LEONARD PECKITT.

Primary source: Roberts, et al, History Of Lehigh County Pennsylvania, 1914.

A citizen who is wide awake and truly interested in the welfare of the community which he has chosen as his home, is Leonard Peckitt. He is the son of Leonard F. Peckitt and his wife, Frances, a born Quickfall. He was born at Carlton Hall, Yorkshire, England, April 17, 1860, and was given his early training by a private tutor. Later he matriculated at the Masham Grammar School, which was followed by a four years' course in Chemistry under Prof. W. F. Stock, County Analyst of Darlington.

He came to America in 1882 and accepted a position as chemist at the Reading Iron Works, where he remained six years. For two years he was chief chemist at the Crane Iron Works, and, since 1890, he was successively, Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent, General Manager, Vice-President, and President of the Crane Iron Company. In 1899, Mr. Peckitt took an active part in the formation of the Empire Steel and Iron Company, which took over the Crane Iron Works and other properties in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. He was the first President of the Company and is still serving in this capacity.

The interests of Mr. Peckitt are large and varied and his judgments, being well matured, are constantly solicited. He is related as follows: Director. National Bank of Catasauqua; Vice-President and Director, Pottstown Iron Company; Director, Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad; President and Director, Victoria Coal and Coke Co., Capetton, W. Va.; President and Director, Crane Railroad Co.; President and Director, Davies and Thomas Company; Vice-President, Mt. Hope Mineral Railroad Co., Wharton, N. J.: Director, Bryden Horse Shoe Company; Director, Consolidated Telephone Co. of Pa., Hazleton, Pa.; Trustee, St. Luke's Hospital, So. Bethlehem, Pa.; Trustee, appointed by Gov. Tener, Homeopathic State Hospital for the Insane, Rittersville, Pa.; Fellow of Chemical Society of London, England; Member of the Iron and Steel Institute of Great Britain; Member of the American Iron and Steel Institute; Member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers; Vice-President, Lehigh Country Club, Rittersville, Pa.; President, Old Home Week Association, Catasauqua, Pa.

Upon attainment of his 80^th birthday in 1940, Mr. Peckitt was honored at a meeting of the New Jersey section of the Newcomen Society. Mr. Peckitt delivered an eloquent address entitled, Iron In Industry, Progress Over 100 Years In The Melting Pot in which the history of the anthracite iron industry was reviewed and the prospects for continued success of industrial activities in the 20^th century was conjectured upon. A draft of the address is available here.

Mr. Peckitt entered into matrimony with Miss Hattie Madeline, daughter of Emanuel Weidler and wife of Stony Creek, near Reading, Pa., in 1899. Their son, Leonard Carlton, is now in Arizona.

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