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WILLIAM KEUDEL LEICHT
Originally published in 1900 |
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WILLIAM KEUDEL LEICHT.- At Schottenstein, a town in the Kingdom
of Bavaria, early in the nineteenth century, resided Andrew Leicht,
the earlier home of whose ancestors was in the Tyrol, an Austrian province
on the southwestern frontier of Germany, from whence some of their descendants
found their way into Bavaria and settled at Schottenstein many
generations back of the nineteenth century. Andrew Leicht and his wife,
Eva Barbarie, had issue, among whom was Andrew Leicht (2), born at
Schottenstein, June 5, 1817. At twenty years of age the latter came to
America and located at Hudson, Columbia County, N. V., where in 1840
he met, wooed, and married Miss Maria Semler (daughter of John and
Anna Semler), who had come to America in 1829, from the village of
Gross-Felda, in the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt, where she was born May
1, 1822.
After his marriage Andrew Leicht (2) embarked in the butcher business at Hudson, N. V., continuing successfully for sixteen years. In 1856 he sold out and came to New York City, and the following year removed to Hudson County, N. J., where he purchased a valuable tract of land west of Hoboken on what was then known as `' Van Vorst Heights." On this tract, in the following year (1857), he built and equipped a large brewery plant, and with John Roemmelt, his son-in-law, began the manufacture of lager beer under the firm name of Roemmelt & Leicht. The business was continued with varying success until the death of the partners. During the first twenty years of its existence the lager beer industry of the country was in its infancy, and Roemmelt & Leicht's products were known far and wide. Mr. Roemmelt, who was a native of Schwanfelt, in Bavaria, died in 1884, and Mr. Leicht's death occurred in 1885. In his lifetime Mr. Leicht was one of the best known and most prominent men in Hudson County. He took an active part as a Democrat in the political affairs of old Hudson City before it was swallowed up by Jersey City, being twice elected Alderman and once Freeholder of the ward in which he resided. He was active, energetic, scrupulously honest, and possessed sterling integrity, blended with good business capacity, which qualities made him popular with and respected by a large circle of his fellow-citizens. His widow, a lady of cheerful disposition and kind and matronly instincts, survives him, having passed the seventy-eighth mile post of life. The issue of the third generation of Andrew Leicht and Maria Semler (all born at Hudson, N. Y.) are five children: Andrew E., born in 1842; Amelia, born in 1843; Charles K., born in 1854; William K.; and John M., born in 1856. Of these Andrew E. married (1852) Louise Miller and is a retired brewer with two children in Chicago, Ill. Amelia married John Roemmelt (now deceased) and has had ten children (now in Jersey City). Charles P. married Kate Mahoney and with four children is in Newburgh, N. Y. John M. married Eugenia Veyresset and with two children is at Cleveland, Ohio. William K. Leicht (3), the subject of this sketch, was born at Hudson, Columbia County, N. Y., October 1, 1554, and came with his parents to New Jersey in 1857. He obtained a thorough education in the German academy at Hoboken, at a high (grammar) school in New York City, and at Columbia College, from which institution he was graduated. He read law in the office of the late Attorney-General Robert Gilchrist in Jersey City, and was admitted to the New Jersey bar as an attorney in February, 1875, and as a counselor in February, 1S 7 S. He then formed a law partnership with C. B. Harvey, of Jersey City. A few years later this partnership was dissolved, since which time Mr. Leicht has maintained an office and successfully practiced his profession at No. 328 Palisade Avenue, Jersey City, making real estate law and conveyancing specialties. A s one of the executors and trustees under the will of his wealthy uncle, Joseph Rubsam, of Stapleton, Staten Island, Mr. Leicht has been kept busy since 1890 managing a large estate, and for the past five years he has been Secretary of the Rubsam & Florrinann Brewing Company, at Stapleton, a position which requires much of his attention and from which he receives a hand- some salary. He is a great lover of travel, and notwithstanding his many business responsibilities has found time to travel all over the United States, Mexico, South America, the West Indies, the Bermuda Isles, and through every country in Europe as far north as " the land of the midnight sun." In 1900 he made an extended trip through Scotland and Ireland. He is sociably inclined and genial in his disposition. Extensive travel and observation have made him an agreeable conversationalist. He is a member of but one club – the Berkeley, of Jersey City. He has never married.
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