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Commemorative
Biographical Record of the County of Kent, Ontario
Alexander Leitch |
ALEXANDER LEITCH, of
the firm of A. Leitch & Son, Ridgetown, Ontario, manufacturers of
lumber, cooperage and veneering stock, as well as the owner and
operator of a fine farm of 200 acres on Lots 54 and 55, North Talbot
Road, Orford township, County of Kent, was born in Orford township
December 16th, 1850, son of Dougal H. and Elizabeth (Gibson) Leitch,
of Argyllshire, Scotland, where they were married.
Douglal H. Leitch was
a son of Laughlin and Margaret (McGregor) Leitch, of Argyllshire,
Scotland, both of whom passed their entire lives there, as did also
Alexander McGregor, father of Mrs. Margaret (McGregor) Leitch.
Dougal H. Leitch came to the County of Kent in 1833, and located in
Orford township, tkaing up land to the extent of 100 acres, but
later went to Duart, Ontario, where he was engaged in tailoring for
many years. When he first located in this locality he gained
customers in various portions of the county, and would travel miles
to secure his work. His death occurred in January, 1891, when he
was 84 years of age. His wife, Elizabeth (Gibson), died December
26th, 1884, aged 64 years. Both were consistent members of the
Presbyterian Church, of which he was an elder. The children born to
them were as follows: (1) Flora, deceased, was the wife of John
Poor. (2) Daniel was an engineer in Watson & Co.'s mill at
Ridgetown, and was killed in an explosion. (3) Nancy, of Morpeth,
Ontario married Frank J.. Poulin, a farmer. (4) John is a
lumberman of Detroit, Michigan. (5) Jennie, of Ridgetown, is the
widow of John Gesner. (6) Alexander is mentioned below. (7)
Catherine, of Albina, Oregon, married John Russell. (8) Mary,
deceased, married Malcolm Kennedy, an ex-school teacher. (9)
Angus, of ridgetown, Ontario is. deceased. (10) Dougal is station
agent at Tekoa, Washington. (11) Elizabeth, died young.
On November 18tth,
1873, at Highgate, Ontario, Alexander Leitch married Ellen Scott,
and the following children have been born to this union: Dougal A.
is a partner of his father's, residing at Ridgetown, is a member of
the Masonic lodge, the Foresters and the Home Circle: he married
Elizabeth Taylor, of Harwich, and has two children, Catherine L. and
Edmond T. Mabel M. is at home. Florence E. died at the age of 3
1/2 years. john S. (foreman of the stave department in Ridgetown,
Ontario). Anne M., Violet L. and Eva M. are at home. Mrs. Leitch
was born in Orford township, a daughter of John and Eliza (Ride)
Scott, of England, the whom is now living retired in Orford
township. One of his sons, Frederick Scott, is spoken of more
extensively elsewhere.
Until he was 21 Mr.
Leitch remained with his parents, after which he worked at the
carpenter's trade for five years, and then engaged in buying hogs,
grain and the like commodities for a few years. In 1877 he removed
to Ridgetown, making that city his home until 1901, when, as before
stated, he located upon his present property. His mill is a large
one, and employment is given to 80 men. This mill was started in
October, 1895, and the growth of the business has been steady and
rapid. They ship their product to various parts of the world, to
England, Winnipeg, Montreal, the United States, etc. Both Mr.
Leitch and his partner, Dougal A. Leitch, are very highly regarded
as business men by their associated and the community in general,
while they have many warm personal friends. The family all belong
to the Presbyterian Church, in the work of which they take an active
part. In politics Mr. Leitch is a Reformer; he has never desired
public office.
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