The Leoke and Koik FamiliesFrom Estonia to America
Leoke family

Jaan Leoke

1886–1959 · Research ID L-012

Jaan Leoke, publisher and bookseller, about 1910; on the back, in pencil, “Jaan Leoke 1886–1959”. Photo J. Riet, Viljandi Museum VM 9248 F 75:2518.
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 · Elmar Oswald, Hilda and their daughters · Places connected with the families · Family and record details

Vital facts

Born2 Nov 1886 O.S. (14 Nov N.S.), 6 a.m., Alt-Woidoma school ("Schule")
Baptised14 Dec 1886 O.S. (13 Dec is a possible reading), Viljandi; sponsors Aadu Töllasepp (young man), Hans Löuke, farmer Jüri Randsepp, farmers' wives Jenny Malk, Ann Randsepp and Mari Maapp (EAA.1290.1.328 img 21, births No. 258; SL-49)
Died17 Mar 1959, Viljandi
Buried22 Mar 1959, Old Cemetery plot Pauluse IX 124-8
OccupationBookseller; ran the shop at Tartu 11 until 1936

Family

ParentsHans Leoke 1853–1919, Mari Leoke, née Tõllasepp 1867–1954
Brothers and sistersHans Leoke (the younger) 1888–1945, Peter (Peeter) Leoke 1892–1973, Elmar Oswald Leoke 1896–1972, Adolf Jakob Leoke 1901–1901

See Jaan Leoke in the family tree →

Life events

DateEventPlaceSource
1897Penmanship copybook "Ilukirjutus. J. Leoke 1897"ViljandiM003
c. 1910Studio portrait by J. RietViljandiMU05
1919–1936Ran the shop and lending library (with Elmar)Tartu 11L01
10 Sep 1925 – 2 Mar 1926Tallinn address sheet: merchant, at Viru 22-3TallinnTLA.1376.1.134, sheet 312809 (WEB-14)
1936Viljandi residents list: Jaan Leoke, b. 2 Nov 1886, Tartu 11, resident since 1920 (no other Leoke listed in the town)ViljandiERA.3077.1.629, image 10, entry 289 (SL-32)
c. 1950Selling books in ViljandiViljandiMU06
17 Mar 1959DiedViljandiL02

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…
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 grave record on kalmistud.ee, Estonia’s national grave register.
The grave record on kalmistud.ee, Estonia’s national grave register.
Jaan Leoke, publisher and bookseller, about 1910; on the back, in pencil, “Jaan Leoke 1886–1959”. Photo J. Riet, Viljandi Museum VM 9248 F 75:2518.
Jaan Leoke, publisher and bookseller, about 1910; on the back, in pencil, “Jaan Leoke 1886–1959”. Photo J. Riet, Viljandi Museum VM 9248…
The back of Jaan Leoke’s portrait card, pencilled “Jaan Leoke 1886–1959”. Viljandi Museum, VM 9248 F 75:2518.
The back of Jaan Leoke’s portrait card, pencilled “Jaan Leoke 1886–1959”. Viljandi Museum, VM 9248 F 75:2518.
Jaan Leoke selling books in Viljandi around 1950, during the Soviet period. Viljandi Museum, VMF 75 F 725.
Jaan Leoke selling books in Viljandi around 1950, during the Soviet period. Viljandi Museum, VMF 75 F 725.
“Ilukirjutus. J. Leoke 1897”: almost certainly Jaan’s penmanship copybook from when he was ten, made by K. A. Hermann of Jurjew (Tartu). Viljandi Museum.
“Ilukirjutus. J. Leoke 1897”: almost certainly Jaan’s penmanship copybook from when he was ten, made by K. A. Hermann of Jurjew (Tartu).…
Jaan Leoke portrait: back, pencil 1886-1959
MU04 Jaan Leoke portrait: back, pencil 1886-1959
Jaan Leoke portrait c1910: VM 9248 F 75-2518
MU05 Jaan Leoke portrait c1910: VM 9248 F 75-2518
Jaan Leoke selling books c1950: VMF 75 F 725
MU06 Jaan Leoke selling books c1950: VMF 75 F 725
Leoke family c1903: VMF 75 F 716
MU07 Leoke family c1903: VMF 75 F 716
Ilukirjutus J Leoke 1897 copybook
M003 Ilukirjutus J Leoke 1897 copybook
Viljandi Museum display, set 5 no. 3: J Leoke copybook 2
M070 Viljandi Museum display, set 5 no. 3: J Leoke copybook 2
Viljandi Old Cemetery: Jaan's slab (right)
V07 Viljandi Old Cemetery: Jaan's slab (right)

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)

Archive pages

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

Open questions

  • LB-01Births and baptisms of Hans and Mari's sonsAnswered
  • LB-06Jaan Leoke: Leipzig, the archive library and heirsOpen
  • LD-05Mari and Jaan in Soviet Viljandi, 1944–1959Partly answered

All open questions →

Research notes

  • Confidence: Good.
  • Leipzig: Sarapuu (2007, p. 190) says Hans planned in 1913 to send Jaan to Leipzig to learn the book trade, and the First World War ended the plan (source: Hans's letter to Jaan, 19 Jun 1913, EKLA f. 224, m. 18:6). Whether Jaan actually went is not stated (worksheet F6).
  • After 1919 he held the archive library; he could not sell it whole (letter to the Ministry of Education, 1929, EKLA f. 224, m. 43:24), sold it in parts, and "the Leokes' heir J. Keng" finally liquidated it (Sarapuu 2007, pp. 209–210). J. Keng is unidentified.
  • The sponsor "Hans Löuke" at his baptism is unidentified: possibly a relative of Hans, or Hans himself written in error (low).