San Joaquin County
Biographies
ARCHIBALD LEITCH
ARCHIBALD LEITCH.--Among the
pioneers of California who rank to day among the most prominent and
representative citizens of San Joaquin County, is the gentleman with whose name this sketch
commences. He is a native of Robinson County, North Carolina, born September
24, 1822, his parents being John and Isabella (McCorgle) Leitch, both born in
the Highlands of Scotland, and there married. The father was a farmer in North Carolina. Archibald Leitch spent his boyhood at his native
place, and learned the blacksmith’s trade there at Adamsville, South Carolina, working in the latter place nearly three years. He
then went back home, starting a shop there, which he ran about three years. In
1847 he went to Mississippi, and in that State lived a portion of the time in Holmes
County, and the remainder in Carroll County. He left the village of Shongelo, Mississippi, in company with seven others, on the 22d of
February, 1849, bound for California. They went first to Vicksburg and thence to Fort
Smith, where they outfitted
with two wagons and mule teams. They passed through the territories of the
Choctaw and Creek nations, and having found the way too difficult for wagons
they abandoned these, using pack-mules thence forward to the end of the
journey. Proceeding through the Seminole territory to Santa Fe, and thence down
the Rio Grande to Socorro, they there took a cut-off, giving some natives $45
to show them the way. They journeyed via the Gila river, following it to its
mouth, and crossed the Colorado at what is now the site of Fort
Yuma. From there they crossed the desert to Warner’s
ranch, and thence at Los Angeles, next to Santa Barbara, and from there by way
of San Luis Obispo, Soledad mission, San Juan and Pacheco Pass to the San
Joaquin river. They then proceeded to Wood’s crossing, in Tuolumne County, where they closed their weary journey on the 28th
of September, 1849. Mr. Leitch commenced mining in partnership with two of his
traveling companions, Monroe Gordon and John T. Carter. In the spring
following, he came down to Stockton, and went to work at his trade in a shop on Hunter street square. Two months later, he went back to the mines
and tried his luck at Pine Log Crossing. As things did not go to suit him,
however, he returned to Stockton, and took charge of the shop where he had previously
worked, remaining until the fall of 1851, when he built a shop on the northwest
corner of California and Main streets, and conducted it in partnership with
James M. Crozier, under the style of Leitch & Crozier. He remained in Stockton until the 1st of November, 1852, when he went East, via Panama,
arriving in New York on the 1st day of December, and proceeding
thence to his old home in North
Carolina. After visiting the
scenes of his boyhood, he started, on the 15th of February, 1853,
for Missouri. In the southeastern part of that State he bought
cattle and horses, and started with them across the plains to California. This journey proved a memorable one, and as it displays the quality
of nerve sometimes required of the men who paved the way for the successful
settlements of this day, a brief account of it will prove of interest. All went
well until they had reached a point on the north side of the Platte river about
140 miles distant from Fort Laramie, where while in camp on the night of June
16 a terrible storm came up accompanied by thunder and lightening. Under cover
of the tempest and the darkness the horses were stampeded by Indians, one only
being left, it having been staked out nearer the camp. The storm increased in
its appalling fury and great hailstones fell thick and fast. The cattle were
badly frightened and it was with difficulty that they were kept within reach.
The ensuing day was spent in searching for the trail of the missing horses, and
having discovered the direction taken Mr. Leitch, leaving his train in charge
of his foreman, set out in pursuit mounted on his thoroughbred mare, blankets
and saddle-bags in place and armed with two six-shooters, determined to exhaust
all available means for the recovery of his property. All day he traveled
without finding trace of the lost animals, and that night he stopped at the
camp of some hospitable emigrants.
On the second day he resumed his journey,
and learned that two men had been seen in the hills with several horses in
their possession. Proceeding onward, he finally came to a little trading post,
kept by a Frenchman, who said he had seen two Indians having with them a number
of horses and a mule with a crooked leg. The Frenchman said the Indians would cross
the Platte to the south at the mouth of Horse creek, where there
was an Indian camp. To reach this and at the same time secure an interpreter he
had to go to Fort Laramie forty miles distant up the river. Arriving at an
emigrant camp tired and hungry, he was surprised and disgusted that he could
get nothing to eat. Moving forward on his weary way he soon concluded to stake
his mare and lie down on his blankets to get a little rest. He was soon asleep,
and when he awoke the first thing his eyes rested upon was a white wolf tugging
at his blankets, which, however, quickly fled, frightened off by his shouts.
Proceeding on his next day’s journey he reached the point where he expected to
cross the North Platte. There he found a trader and again tethered out his
mare for rest. That evening about 100 Indians came around in full war paint,
having been aroused to fury by the wanton murder of one of their tribe by some
drunken soldiers from Fort Laramie. They made night hideous by their weird and terrible
death-song. It was ten o’clock the next day when Mr. Leitch was taken across by
the friendly trader and proceeded to Fort
Laramie to get an interpreter to assist in questioning the
Indians in regard to his horses. Failing to get the interpreter on account of
the disturbed relations between the troops and the Indians, he set out for
Horse creek on the south side of the river. On the way he met a man with two
mules, one of which he bought for $100, and mounted at once, to relieve the
faithful animal he had ridden so long. The next day he stopped at a camp where
there was a man familiar with the Indian dialect, but who was then drunk. Mr.
Leitch waited till morning for him to sober up, and then, securing his
services, started with him for the mouth of Horse creek. Arriving there, the
Indians were questioned, but they said the lost horses were not among them.
They, however, suggested another place where they might be found. On an island,
about two miles from there, Mr. Leitch recognized one of his lost horses and
captured him, leading him by his canteen strap until he got a piece of rope
from an Indian boy. Soon an Indian came up and tried to cut the rope, claiming
he had bought the animal. Unwilling to give up his property Mr. Leitch pulled
his revolver and the Indian drew his horse-pistol. For a moment deadly conflict
was imminent, when Mr. Leitch made signs for his adversary to follow, intending
to use the services of his interpreter, who had, however, moved off three miles.
Arriving at the trading-wagon where he had left the interpreter, the animal was
left in charge of the trader for a time and Mr. Leitch started on a hot trail
for the others. He found them at a point about eight miles distant, but they
were claimed by a couple of Indians. The shoes had been taken off all the
animals except one mare. Mr. Leitch found the chief and gave him some money,
and got him to go down and assist him in getting away with his horses. He
finally started on the journey back to his company with the recovered stock,
but soon noticed that he was followed by the same two Indians, which made him
wary, and he did not attempt to take any rest. He finally gave the Indians two
dollars and a half, but they still followed him, thinking that they would get
some of the horses at the crossing of the river. He finally got to the French
station, where only a raw-hide boat was used for crossing the river, and he
could not make the crossing. He continued on and finally one of the Indians
gave up the pursuit. He gave the other two dollars and half more, when he also
went back. Mr. Leitch attempted to ford the river in one place, but finding a
quicksand bottom gave up the idea. Reaching a ferry on Laramie river he found about a thousand emigrants waiting to cross,
and as he would have to await his turn, he went down the river and crossed by
swimming. That night he stopped with good hospitable people, but could learn
nothing of his party. The next day, when near the place where he had first
crossed the North Platte, he met one of his men who was out looking for him,
and soon reached his train, where he had been given up for lost. He had
traveled about 350 miles and had been absent thirteen days, all but the first
being spent among the Sioux. The trip afforded him plenty of exciting
adventure, sufficiently spiced with danger to suit the most exacting, but
hazardous as it was he had been successful, and happy at having recovered his
stock he resumed his way across the plains to California, the remainder of the
journey being accomplished without further noteworthy incident. He drove his
stock to the San Joaquin valley and disposed of it during the summer of 1854,
trading a part of it for a half interest in Slocum’s Ferry, on the San Joaquin river. He was interested in the ferry until the fall of 1856, when he
sold out.
On the 4th of January, 1857, he
was married, and with his wife located on a ranch on the Stanislaus river.
There he continued farming and cattle-raising on 643 acres, but the place now contains,
by later purchases, of the old Thompson grant, 3,340 acres. When he bought his
land, it was in San Joaquin County, but an act of the Legislature in 1859 gave it to Stanislaus County. In 1860 he engaged in the sheep industry, with which
he has been connected to the present time. About 1876 he formed a partnership
in that business with Henry Quinn, under the style of Leitch & Quinn, which
still continues, the firm owning about 10,000 sheep in Tulare
and Kern counties. Mr. Leitch also owns land in Fresno
and Merced counties, near Minton. His wife was formerly Miss
Charles Anna Lansing, a native of Texas, born in St. Augustine, but
educated at Victoria, in the same State, where her father left her for that
purpose when he came to California, in 1849. He died in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Leitch have
two children, viz: Ada Isabella, now the wife of J. A. Patterson, druggist of
this city, and Arthur L., now engaged in superintending his father’s ranch.
Mr. Leitch has always taken an active
interest in public affairs, and since 1883 has been a member of the Board of
Supervisors, having been first elected in 1882. He has been President of the
board ever since he took his seat in 1883, and has always lent his influence
toward progressive movements, while keeping in view the true interests of the
county. Among the permanent improvements which have been made during his
presidency may be mentioned the splendid new court-house of San Joaquin County, which was commenced and will be finished during his
term of office. He has been an active member of the San Joaquin Society of
California Pioneers for many years, and is now its president, having been
elected in August, 1889. He is a member of Morning Star Lodge, No. 68, F. &
A. M.; of Stockton Chapter, No. 28, Royal Arch Masons, and of Stockton
Commandery, No. 8, Knights Templar.
In the years during which Mr. Leitch has
served as President of the Board of Supervisors of San Joaquin County, more
improvements of a permanent nature have been made than during the entire
previous period since the county’s organization, and his course has at all
times commanded the respect of those having the true interests of the county at
heart. The finances of the county, it may be added, are in an exceptionally
good condition. Mr. Leitch has a number of interests besides those previously
noticed, among which may be mentioned the Stockton Street Railway Company, of
which he is president, and the Stockton Loan and Building Association, of which
he is a director. He is a good type of the hardy and intelligent California pioneer, and though a public-spirited and liberal man, has been very
successful in his business career. Since 1869 he has been a resident of Stockton, and in city and county he stands as one of the foremost and most
respected citizens.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 353-356. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Genealogy Databases
Golden Nugget Library