Andrew J. Leck

Andrew J. (possibly Jackson) Leck was born on July 6, 1867 to Henry Leck and Mariah Unknown (Kelly or Scott) near Brock, Nemaha Co., Nebraska.

1870 Census for LaFayette, Nemaha Co., Nebraska

Henry Leck 35

Mariah 34

J.O. 14

Madora 12

Jasper 10

Emmit 7

A.J. 2

Henry Montier 29

Danial Montier 35

Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Lafayette, Nemaha, Nebraska; Roll: M593_831; Page: 315B; Image: 144; Family History Library Film: 552330.

In 1879 Andrew's parents divorced.

1879 Article in the Nebraska Advertiser:

Brownville, Nemaha, Nebraska, USA from Mariah Kelly

Description

Article in the Nebraska Advertiser - "Mariah Leck, you are hereby notified on the 29th day of Sept. 1879 that Henry Leck filed a petition of divorce from you and the care and custody of his minor children."

1880 Census for LaFayette, Nemaha Co., Nebraska

Henry Leck b. 1837 PA, farmer, divorced, father and mother born in Germany.

Adam E. Leck b. 1864 in IA, mother born in OH

Andrew J. Leck b. 1868 in NE, mother born in OH

Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: La Fayette, Nemaha, Nebraska; Roll: 752; Family History Film: 1254752; Page: 115C; Enumeration District: 203; Image: 0675.

In 1884 Andrew's father remarried and they are found living together in Lafayette, Nemaha, Nebraska in 1885.

Nebraska State Census Collection, 1860-1885 4 June 1885

Alice Leck 38 FL NY NY

Henry Leck 49 PA GER GER

Walter Garber 12 servant

A J Leck 16 NE

(married one year)

Source Citation: National Archives and Records Administration; Nebraska State Census; Year: 1885; Series/Record Group: M352; County: Nemaha; Township: Lafayette; Page: 5.

Sometime between 1885 and 1890 Andrew moved to Palco, Rooks County, Kansas and married Leora May Bomgardner 23 Jan 1890.

Rooks County, Kansas Marriage Records Book A, 1874-1894

Groom Bride Date Page

Leck, Andrew J. Bomgardner, Ora M. 23 Jan 1890 443

Richard, Waneta, William "Bill" Thomas, Helen, James

Blanche, Andrew, Edra, Leora May and Glen Leck

Children of Andrew J. Leck and Leora May Bomgardner:

1. Stella Blanche Leck, born 6 Mar 1891 in Brock, Nemaha, NE; died 7 Jan 1975 in Palco, Rooks Co., KS; married Guy Mills 16 Jul 1921.

2. Glenn Leck, born Sep 1892 in Palco, Rooks Co., KS; died 1970 in Palco, Rooks Co., KS; married Mary Louise Arnold.

3. William "Bill" Thomas Leck, Sr.

4. Grace Leck, born 19 Mar 1898 in Palco, Rooks Co., KS; died 25 Aug 1909 in Palco, Rooks Co., KS.

5. Myrtle Leck, born Oct 1899 in Palco, Rooks Co., KS; died in Palco, Rooks Co., KS

6. Waune Leck, born abt 1900 in Palco, Rooks Co., KS; died abt 1988 in Denver, CO; married Ernest Wright.

7. Helen D. Leck, born 13 Mar 1902 in Palco, Rooks Co., KS; died 14 Nov 1977 in Los Angeles, CA; married Don Moss (issue: 1 child), Schurr (2 children).

8. James Leck, born 31 May 1904 in Palco, Rooks Co., KS; died 19 Oct 1994 in Ellis, KS; married Margaret Griswald on 31 Jul 1940.

9. Richard Leck, born abt 1907 in Palco, Rooks Co., KS; died abt 1965 in Saratoga, FL

10. Edra Leck, born abt 1913 in Palco, Rooks Co., KS; died abt 1960 in NM.

Andrew is listed in the "Nebraska State Gazetteer Farmers Directory for 1890-1891." JM Wolfe & Co., 1890 as "A.J. Leck, Brock." No other Lecks are listed.

In 1893 Andrew homesteaded 160 acres of land southwest of Palco, which he acquired through the Timber Claim Act. By 1895 he had amassed 100 acres in crops, valued at $1200 and equipment worth $10.

1900 Census for Rooks County, Kansas

Andrew J Leek....Head of Household...b. Jul 1867 in IA...father born in PA...mother born in OH....married 10 years....farmer

Ora M Leek........Wife of H of H..........b. May 1868 in IA...father born in OH...mother born in MO...married 10 years

Blanche Leek......child.........................b. Mar 1894 in NE

Glennie Leek......child.........................b. Sep 1892 in KS

William Leek......child.........................b. Oct 1895 in KS

Grace Leek.........child.........................b. Mar 1898 in KS

Martel Leek........child.........................b. Oct 1899 in KS

Andrew was also the first Marshall of Palco in Rooks County, Kansas in 1906.

On December 17, 1906 Andrew purchased the Columbian Hotel in Palco from his brother-in-law Bert B. Bomgardmer. Andrew owned and operated the hotel, which was located on east Main Street. The hotel had a very good livery stable where guests could rent horses and buggies. On Mar 7, 1907, Andrew ran cement sidewalks in front of the hotel, on the west side of the street. On Oct 10, 1907 there was a small fire (no reason given) at the hotel. On Mar 12, 1908 Andrew sold the hotel to Lute Coddington who hired J.W. Leggott as the proprietor. Mr. Leggott started using gasoline in an oil can to exterminate bedbugs, but this caused a fire when he accidentally stepped on a match while doing so, which partially destroyed the hotel and completely burned one-half of the block south of it.

This article appeared in The Palco Enterprise on Thursday, January 24, 1907 about the Columbian Hotel:

"This is the only hotel in Palco. Was partially rebuild about two years ago by Mr. Read, the north wing was added and the office and dining room enlarged, and several sleeping rooms added. The building now has about 16 rooms, yet during the busy season they are crowded as Palco has a numerous transient trade to care for. Mr. Andrew Leck bought this hotel last summer and says he has had a very satisfactory business nearly all the time. He strives to make guests comfortable and care for their welfare while they are with him. Our train service at Palco warrants the arrival and departure of every passenger train working up business-ship on the landlord, as well as the guests. The east-bound passenger train at 5:40 am, and west-bound at 9:20 pm, too early for morning meals and too late for evening meals. Mr. Leck meets these trains at the depot to conduct passengers to the hotel and care for their luggage. Mine Host and his wife of the Columbian Hotel are among the old time settlers of our community and all of their friends desire to see them successful in their present business. We certainly believe the hotel business at Palco should be a money making deal for the parties interested, though this is one of the lines we are not capable of talking or writing about. It always seemed to me a hard way to serve the Lord, and the Lord had the best of the bargain. We sincerely hope that all landlords and their over-worked wives may have a cordial greeting at St. Peter's gate, and abundant rest, they deserve it."

Sometime after 1908 Andrew owned a meat market and was the town butcher. There is a family story that when one of his daughters became ill (we may assume this story is about Grace), Andrew called the doctor into town and told him that if she died he would kill him. Despite the doctor's efforts the child died and true to his word, the distraught father chased the doctor down Main Street with a cleaver.

In 1910, Andrew's wife and children are found living with her parents. A search for Andrew in the 1910 census comes up empty. Where was he?

1910 Census for Rooks County, Kansas

Source Citation

"United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M2Z3-VFN : accessed 19 May 2012), Ora May Leck in household of John C Bomgardner, Northampton, Rooks, Kansas.

In 1915 the family is found living together in Russell County, Kansas.

1915 Kansas State Census for Luray, Russell County, Kansas

A. J. Leck, 47y

Ora M. Leck, 47y

William T. Leck, 19y

WA Veta Leck, 15y

Hellen Leck, 13y

James Leck, 11y

Dick Leck, 8y

Edra Leck, 2y

In 1920 Andrew is found living in Norton County, Kansas with a seemingly unrelated family. I'm not sure where his children are at this point.

1920 Census for Norton County, Kansas

Harry Keene Head of household M 40y b. in Illinois, Parents b. in Germany, Widowed

Mable Keene Wife of H of H F 33y b. in Kansas, Father b. in Pennsylvania, Mother b. in Iowa

Neva Keene F 11y

Mildred Keene F 6y

Elsie Keene F 3y5m

Lois Keene F 7m

Andrew Leck Relationship left blank M 51y b. in Nebraska, Father b. in Germany, Mother b. in Pennsylvania

1930 Census for Rooks County, Kansas

Andrew Leck....Head of Household....b. 1870 in NE...father born in Pa...mother born in US...widowed

James Leck......son.............................b. 1905 in KS....father born in NE...mother born in MO

Dick Leck.........son............................b. 1907 in KS....father born in NE...mother born in MO

Helen Schurr....daughter....................b. 1902 in KS....father born in NE...mother born in MO....married

Edra Leck........daughter......................b. 1913 in KS....father born in NE...mother born in MO

In 1935 Andrew and his son James lived in rural Jewell County, Kansas, about two hours from Rooks County, Kansas. More research is needed to see why--perhaps one of Andrew's children lived there. However, by 1940 he was back in Palco, Rooks County, Kansas.

1940 Census for Rooks County, Kansas

Source Citation

"United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VR27-GWF : accessed 19 May 2012), Andrew Leck, Palco, Northampton Township, Rooks, Kansas, United States.

Sometime between 1940 and 1949 Andrew moved to Arizona for unknown reasons. He died on April 4, 1949 in Prescott, Yavapai Co., AZ and is buried in Mt View Cemetery, Prescott, AZ. I would like to find his obituary--perhaps it would shed some light on the details surrounding this sudden and distant move.

Photo by Russell J Parker

Death certificate for Andrew J. Leck