David Leech

David Leech was born in Bucks County, PA in 1791 and trained as a civil engineer at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA. He arrived here in 1827 with a contract to build a lock and dam for the Pennsylvania Canal. In 1829 he laid out the town, then erected a sawmill, grist mill, and woolen mill. He built the first school, served as a canal commissioner, burgess, and postmaster, and founded D. Leech and Co, the largest freight forwarder to operate on the Pennsylvania Canal. Later he was the contractor who built much of the Allegheny Valley Railroad, served as a commissioner for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and was a delegate for the Whig Party. He died in 1858 and was the founder of Leechburg.

Leechburg, Pennsylvania · United States