|
John Leech, the founder of
Leech’s Corners or Salem village, a soldier in the
war of 1812, a member of the state legislature, and for over thirty
years a justice of the peace and otherwise prominent in the early
affairs of Mercer county, settled at the site of Leech’s Corners May,
1802. A postoffice called Salem was established at this cross-roads in
March, 1832, William Leech
being the first postmaster. The office was continued under this name
until 1864, was discontinued awhile and
in April, 1868, was re-established
under the name of Leech’s Corners. The office was abolished a few years
ago. John Leech was
the first merchant at this place, and a church, school, sawmill and
grist mill and a few shops represented the substantial part of the
town’s growth.
Twentieth
Century History of Mercer County,
1909, pages 172-173
|
Sawmill and Cheese Factory
The
second [saw] mill was established by Jacob
Leech, near the hamlet of Leech’s Corners. It was a
saw-mill. In later years the movable steam mill superseded the old
stationary water-power ones, and many of the latter are now in
operation in the northern part of the county. In this connection might
be mentioned the cheese factory, which was opened at Leech’s Corners in
1873, by Breckenridge
& Harper, in a
small frame building, 40x50 feet in size. It served a good purpose,
turning out at one time as many as eight cheeses per day.
History
of Mercer County,
1888, page 603
Return to Leechs Corners
|