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.