BIOGRAPHY: James Wilson LEECH, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann Olsen. Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty Mirovich and Sharon Ringler. USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ____________________________________________________________ From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 485-6 ____________________________________________________________ JAMES WILSON LEECH, attorney-at-law, Ebensburg, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and for the past eight years superintendent of the public schools of the county, is one of the best known and most popular men in Cambria county. The Leech family is one of the oldest in western Pennsylvania, and is of Scotch-Irish origin. The ancestors of the branch of the family to which our subject belongs were three emigrants, Thomas, John and James Leech, who emigrated from county Down, Ireland, to western Pennsylvania some five generations back. When the old State canal was constructed and open for traffic between Philadelphia and Pittsburg, the descendants of these emigrants made the name of Leech a familiar one throughout the country by organizing and operating the famous Leech Line of packet boats so well remembered by old citizens. John Leech, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a near relative of David Leech, the owner of the packet line. John Leech was a well-to- do miller and farmer of Kiskiminetas township, Armstrong county, and there, on the 22d day of September, 1825, James Leech, the father of James Wilson Leech, was born. James Leech married Sarah E. Wilson, daughter of John Wilson, of Kiskiminetas township. The fruit of this union was four sons and three daughters: Sarah J.; Isabella, deceased; John F., of Long Prairie, Minnesota; James W.; Labanna P., telegraph operator, of Clear Lake, Minnesota; C. W., a carpenter, of Conemaugh, Pennsylvania; L. Alice, who was drowned in the Johnstown flood. James Leech was a carpenter, and carried on business as contractor and builder in Armstrong county, Pittsburg and Johnstown. He died at Conemaugh June 11, 1884. In religion Mr. Leech was a Presbyterian, and he died a consistent member of that church. Mrs. Leech survived until that never-to-be forgotten 29th of May, 1889, when she, her daughter Alice, and her brother, Dr. J. C. Wilson and his household, all lost their lives in that terrible disaster of which all the world knows, the "Johnstown Flood." James Wilson Leech was born near Apollo, Armstrong county, January 29, 1858. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Kiskiminetas township and Apollo. He afterwards attended Elder's Ridge academy and completed his education at Normal University, Lebanon, Ohio. Mr. Leech has been connected with schools and school work as pupil, teacher, and superintendent, from the time he was old enough to be admitted as a pupil to the present time. His boyhood was spent on a farm, and his vacations were passed working on the farm and at the carpenter's bench with his father. He worked for some time in the Fire Brick works, then located at Apollo, and served his apprenticeship in the rolling mill at that place. He has frequently felt the pinch of poverty, and whatever of success he has met with can be credited to nothing else than his own pluck and perseverance. Mr. Leech began teaching in Kiskiminetas township, at a place called humorously " Stony Lonesome," and has since taught twelve terms in the following places: Apollo, Franklin, Johnstown, Conemaugh and Ebensburg. He was principal of schools in Johnstown two years, Franklin one year and Ebensburg four years. While serving as principal of the Ebensburg schools he was appointed county superintendent to fill the unexpired term of Superintendent W. J. Cramer, deceased. He was twice elected to succeed himself and filled the office until June, 1896, when, having declined to be a candidate for re-election, he retired from the office, which he had filled for eight years and four months, leaving a record for energy and efficiency of which any man might well be proud. Mr. Leech is a firm believer in the maxim, "As is the teacher so is the school," and sought by every means in his power to raise the standard of teaching in Cambria county. This he did by gradually making his examinations for teachers' certificates more severe from year to year, by obtaining the best talent that could be procured for instructors at the county institutes, by arousing public sentiment to demand good teachers and better pay for those who were found competent. As a result, the schools have been revolutionized. The average scholarship of teachers is much higher, the number of professionally trained teachers has been greatly increased, the school term has been lengthened in many districts and a uniform course of study adopted. While Mr. Leech, in his annual reports, gives the credit of this great progress, which all admit has taken place, to the directors and teachers, the directors and teachers unite in ascribing a large share to the enthusiasm and tireless energy of the superintendent. In 1883 Mr. Leech began the study of law with the Hon. W. Horace Rose, of Johnstown, and continued with him until the sickness and death of his father made it necessary for him to resume his work of teaching. He afterwards entered the office of Alvin Evans, Esq., with whom he continued his law studies, and, in 1896, was admitted to practice law in Cambria county, and is now the junior member of the law firm of Evans & Leech. In religion Mr. Leech is a Presbyterian, as were his ancestors. In politics he is a republican, and his wide acquaintance throughout the county, with his whole-souled energy, makes him an important factor in any campaign in which he takes part. Mr. Leech is a member of Cambria Lodge, No. 278, F. and A. M. On November 13, 1886, he was united in marriage to Miss Gussie Davis, daughter of Robert Davis, of Ebensburg. His home life is a happy one, and is blessed by the presence of two bright boys -- James Russel, aged eight, and Robert Wilson, aged five, who are the idols of their parents' hearts.