LEUCKEL, FREDERICK

Portrait and Biographical Record – Pages 119-120

Kindly submitted: Joanne Chubb  

Frederick Leuckel, a retired butcher of Lehighton, and one of the wealthy and respected citizens, claims Germany as the land of his birth, which occurred in Hessen, on the 15^th of November, 1807.  His parents were John and Eliza Leuckel.  In accordance with the laws of his native land, he attended the public schools until fourteen years of age.  At the age of sixteen he began learning the trade of a butcher in Amsterdam, Holland, where he remained for a period of seven years.  In his twenty-third year, he boarded a sailing-vessel bound for America, and after a voyage of one hundred and thirty days landed at New York City.

  For a short time Mr. Leuckel was employed in a sugar factory in New York, after which he removed to Easton, Northampton County, where he opened a meat marker, and engaged in business for himself.  He was there married to Miss Lucetta Lenzler, who was born in Germany, but who came to the United States during her early girlhood.  In 1834 they removed to Lehighton, where Mr. Leuckel again established a meat market.  His business increased, and he sold to the retail trade from eighteen to twenty beeves per week.  In that line of business he continued until April, 1875, when he retired to private life.  He began business with a cash capital of only $40, and from a humble position, steadily worked his way upward to one of affluence.  As his financial resources increased, he not only enlarged his market, but also made judicious investments in other enterprises, becoming connected with various interests.  He owns considerable property and is a stockholder in the Lehighton Bank, the First National Bank, the Second National Bank of Mauch Chunk, and the First National Bank of Catasauqua.

  Mr. and Mrs. Leuckel became the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters:  John, who is engaged in the sanitary business in Trenton, N.J.; Emma, wife of Samuel Morris, a resident of Aspen, Colo.: Fred, who makes his home in the same place; Tillie C., a widow living at home; Alfred K., who is also located in Trenton, N.J., and Louisa, now Mrs. Bowman, of Trenton, N.J.  The mother of this family was called to her final rest in March, 1884.  She was an active and consistent member of the Evangelical Society, and was a most estimable lady, whose loss is deeply mourned throughout the community.

  Mr. Leuckel has been a member of the same church for half a century.  In his political views he is a Democrat, and supports the men and measures of that party, but has never sought or desired political preferment for himself.  His life has been an honorable and upright one.  He is straight-forward in all business dealings, and through well directed efforts, industry and good management he has won a handsome property, becoming one of the wealthy citizens of Lehighton.  It was a fortunate day for him when he decided to emigrate to America, for he has found a pleasant home, gained many friends and secured a handsome competency, which now enables him to live retired, resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.