Edward Luckert, Madison County

Edward Luckert came to Illinois at the age of 16 in 1883. He is probably the same Edward Luckert who was listed in the 1880 census with John and Catherine Luckert near 9th Avenue. John Luckert was a butcher and two of his sons, Louis and Edward were cigar makers. Another son, Frank, was at school.

In Illinois Edward learned to be a farmer, and although he did not want to come West, he had adjusted to life here. He said that he had learned to speak German, but both of his parents, if he is the same Edward Luckert as listed in the 1880 census, were German-born.

Edward's letter does not indicate where he was living in 1884, but he appears in the census each year from 1900 to 1940, living in Granite City, Illinois. In 1900 he was a laborer in the "stamping works" and during the next three census he was listed as a "burner" in the National Stamping Company. He married Margaret Koenig in 1892 in Gasconade County, Missouri and had four children with her: Clarence, Raymond, Viola and Kenneth. Edward and Margaret also made ends meet by keeping boarders in their home. In 1900 they had five young men boarding in their house. In 1940 Edward was 72 years old but he was still working at the Stamping Company. When he died in 1947 he had finally retired from his long labors.

Granite City was an industrial city, with a large steel works and numerous other industries including the National and Engraving Stamping Company.