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Leschke, Samuel Adolf, 1828-1889

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1828 - 1889

Biographical History

Samuel Adolf Leschke (1828-1889) was a weaver by occupation and kept a diary of his life's experiences which became a special family heirloom. It was passed down to his great-granddaughter, Ursula Leschke, whose family held onto it during World War II and their subsequent migration from Germany to the United States.

Leschke was born in Sommerfeld, Krossen, Silesia, Prussia on April 15, 1828 to Johann S. Wilhelm Leschke and Johanne Beata S. Ziesche. On May 17, 1852, he married Henriette Christiane Blobel, who was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Leschke never joined her faith. He and Henriette had 7 children. In 1845, while working as a weaver apprentice, he kept a journal of his work and family life. He wrote a great deal about the passing of two of his children, one of which, a son, died at age eighteen and the other, a daughter, after only ninety-eight days. His son suffered from lung problems. Leschke worked for various clothing factories. One time he lost his job and another time, he quit because he felt mistreated. Later in life, he started to play the lottery, but never won anything. He appears to have loved classic literature, as he often quoted great authors of his day in his diary. He wrote about some personal celestial experiences he had, as well. On June 16, 1889, he died in Sommerfeld.

Citation:
FamilySearch, September 20, 2016 (Samuel Adolf Leschke; Samuel Adolf Wilhelm Leschke; Wilhelm Leschke; b. April 15, 1828; d. June 16, 1889; celestial experiences, married Henriette Christiane Blobel May 17, 1852)

Ancestry.com, via WWW, September 20, 2016, (Samuel Adolf Leschke)

Samuel Adolf Leschke diary, 1845-1889 (S. A. W. Leschke; Samuel Adolf Wilhelm, Leschke)

UPB files, Sept. 20, 2016 (Diary survived WWII; brought diary when immigrated to United States; 1845 started his journal; worked as weaver apprentice in various clothing factories; wrote about the passing of two of his children; lost his job; quit his job; played the lottery but never won; lover of classic literature)

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Samuel Adolf Leschke diary

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197239235887]
Identifier: MSS 8905
Content Description Diary and autobiography by Leschke, beginning in 1845 while he was a weaver apprentice in Germany, until his death in 1889. He includes records of events in his and his family's life, as well as those in the world at the time. Often includes newspaper clippings. Topics include the deaths of children and the associated heartache, working at cloth factories, hardships of unemployment, wedding anniversaries, playing the lottery, and quotes from authors in classic literature at the time, such as...
Dates: 1845-1889
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections

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