BIOGRAPHY: Louis LECKEY, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 474-5
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LOUIS LECKEY, now superintendent of the Cambria Iron company's waterworks, at 
Coopersdale, enjoys the reputation of being the architect of his own fortune. He 
is a son of Henry and Mary (Faust) Leckey, and was born at Eichelheim, Hesse-
Darmstadt, Germany, April 18, 1850. Of French origin, the name of Leckey was 
taken to Germany by a member of the family who was the father of Henry Leckey, 
Sr., whose son, Henry Leckey, was the father of the subject of this sketch. 
Henry Leckey, like his father before him, was born and reared in Germany, where 
he learned the trade of a weaver. He came, in 1868, with the rest of his family, 
to Johnstown, where he followed blacksmithing for the Cambria Iron company until 
his death. He was born April 14, 1821, and died April 1, 1896. He married Mary 
Faust. Their children, five in number, were: Louis; Peter, in the employ of the 
Cambria Iron company; Harry, a "boss roller," at Lorain, Ohio; John, with the 
Cambria Iron company; and Katherine, who married Henry Block, and is now dead.
     Louis Leckey was reared at his native place and received his education in 
the excellent public schools of Germany. At sixteen years of age he left the 
paternal roof and came to Johnstown, and after working for the Cambria Iron 
company for two years had saved sufficient money to enable his parents, and his 
three brothers and sister to come to this country. He was steady, reliable and 
skillful, and was advanced from one position to another until July 1, 1895, when 
he was made superintendent of the company's waterworks, at Coopersdale. A 
republican in politics, Mr. Leckey has declined all offices other than those 
connected with his borough, and thus in 1889, 1891, 1892 and 1893, served as a 
councilman at Morrellville. While not desirous of office yet he is active in the 
true interests of his party. He is a member of Cambria Lodge, No. 278, F. and A. 
M.; and Morrellville English Lutheran church, of which he is an elder and the 
present treasurer.
     On June 26, 1869, Mr. Leckey married Elizabeth Myers, a daughter of 
Christian Myers, of Johnstown. To their union have been born eight children: 
Harry, William, Catherine (Mrs. Harry March), Mary, Albert, George, John and 
Elsie.
     It is not accident or luck that helps a man in the world, but determined 
purpose and persistent industry, and by such purpose and industry Louis Leckey, 
commencing at the bottom has won his way to a fair measure of success. Mr. 
Leckey is one who believes that children should honor their parents and that 
around the home circle should cluster the happiest memories of youth. He states 
that the happiest moment of life was when his parents and brothers and sister 
stepped from the railway train at Johnstown after their long journey from 
Germany and a separation of many months. We cannot honor too highly home 
affections out of which all others should grow, and we should recollect that it 
is in the home circle that we form the habits of thought, speech, and action 
that shape our future lives. Neither should we be stinted in our meed of praise 
for him who honors his parents or who finds his sweetest solace in the home 
circle, whose influence "holds the empire of the heart and rules life."