking, Christ; age 9/12
Derr, Philip; age 62; at home; born Bavaria
(After the death of his wife, Margaretha, on 26 Dec 1869, Philip Doerr came to live with Christ and Louisa.)
1880 census: Pa./Lancaster County/Warwick Township/p. 304/10 Jun 1880
Leeking, Christian; age 46; farmer; Prussia
Leeking, Louisa; age 38; wife; keeping house
Leeking, Henry; age 20; farm hand
Leeking, William; age 18; farm hand
Leeking, Benjamin; age 16; farm hand
Leeking, Annie; age 14; house maid
Leeking, Christian; age 11; farm hand
Leeking, Edward; age 8
Leeking, Nathan; age 6
Leeking, Laura; age 2
Leeking, Alice; age 2
Derr, Philip; age 73; father-in-law; retired laborer; born Bavaria
At the time of Louisa's death, all of the children were still at home, including Henry and William. A few years later, in 1883, Christ began the application process for a civil war pension. His very thick file in the National Archives in Washington, DC includes many affidavits from neighbors and physicians regarding his health. While in the service, in May and June of 1863, he was treated by a regimental surgeon, Dr. George Mays, for rheumatism and bronchitis. These conditions had not cleared by the time of his discharge. Since Dr. Mays was, at that time, practicing in Lititz, he continued Christ's care for a number of years after discharge. Dr. Mays later moved to Philadelphia.
In answer to various questions posed by the pension board in June 1883, Christ answered that he had "contracted rheumatism and general disability while in the army caused by exposure to all kinds of weather and by having to sleep on damp ground."
A neighbor, Benjamin L. Landis of Manheim Township, testified to having known Christ for "years" prior to his enlistment, and that he was "an ablebodied and healthy workingman and especially free from rheumatism" prior to his enlistment, but that "on his return late in July 1863 he was afflicted with chronic rheumatism."
The most interesting letter in the file is dated May 28, 1884 and is signed "Friederrick Habbert" who responded to the Pension Board's questions by stating, "I have known Christian Leeking since he was about 14 years of age having come to live with me at that age and from that time to the present he has always lived with me or in my close neighborhood from that time to about two years before his entering the army in the fall of 1862, up to that time he called my house his home and had his washing and mending done in my family." Mr. Habbert also testified that Christ was healthy before his service in the Union Army and afflicted with rheumatism afterwards. Incidentally, Mr. Habbert's return address was Wheatland Mills, which is at the junction of East and West Lampeter townships and Strasburg Township.
An intensive search of census records for Mr. Habbert yielded only one household in the East and West Lampeter and Strasburg areas approximating the name. In the 1850 census for West Lampeter Twp. (p 236) Frederick Hubberd, age 28, a laborer born in Germany, is living with his wife, Mary, two daughters, Anna and Elizabeth, and Frederick Sr, age 60, also a laborer. By 1870 Frederick Sr. was deceased and the name is now listed as "Hubert." In the 1869-1870 Directory of Lancaster County (p 276) there is a listing for Frederick Hubbard. Clearly, the name was undergoing evolution from the German to an anglicized form. Since Hubbard is the maiden name of Christ's mother as given in his death certificate, it is likely that Christ was sent to live with his mother's family. I have not found a listing for Christ in the 1850 census. At 16 years of age he was probably working and boarding elsewhere. Frederick Hubbert Jr. is buried at Mellinger's Mennonite Cemetery. His dates are 9/18/1821 to 8/6/1893 (71 yrs, 10 mos, 18 days). Frederick Habbert (Jr) signed a petition to be naturalized in Common Pleas Court of Lancaster County on November 4, 1848, renouncing aliegiance to Frederick Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia.
Christian Leeking was finally awarded a $2 per month pension on September 16, 1884, retroactive to March 26, 1883. It was increased to $4 per month on July 28, 1886; $6 per month on February 23, 1888; $8 per month on June 11, 1890; $12 on June 20, 1901; $15 on March 5, 1907; $20 on April 27, 1909; and finally, $22.50 on June 12, 1912.
He filed many claims for increases, each of which was accompanied by a Surgeon's Certificate. His physical appearance was described as five feet, five inches, with light complexion, light hair, grey eyes with declining physical health.
When a new pension act was enacted in 1890 and Christ was forced to reapply for his pension, he was awarded less than his previous amount and complained bitterly to the Commissioner of Pensions in Washington, stating that he was "indeed not pensioned high enough for the degree of disability. I am absolutely not fit at my age of 64 years, in my broken-down condition, to do any work at all; and I cannot earn anything. If it were not for some of my children, I hardly could exist." He refused to surrender his old Pension Certificate and apparently continued at his old rate.
In 1913 and 1916 when the Pension Board was slow to act on his applications, he enlisted the support and aid of the Hon. W. W. Griest of the 9th Congressional District to push them along.
His final pension check dated Feb 4, 1919 was returned to the Bureau of Pensions by Christian D. Leeking with a notice that his father had died. The original returned envelope which had contained the final pension check is in the file.
1890 Special Schedule: Surviving soldiers, sailors and marines and widows:
SD 2/ED 142/ Minor Civil Division:East Warwick/p 8/line 35/house 205/family 224
Christian Leeking (Elizabeth, widow of - this is incorrect) Private; B company; 178th PA; enlistment date: 6 Nov 1862; discharge date: 27 July 1863; 8 mos, 21 days; militia; Millway; disability: rheumatism.
The 1890 census has been lost due to a fire. But we can speculate that it showed, Christ Sr., age 56; Edward, age 18; Nathan, age 16; and the twins Alice and Laura, age 12, all living in Millway with Christ Jr. (age 21) and Elizabeth Zartman Leeking and their son, Monroe, age 1. The 1890 City and County Directory lists Christian and Frank Leeking as farmers living in Rothsville.
1910 census: Pa./Lancaster County/Warwick Township/ED 146
Leeking, Christian; Head of House; age 40; married 22 years; born in PA; father born in Germany; mother born in PA; farmer/owns farm; owns home
Leeking, Lizzie; wife; age 41; born in PA; father and mother born in PA; 9 children born/7 living
Leeking, Monroe; son; age 21; laborer/oil works (Southern Pipeline per Doris Witwer)
Leeking, Edwin; son; age 19; laborer/oil works
Leeking, Lloyd; son; age 15; laborer/farm
Leeking, Mabel; daughter; age 13
Leeking, Elva; daughter, age 11
Leeking, Ivan; son; age 5
Leeking, Edna; daughter; age 2
Leeking, Christian Sr; father; age 76; Born in Germany; mother and father born in Germany; laborer/stone quarry; veteran of the Union Army.
The replacement gravestone erected by Richard Eitnier says "1846 Immigrant Father." In fact Christ may have emigrated in 1845 according to naturalization papers.
A sister, Katherine Leeking Broeker emigrated in 1884. Another unmarried sister, Anne Marie, remained with the mother in Germany.
Obituary: 14 Nov 1918, Thursday, Lancaster New Era (Lancaster, Pa.), p.3
"Death of Christian Leeking
Christian Leeking died at the home of his son, Christian, at Millway early this morning, from a paralytic stroke, after an illness of two days. He was in his eighty-fifth year and is survived by the following children: Henry and William, of Lancaster; Frank, New Jersey; Mrs. Mary Graybill, Reading; Christian G., Millway; Edwin, Rothsville; Nathan, New Haven, Connecticut; and Mrs. Harry Brinser, Reading. A sister, Mrs. Catherine Bricker of St. Claires, Illinois, and twenty-three grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren also survive.
The funeral will be held from his late home Monday morning at 9:30 o'clock, with services at the Lutheran Church at Rothsville at 10 o'clock. Interment will be made in the adjoining cemetery."
Jerusalem Lutheran Church Records: Christian Leeking died Nov. 14, 1918, at 84 years, 6 months, and 21 days. He was born Apr. 23, 1834.
Notes:
Christened Christian Friedrich Luecking in Evangelische, Hüllhorst.
Oral family history states that he emigrated from Prussia with aunt (unknown; possible Brookmeyer) to avoid service in the Prussian military. The naturalization record filed in Lancaster County states that he emigrated in 1845, in his 12th year. According to family story, he lived with relatives in the Lampeter area. It is also the family story that his father was killed in service to the military and that Christian was the last male of his line.
In 1852 Christian probably returned to Germany to visit family. He is recorded as entering the country in the Philadelphia Ship Lists as Christian "Leukens" from Lancaster County.
Petition for admission to citizenship filed with the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County on October 11, 1858. Christian "LeKing a Native of Hern Hut Prussia" forswore allegiance to Frederick Wilhelm the 4th, King of Prussia. His petition was attested to by David Landis.
Marriage in the records of Zion Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Reel 411 (Lancaster County Historical Society) November 20, 1859: Christian "Liking" (Muenden, Preussen) and Louisa Doerr (Lancaster, Pa).
1860 census: Pa/Lancaster County/Warwick Township/p. 518/House 432/Family 449/17 July 1860
Christian Wise; age 65; farmer; real estate/8700; personal/1075
Anna Wise; age 40
Wallace Wise; age 6
John Wise; age 2
Catherine McCutcheon; age 21; domestic
Henry Wise; age 42; day laborer
Allen Heuber, age 18; teacher at school
*Christian Leaking; age 25; day laborer
*Louissa Leaking, age 20 (Note: Louisa was actually 18 at the time, having been married at 17)
According to the 1864 Lancaster County Atlas, the Christian Wise residence was at the western end of Millport, within a few houses of the mill.
Prior to his military service, Christ and Louisa moved to the farm in Manheim Township. This is clear from the fact that he was drafted from that Township. Also, in Pension Declarations dated April 24, 1909 and June 10 1912, he stated that he lived at Oregon for 22 years ending April 1, 1884. Further, Christian and William Leeking are listed as residents of Oregon in the 1884 Lancaster City and County Directory (p. 707).
Another family story states that Christian received the farm in return for serving as a substitute for someone in the Reist family. No such substitute record exists, and Christ served in a drafted unit. So unless the Reist family had sufficient power as to control the draft lists, this story is probably erroneous.
But he did manage to somehow acquire property. The farm appears on the 1864 Atlas of Lancaster County, marked as "Cn. Leeking. " In order to be listed on the atlas, he must have owned the property, although no deed record could be found. Nonetheless he was enumerated in Warwick Township in all censuses, presumably because he was just over the line.
From April 1, 1884 to April 1, 1888, he stated that he lived at Rome, Pa. After that, his address was Millway, presumably with Christ Jr. and Elizabeth.
1869 Lancaster County Directory: Leeking, Christian; farmer, Oregon
1870 census: Pa./Lancaster County/Warwick Township/Rothsville P. O./p. 352/Dwelling 20/Family 21/23 June 1870/Frank Stanton (Image 3)
(This census is hard to read and the enumerator was sloppy...has Christian born in PA)
Leeking, Christ; age 35; personal estate/$600
Leeking, Louisa; age 28
Leeking, Henry; age 9
Leeking, William; age 8
Leeking, Franklin; age 6
Leeking, Sarah; age 4
Leeking, Christ; age 9/12
Derr, Philip; age 62; at home; born Bavaria
(After the death of his wife, Margaretha, on 26 Dec 1869, Philip Doerr came to live with Christ and Louisa.)
1880 census: Pa./Lancaster County/Warwick Township/p. 304/10 Jun 1880
Leeking, Christian; age 46; farmer; Prussia
Leeking, Louisa; age 38; wife; keeping house
Leeking, Henry; age 20; farm hand
Leeking, William; age 18; farm hand
Leeking, Benjamin; age 16; farm hand
Leeking, Annie; age 14; house maid
Leeking, Christian; age 11; farm hand
Leeking, Edward; age 8
Leeking, Nathan; age 6
Leeking, Laura; age 2
Leeking, Alice; age 2
Derr, Philip; age 73; father-in-law; retired laborer; born Bavaria
At the time of Louisa's death, all of the children were still at home, including Henry and William. A few years later, in 1883, Christ began the application process for a civil war pension. His very thick file in the National Archives in Washington, DC includes many affidavits from neighbors and physicians regarding his health. While in the service, in May and June of 1863, he was treated by a regimental surgeon, Dr. George Mays, for rheumatism and bronchitis. These conditions had not cleared by the time of his discharge. Since Dr. Mays was, at that time, practicing in Lititz, he continued Christ's care for a number of years after discharge. Dr. Mays later moved to Philadelphia.
In answer to various questions posed by the pension board in June 1883, Christ answered that he had "contracted rheumatism and general disability while in the army caused by exposure to all kinds of weather and by having to sleep on damp ground."
A neighbor, Benjamin L. Landis of Manheim Township, testified to having known Christ for "years" prior to his enlistment, and that he was "an ablebodied and healthy workingman and especially free from rheumatism" prior to his enlistment, but that "on his return late in July 1863 he was afflicted with chronic rheumatism."
The most interesting letter in the file is dated May 28, 1884 and is signed "Friederrick Habbert" who responded to the Pension Board's questions by stating, "I have known Christian Leeking since he was about 14 years of age having come to live with me at that age and from that time to the present he has always lived with me or in my close neighborhood from that time to about two years before his entering the army in the fall of 1862, up to that time he called my house his home and had his washing and mending done in my family." Mr. Habbert also testified that Christ was healthy before his service in the Union Army and afflicted with rheumatism afterwards. Incidentally, Mr. Habbert's return address was Wheatland Mills, which is at the junction of East and West Lampeter townships and Strasburg Township.
An intensive search of census records for Mr. Habbert yielded only one household in the East and West Lampeter and Strasburg areas approximating the name. In the 1850 census for West Lampeter Twp. (p 236) Frederick Hubberd, age 28, a laborer born in Germany, is living with his wife, Mary, two daughters, Anna and Elizabeth, and Frederick Sr, age 60, also a laborer. By 1870 Frederick Sr. was deceased and the name is now listed as "Hubert." In the 1869-1870 Directory of Lancaster County (p 276) there is a listing for Frederick Hubbard. Clearly, the name was undergoing evolution from the German to an anglicized form. Since Hubbard is the maiden name of Christ's mother as given in his death certificate, it is likely that Christ was sent to live with his mother's family. I have not found a listing for Christ in the 1850 census. At 16 years of age he was probably working and boarding elsewhere. Frederick Hubbert Jr. is buried at Mellinger's Mennonite Cemetery. His dates are 9/18/1821 to 8/6/1893 (71 yrs, 10 mos, 18 days). Frederick Habbert (Jr) signed a petition to be naturalized in Common Pleas Court of Lancaster County on November 4, 1848, renouncing aliegiance to Frederick Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia.
Christian Leeking was finally awarded a $2 per month pension on September 16, 1884, retroactive to March 26, 1883. It was increased to $4 per month on July 28, 1886; $6 per month on February 23, 1888; $8 per month on June 11, 1890; $12 on June 20, 1901; $15 on March 5, 1907; $20 on April 27, 1909; and finally, $22.50 on June 12, 1912.
He filed many claims for increases, each of which was accompanied by a Surgeon's Certificate. His physical appearance was described as five feet, five inches, with light complexion, light hair, grey eyes with declining physical health.
When a new pension act was enacted in 1890 and Christ was forced to reapply for his pension, he was awarded less than his previous amount and complained bitterly to the Commissioner of Pensions in Washington, stating that he was "indeed not pensioned high enough for the degree of disability. I am absolutely not fit at my age of 64 years, in my broken-down condition, to do any work at all; and I cannot earn anything. If it were not for some of my children, I hardly could exist." He refused to surrender his old Pension Certificate and apparently continued at his old rate.
In 1913 and 1916 when the Pension Board was slow to act on his applications, he enlisted the support and aid of the Hon. W. W. Griest of the 9th Congressional District to push them along.
His final pension check dated Feb 4, 1919 was returned to the Bureau of Pensions by Christian D. Leeking with a notice that his father had died. The original returned envelope which had contained the final pension check is in the file.
1890 Special Schedule: Surviving soldiers, sailors and marines and widows:
SD 2/ED 142/ Minor Civil Division:East Warwick/p 8/line 35/house 205/family 224
Christian Leeking (Elizabeth, widow of - this is incorrect) Private; B company; 178th PA; enlistment date: 6 Nov 1862; discharge date: 27 July 1863; 8 mos, 21 days; militia; Millway; disability: rheumatism.
The 1890 census has been lost due to a fire. But we can speculate that it showed, Christ Sr., age 56; Edward, age 18; Nathan, age 16; and the twins Alice and Laura, age 12, all living in Millway with Christ Jr. (age 21) and Elizabeth Zartman Leeking and their son, Monroe, age 1. The 1890 City and County Directory lists Christian and Frank Leeking as farmers living in Rothsville.
1910 census: Pa./Lancaster County/Warwick Township/ED 146
Leeking, Christian; Head of House; age 40; married 22 years; born in PA; father born in Germany; mother born in PA; farmer/owns farm; owns home
Leeking, Lizzie; wife; age 41; born in PA; father and mother born in PA; 9 children born/7 living
Leeking, Monroe; son; age 21; laborer/oil works (Southern Pipeline per Doris Witwer)
Leeking, Edwin; son; age 19; laborer/oil works
Leeking, Lloyd; son; age 15; laborer/farm
Leeking, Mabel; daughter; age 13
Leeking, Elva; daughter, age 11
Leeking, Ivan; son; age 5
Leeking, Edna; daughter; age 2
Leeking, Christian Sr; father; age 76; Born in Germany; mother and father born in Germany; laborer/stone quarry; veteran of the Union Army.
The replacement gravestone erected by Richard Eitnier says "1846 Immigrant Father." In fact Christ may have emigrated in 1845 according to naturalization papers.
Family Members
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