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Leoke family

Hans Leoke

1853–1919 · Research ID L-010

Hans Leoke (1853–1919), Pilvi’s grandfather.
These are the working research notes for this person: what each record says, with readings that are still uncertain marked as such. The family history gives the edited account.

In the family history: How the two families connect · The Leokes of Viljandi · Places connected with the families · Local history and photographs

Vital facts

Also recorded asHans Löuk; Hans Lõuk; Võidu-Hans; pen name Kevadelind
Born27 Dec 1852 O.S. (8 Jan 1853 N.S.), evening, Wardja Malli/Matzi farm, Alt-Woidoma (Vana-Võidu)
Baptised4 Jan 1853, Viljandi church, Pastor Carlblom; godparents Mikhel Rambek, Ann Wardjamets, Jaan Kangor
Died16 Aug 1919, Viljandi
Buried20 Aug 1919, Viljandi Old Cemetery, Pauluse IX 124-8
OccupationSchoolmaster (Arumetsa 1876–1890); clerk at Louisenhütte, Suure-Kõpu; bookseller and publisher, Viljandi (from 1891)

Family

ParentsJaak Leoke (Lõuk) 1813–1867, Kaddri Wardja 1818–1853
SpouseMari Leoke, née Tõllasepp 1867–1954 married 1 Dec 1885 O.S. (13 Dec N.S.), Viljandi
ChildrenJaan Leoke 1886–1959, Hans Leoke (the younger) 1888–1945, Peter (Peeter) Leoke 1892–1973, Elmar Oswald Leoke 1896–1972, Adolf Jakob Leoke 1901–1901
Brothers and sistersThird older sibling of Hans Leoke 1838/52–before 1853, Marri Löuk 1841–1843, Rööt Löuk 1844–1848

See Hans Leoke in the family tree →

Life events

DateEventPlaceSource
1852–1864In his father's lodger household at Wardja Matsi (household book: Jaak Löuk b. 17 Jl 1813, Kaddi † b. 8 Jan 1818, Hans b. 27 Dec 1852)Alt-WoidomaEAA.1290.1.526 img 43, p. 41 (SL-104)
1857Aged 5, listed alone at Saare Annuse, farm of godfather Michel RambekAlt-WoidomaEAA.1865.3.293/3 img 5
1864–1877With his father "Jaak Löük ×" (d. 7 Oct 1867) on the Wardja Matzi overflow page; no move or guardian noted after 1867Alt-WoidomaEAA.1290.1.529 img 238, p. 229 (SL-102)
7 Oct 1867Father died; Hans aged 14Alt-WoidomaEAA.1290.1.84 img 58
21 Feb 1871 O.S.Confirmed at Fellin (Viljandi), aged 18 (household-book note "71 21/II F.")ViljandiEAA.1290.1.532 img 625 (SL-59); read, medium-high
1872Schoolmaster's certificate, Viljandi district schoolViljandiL01
1876–1890Schoolmaster at ArumetsaArumetsaL01
1877–1899Household book: "Hans Löuke" ("Leo" written above), father Jaak (dead), Wardimatzi; b. 27/XII 1852; wife Mari (Tõllasepp) of Kangilaski; sons Jaan, Hans, Peter, Elmar, Adolf (†1901)Alt-WoidomaEAA.1290.1.532 img 625 (pp. 1332–1333) (SL-59)
1885Married Mari TõllaseppL01
1 Dec 1885 O.S.Married Mari Töllasepp of Kangilaski; he "Schulmeister" at Alt-Woidoma (place word probably "Schule"), single, parents Jaak and Kaddri both dead; betrothed 7 Nov, banns 10/17/24 NovViljandiEAA.1290.1.327 image 41, marriages No. 85; full entry EAA.1290.1.504 image 211, No. 109 (SL-24, SL-26)
1886–1901Described at his sons' baptisms as schoolmaster at Alt-Woidoma school (1886, 1888), overseer ("надзиратель") at Luisenhütte (1892, 1896) and bookseller ("книгопродавецъ") at Viljandi (1901)Alt-Woidoma; Luisenhütte; ViljandiEAA.1290.1.328 img 21;.330 img 22;.334 img 17;.338 img 44;.343 img 24 (SL-49 to SL-53)
23 Jan 1891Opened first Estonian bookshop and lending library in ViljandiViljandiL01
1895Founded publishing houseViljandiL01
1909–1919Shop and home at Tartu 11ViljandiL01; M068
1910Second-guild merchant and town citizenViljandiL01
16 Aug 1919DiedViljandiL02

Dates before 1918 are Old Style (Julian) unless marked; see conventions.

Photographs and illustrations

The Leoke family on 26 August 1910. As identified by Viljandi Museum, front row, from left: Hans, Elmar and Mari; back row: Jaan, Hans and Peeter (Peter). The b
The Leoke family on 26 August 1910. As identified by Viljandi Museum, front row, from left: Hans, Elmar and Mari; back row: Jaan, Hans…
Hans Leoke, in a dark coat and with a beard, in front of his shop at Tartu 11 in 1912, while electric lines are being strung. The EVE building, now the Grand Ho
Hans Leoke, in a dark coat and with a beard, in front of his shop at Tartu 11 in 1912, while electric lines are being strung. The EVE…
“H. Leoke. Bookshop and publishing business. Viljandi.” Hans’s stand at the 1911 agricultural show in the VEPS courtyard: his own publications on the board, and
“H. Leoke. Bookshop and publishing business. Viljandi.” Hans’s stand at the 1911 agricultural show in the VEPS courtyard: his own…
The Leoke family, about 1903. Front row, from left: Elmar Oswald (about 7, Pilvi’s father), Hans, Mari and Peeter. Back row: Hans the younger and Jaan. The only
The Leoke family, about 1903. Front row, from left: Elmar Oswald (about 7, Pilvi’s father), Hans, Mari and Peeter. Back row: Hans the…
The plot (yellow pin) in Pauluse section IX, at the northern edge of the cemetery.
The plot (yellow pin) in Pauluse section IX, at the northern edge of the cemetery.
The grave record on kalmistud.ee, Estonia’s national grave register.
The grave record on kalmistud.ee, Estonia’s national grave register.
Hans Leoke on his deathbed, August 1919. Viljandi Museum, VMF 75 F 3887.
Hans Leoke on his deathbed, August 1919. Viljandi Museum, VMF 75 F 3887.
Hans’s marker, a fieldstone boulder with a plaque: “Hans Leoke 18 27/XII 52 – 19 16/VIII 19”, his birth date in the Old Style. Very likely the original 1919 sto
Hans’s marker, a fieldstone boulder with a plaque: “Hans Leoke 18 27/XII 52 – 19 16/VIII 19”, his birth date in the Old Style. Very…
Hans and Mari Leoke, dated about 1900 by Viljandi Museum. Viljandi Museum, VMF 75 F 713.
Hans and Mari Leoke, dated about 1900 by Viljandi Museum. Viljandi Museum, VMF 75 F 713.
“What every Viljandi town voter must know”: an election leaflet urging votes for List No. 1, printed by Ado Tõllasepp and stamped by Hans’s archive library. Fro
“What every Viljandi town voter must know”: an election leaflet urging votes for List No. 1, printed by Ado Tõllasepp and stamped by…
Statutes of Viljandi’s Koidu Society, 1911, printed by Hans’s brother-in-law Ado Tõllasepp and stamped “H. Leoke’se arhiiv-raamatukogust”. Viljandi Museum.
Statutes of Viljandi’s Koidu Society, 1911, printed by Hans’s brother-in-law Ado Tõllasepp and stamped “H. Leoke’se…
Telephone lines going up at the corner of Tartu and Lossi streets in the early 1900s. The long building behind the corner house is very likely the Leoke shop. V
Telephone lines going up at the corner of Tartu and Lossi streets in the early 1900s. The long building behind the corner house is very…
H Leoke book stand 1911 agricultural show: VMF 424-330 (public domain)
MU01 H Leoke book stand 1911 agricultural show: VMF 424-330 (public domain)
Hans Leoke on deathbed 1919: VMF 75 F 3887
MU02 Hans Leoke on deathbed 1919: VMF 75 F 3887
Hans and Mari Leoke: VMF 75 F 713
MU03 Hans and Mari Leoke: VMF 75 F 713
Leoke family c1903: VMF 75 F 716
MU07 Leoke family c1903: VMF 75 F 716
Viljandi Old Cemetery: Hans Leoke boulder 2
V04 Viljandi Old Cemetery: Hans Leoke boulder 2
Viljandi Old Cemetery: Hans Leoke boulder close-up
V05 Viljandi Old Cemetery: Hans Leoke boulder close-up
H Leoke poster: change of shop premises
M001 H Leoke poster: change of shop premises
Koidu Society statutes 1911: Leoke archive stamp
M002 Koidu Society statutes 1911: Leoke archive stamp
Election leaflet: List No 1, Leoke stamp
M004 Election leaflet: List No 1, Leoke stamp
Viljandi Museum display, set 5 no. 6: Telephone lines at Tartu-Lossi corner
M073 Viljandi Museum display, set 5 no. 6: Telephone lines at Tartu-Lossi corner

Records

Scans of the records cited above. Select one to see it full size.

Viljandi Old Cemetery: grave record Hans, Mari, Jaan Leoke (kalmistud.ee)
L02 Viljandi Old Cemetery: grave record Hans, Mari, Jaan Leoke (kalmistud.ee)
Viljandi Old Cemetery: map, Pauluse IX plot 124-8
L03 Viljandi Old Cemetery: map, Pauluse IX plot 124-8
Viljandi baptisms 1853 p10: No 4 Hans Louk (Leoke), b. 27 Dec 1852, son of Jaak and Kaddri (EAA.1290.1.67)
L129 Viljandi baptisms 1853 p10: No 4 Hans Louk (Leoke), b. 27 Dec 1852, son of Jaak and Kaddri (EAA.1290.1.67)
Viljandi baptisms Jan 1853 pp10r-11: context (EAA.1290.1.67)
L130 Viljandi baptisms Jan 1853 pp10r-11: context (EAA.1290.1.67)

Archive pages

Further pages in the National Archives of Estonia’s Saaga viewer. Saaga asks for a free sign-in.

Open questions

  • LA-01Hans Leoke's three older siblingsPartly answered
  • LA-04Hans's parents, their marriage and deathsAnswered
  • LA-08Hans and Mari's marriage, 1885Answered
  • LB-02Hans's teaching and business career: dates and placesPartly answered
  • LB-07Identifying people in the museum photographsOpen

All open questions →

Research notes

  • Confidence: Good.