David Leitch
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David Leitch was the founder of Leitch's Station, Kentucky. David was born in September 11, 1753, 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 he traveled to Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh) hoping to find people interested in settling the Kentucky region. David bought a raft and supplies and eventually 20 hearty souls agreed to accompany him. When the party arrived at Losantiville (Cincinnati) they found many hostile natives in the area, 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 David traveled to Bryan’s Station near Lexington, and met and married Keturah Moss. Leitch was sent as a delegate to Kentucky’s first Constitutional Convention at Danville, Kentucky in 1784.
David died November 9, 1794. On his deathbed, he 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 of 1853, Keturah had his body moved to the Evergreen Cemetery in Southgate, Kentucky.
Ketura 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
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 Nov. 7th A.D. 1794. He was also a member of the first convention of Kentucky.
