My Genealogy Hound

JOHN LEITENBERGER, a well-known business man and Republican politician who has served several terms in the Norristown town council, is the son of Christian F. and Jacobena (Wacker) Leitenberger.

Christian Felix Leitenberger (father) was born in Konniggratz, Wurtemberg, Germany, November 20, 1825. He grew to manhood in his native place and was employed in a large hotel from the age of eighteen to twenty-five years. He attended the public schools at intervals. When twenty-five years of age he shipped at Havre, France, on a sailing vessel, for America. The voyage lasted twenty-six days and ended in New York harbor. Mr. Leitenberger went at once to Philadelphia and, after tarrying three weeks there, came to Norristown and secured employment on the farm of Mr. Reidenbaugh, also a native of Germany. After a year on the farm Mr. Leitenberger entered the employment of Abraham R. Cox, the brewer, with whom he remained thirty-eight years. He became a Democrat in politics and adhered to that party until Cleveland’s second administration when he joined the Republicans. Mr. Leitenberger married T. Jacobena Wacker, who was born in Upper Heilbron, Germany, and at the age of eighteen, with her sister Magdalena, came to America. She was born November 29, 1833, They had the following children: Louis, born September 1, 1855, married Julia Newhoffer, of Philadelphia, where they now reside, their children being Louis J. (deceased), Annie, Amelia, and Emma (deceased); Annie, born January 11, 1858, married John Parker and lives in Norristown; Charles, born July 9, 1860, married Elizabeth Dolan and lives in Philadelphia; Elizabeth, born December 22, 1862, married John Long, their children being Carl Donald and Beta; John, was born July 6, 1866; Mary M., born October 18, 1868, has attended the training school for nurses at the Charity Hospital at Norristown and will make nursing her life work; George F., born September 1, 1870, married Miss Bertha Pifer and lives in Norristown; Amelia H., who was born August 4, 1875, and taught school seven years in Norristown, married Howard M. Bate, of Conshohocken.

John Leitenberger was born in Norristown and grew to manhood there, attending the public schools until he was thirteen years of age. He then entered the Good Intent Worsted Mill of Thomas Liversidge. After a few months in the mill he went to the Pennsylvania Tack Works and remained one year. He then went to James Hooven & Sons’ Tube Works, afterwards entering John K. Thomas’ blacksmith shop as an apprentice, and remained with him for five years. Mr. Leitenberger worked with Joseph Chislett in his blacksmith shop in Conshohocken for eight years, and with his widow and stepson two years, making ten years in that shop. On March 10, 1897, he rented a shop on the ground where his present extensive shop stands, and worked in it until the year 1900, when he leased the land for a term of ten years and erected his present place of business, which is a machine and blacksmith shop, with all modern appliances. He has three forges and employs five men. He builds carts and wagons and does machine work as well as horse-shoeing. Wagon-making is his specialty.

In politics Mr. Leitenberger is a Republican. He was elected to the council at twenty-five years of age and served nine years continuously. He was chairman of the fire and water committee four years and was active in creating the office of chief of the fire department, of which the late John Slingluff was the head. He was chairman of the accounts committee one year, of highways two years, and borough regulator for two years. He was a member of every committee of the council during his term and on the finance committee six years. He has been a delegate to county conventions many times.

Mr. Leitknberger is a member of Charity Lodge, No. 190, of the Masonic order; has belonged to the Montgomery Lodge of Odd Fellows fifteen years and is a member of the Norristown Encampment of Odd Fellows. He is an active member of the Fairmount Fire Company and was its vice president for five years. Other organizations to which Mr. Leitenberger belongs are the Royal Arcanum, being a past regent: Tecumseh Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men; and Norristown Maennerchor.

The parents and sisters of Mr. Leitenberger are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church of the Trinity, Norristown.