The Leoke and Koik FamiliesFrom Estonia to America
Leoke family

Peter (Peeter) Leoke

1892–1973 · Research ID L-014

Peeter at 18, in his school uniform, in the 1910 family photograph.
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 · Peter Leoke, the family’s anchor in America · Elmar Oswald, Hilda and their daughters · To America, 1947–1952 · Places connected with the families · Family and record details

Vital facts

Born9 May 1892 O.S. (21 May N.S.), about 4:45 a.m., Alt-Woidoma-Luisenhütte (US papers say Viljandi)
Baptised14 Jun 1892 O.S. (26 Jun N.S.); sponsors Tõnis Töllasepp jun., writer Tõnis Heinrichson, bachelor Jaan Lepik, Miss Selma Lemmerhardt, maid Kadri Töllasepp (EAA.1290.1.334 img 17, births No. 130, entry headed "Peeter Leoke (Peter Leoke)"; SL-51)
Died22 Apr 1973, Los Angeles
BuriedForest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, Enduring Faith, Map D05, Lot 1235 (Find a Grave 85906085)
OccupationDiplomat; artillery officer; publisher; home decorator; aircraft industry worker

Family

ParentsHans Leoke 1853–1919, Mari Leoke, née Tõllasepp 1867–1954
SpouseElizabeth Leoke b. 1893 married 2 Jun 1921, Moscow
Brothers and sistersJaan Leoke 1886–1959, Hans Leoke (the younger) 1888–1945, Elmar Oswald Leoke 1896–1972, Adolf Jakob Leoke 1901–1901

See Peter Leoke in the family tree →

Life events

DateEventPlaceSource
1913–1916Studied architecture, Riga and Moscow polytechnics; Vironia fraternityRiga/MoscowWikipedia
1918–1922Consulates Helsinki and Riga; War of Independence artillery; Moscow legationWikipedia
2 Jun 1921Married ElizabethMoscowUS02
by 1924In New York via Canada; edited Ameerika Eestlane 1925New YorkWikipedia
c. 1941Moved to Los AngelesLos AngelesWikipedia
26 Mar 1943Entered US at Blaine, WA, by car from Vancouver; last foreign residence given as TallinnBlaine, WAUS02
24 May 1943Declaration of intention no. 120529: carpenter, 138 Witmer St, aged 51, born Viljandi 21 May 1892Los AngelesUS02
1948Sponsored Elmar Oswald and Hilda's emigration138 Witmer StL212; US09
Apr 1950Head of household at 138 Witmer St, Los Angeles: aged 57, married, born Estonia, naturalised, not in work; with brother Elmar O., sister-in-law Hilda W. and niece Pilvi L. Wife Elizabeth not in the householdLos Angeles1950 US census, Los Angeles, ED 66-1226, sheets 12–13 (1950census.archives.gov images 14–15), enumerated 10–11 Apr 1950
22 Apr 1973DiedLos AngelesWikipedia

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…
Peeter at 18, in his school uniform, in the 1910 family photograph.
Peeter at 18, in his school uniform, in the 1910 family photograph.
Emigration list naming Elmar Oswald Leoke (economist) and Hilda Wilhelmine Leoke (housewife), both listed as 51, sponsored by Peter Leoke of Los Angeles. A late
Emigration list naming Elmar Oswald Leoke (economist) and Hilda Wilhelmine Leoke (housewife), both listed as 51, sponsored by Peter…
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…
Leoke family c1903: VMF 75 F 716
MU07 Leoke family c1903: VMF 75 F 716

Records

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

Declaration of intention 1943: Peter Leoke
US02 Declaration of intention 1943: Peter Leoke
Emigration list pp181-182: Elmer Oswald and Hilda Leoke, sponsor Peter Leoke; pencilled "[number withheld] Chicago 7-1-55" between lines 378 and 379
US09 Emigration list pp181-182: Elmer Oswald and Hilda Leoke, sponsor Peter Leoke; pencilled "[number withheld] Chicago 7-1-55" between lines 378 and 379
US emigration list: Elmar Oswald and Hilda, sponsor Peter Leoke, 138 Witmer St, Los Angeles
L212 US emigration list: Elmar Oswald and Hilda, sponsor Peter Leoke, 138 Witmer St, Los Angeles

Archive pages

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

Open questions

  • LB-03Peter Leoke and Elizabeth, 1892–1924Partly answered (Elizabeth probably née Porfireff)
  • LE-04Peter Leoke in AmericaPartly answered
  • LE-05US immigration and naturalisation filesOpen

All open questions →

Research notes

  • Confidence: Good (baptism, Wikipedia, US papers).
  • Birth date settled: the church book gives 9 May 1892 O.S., which is 21 May N.S., the date Peter gave in America. The earlier "2 May" was a misreading of "9 May". The household book EAA.1290.1.532 reads "9/V, 14/VI".
  • Tallinn address sheet: Peeter Leoke, b. 9 May 1892, Foreign Ministry official, at Viru 22-3, Tallinn, from 16 Nov 1921 (arriving "from Germany") to 30 Sep 1924, then left for Sweden (TLA.1376.1.134, sheet 312836; WEB-12). He was godfather to his niece Pilvi in Tartu in Jan 1922. This explains the 1943 declaration's "last foreign residence Tallinn" and dates his departure for North America to after Sep 1924.
  • Sarapuu 2007, p. 210: "Peeter Leoke moved to New York in 1924; he was managing editor of the weekly Ameerika Eestlane, a member of the editorial board of Meie Tee, and an active figure in its societies." The sentence before it calls "the last of these" (Hans, L-013) acting Estonian consul in the USA in the 1920s; Research confirmed this is Hans, who ran the New York consulate from 1922. Peter joined his brother in New York. A passport and visa file for Hans, Peter and Elisabeth, 1924–29, is ERA.1608.1.808 (SL-113).
  • His 1943 declaration (US02) gives his last foreign residence as Tallinn, although Wikipedia has him in North America from about 1924. Unexplained; see LE-04.