David Leitch (settler)
David Leitch (September 11, 1753 – November 9, 1794) was the founder of Leitch's Station, Kentucky, United States.[1]
Leitch was born in Glasgow Scotland. At an early age he and his older brother James immigrated to Virginia. He served in the American Revolutionary War, where he attained the rank of major.
In 1789, Leitch traveled to Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh) hoping to recruit settlers interested in exploring the Kentucky region. Upon acquiring a raft and supplies, Leitch found 20 hearty souls who agreed to accompany him. When the party arrived at Losantiville (Cincinnati), they encountered many hostile natives, so they traveled up the Licking River for about six miles. There, they dismantled the raft and built a blockhouse with a high picket fence and established Leitch's Station. In December 1790, Leitch traveled to Bryan's Station, near Lexington, where he met and married Keturah Moss. Leitch was sent as a delegate to Kentucky's first Constitutional Convention, at Danville, Kentucky in 1784.
On his deathbed, Leitch called in his lawyer and dictated his last will and testament, in which he left all of his holdings to his wife, Keturah.
Keturah and David did not have any children. David was buried in the yard of the Leitch home. However, many years later in May 1853, Keturah had his body moved to the Evergreen Cemetery in Southgate, Kentucky.
Keturah had a monument erected with the following inscription:
In Memory of Major David Leitch. Who was universally beloved For his Benevolence, generosity And many virtues This monument erected By his devoted wife May 1853 celtics famous fan
On the north side of the monument is this inscription:
Major David Leitch. Who was born at Glasgow in Scotland Sep 11 A.D. 1753. At an early age he migrated to America with an older brother and settled at Richmond, Virginia. A brave and patriotic republican. While quite young he took part in the struggle for American independence as an aide de-camp to General Lawson. In the year 1785 he came to Kentucky and settled near Lexington subsequently he came to his estate on the Licking River near Newport called Leitch's Station. There he erected himself a block-house to protect himself and his associates against the Indians at which place he died November 7th A.D. 1794. He was also a member of the first convention of Kentucky.
References
- ↑ Collins, Lewis (1877). History of Kentucky. p. 293.