Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Luecke, John 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 6, 2008, 12:22 am

Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

John Luecke, who since 1867 has been a resident of Crete, has for the past 
twelve years been engaged in business as a contractor and builder and is now 
occupying a foremost position in this connection in the village where he 
resides. His birth occurred in Monee township in 1857, being the second in 
order of birth in a family of thirteen children, whose parents were Henry and 
Gustina (Huckemeyer) Luecke, both natives of Germany. The father came to the 
United States in 1848 and took up his abode in Chicago, being employed on a 
canal. He had made the trip to the new world with his parents in 1854, when 
his father, Ernest Luecke, purchasing eighty acres of land, Henry Luecke began 
working on the farm, where he remained for several years. Following his 
marriage he engaged in farming on his own account and eventually purchased and 
cultivated one hundred and sixty acres of land in Monee township. He was an 
enterprising agriculturist, capable and successful in the management of his 
business interests, was a good neighbor and faithful friend and was warmly 
regarded by all who knew him. He held membership in the German Lutheran 
church, was active and earnest in its work and for twelve years served as one 
of its elders. His political allegiance was given to the republican party. 
Some time prior to his death he removed to Crete, where he lived retired 
throughout his remaining days, passing away in 1896, at the age of sixty-five 
years. His wife is now living in Chicago at the age of sixty-seven years and 
she, too, is a member of the German Lutheran church. Their children were 
Henry, John, William, Fred, Edward, Carl, Gustaf, Martin, Sophia, Mary, Emma, 
and others who died in infancy. John Luecke was reared on the old home farm 
and attended the country schools. He assisted in the cultivation of the fields 
until eighteen years of age, when he left home and began learning the 
carpenters trade. He has resided continuously in Crete since 1867 and after 
working in the employ of others for some time began contracting and building 
on his own account, thus carrying on business for the past twelve years. In 
1904 he formed a partnership with Henry Niemeyer under the firm style of 
Luecke & Niemeyer. which continued until March 1, 1907, and was then 
dissolved, Mr. Luecke continuing the business. He has built the principal 
business blocks of the village, including the state bank building. He is also 
agent for the American Insurance Company and the Crete Township Mutual Fire 
Insurance Company. In 1886 occurred the marriage of Mr. Luecke and Miss Louisa 
Wiebrock, now deceased, and their only child has also passed away. Two years 
after the death of his first wife Mr. Luecke married Sophia Ruhe, a daughter 
of William and Sophia (Koeller) Ruhe. Mrs. Luecke was born in Crete in 1865 
and by her marriage has become the mother of six children: Adelia, Arthur, 
Helen, Selma, Walter and Norbert. The parents are members of the German 
Lutheran church. Mr. Luecke is in sympathy with the principles and purposes of 
the republican party, which he supports by his ballot, and for eight years he 
has served as village trustee and was also village treasurer. Few residents of 
Crete have so long been connected with its interests, and during the forty 
years in which he has made his home in the village he has always stood for its 
upbuilding and progress along substantial lines and cooperated in many 
movements for the public welfare. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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