Résumé

Leech indicated that he was both an architect and a civil engineer on a US citizenship form of 07/15/1919. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at Fort Worth; Fort Worth, Texas; ARC Title: Declarations of Intention for Citizenship, 1906-1989; NAI Number: 584751; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: 21, accessed 07/15/2017.) His prime architectural achievements consisted of the 15 or so secondary schools that the designed between 1910-1914 in Vancouver, BC. Thereafter, Leech worked in subordinate positions for architects and building contractors in Texas. He was listed as the architect for an apartment building in Los Angeles, CA, c. 1928.

Draftsman, Thomas Hooper, Architect, Vancouver, BC, 1906-1910.

Chief Architect, Board of Education, Vancouver, BC, 1910-1913. While he worked as Chief Architect, Leech tried to carry on his own practice; according to the Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada, "...the Vancouver School Board did not approve of this activity, and promptly dismissed him in early 1913." While in Vancouver, Leech designed at least 15 schools and the Board of Education Offices in about three years. As the Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada summarized about these schools, "Most were executed in the Edwardian style and constructed of brick in a formally composed symmetrical plan that allowed for easy expansion." (See "Leech, Norman A.," Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada, 1800-1950, accessed 07/15/2017.)

Draftsman, Braunton and Leibert, Architects, El Paso, TX, 1916. (See El Paso, Texas, City Directory, 1916, p. 408.)

Estimating Engineer, V.E. Ware, Building Contractor, El Paso, TX, c. 1918-1923. Leech's World War I Draft Registration form of 09/12/1918, indicated that he worked as an estimating engineer for Ware's company. Ware's company had its office at 1614 East Missouri Street in El Paso at the time. (See El Paso, Texas, City Directory, 1923, p. 583.)

Principal, Norman A. Leech, Architect, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1928.

Manager, Joseph E. Morgan and Sons, General Contractors, San Antonio, TX, 1931. (See San Antonio, Texas, City Directory, 1931, p. 579.) This firm had its office in Room #536 of the Milam Building in San Antonio. Joseph F. Morgan, presumably kin of Joseph E. Morgan, served as assistant manager in 1931.

Architect or engineer, Work Projects Administration (WPA), Jefferson City, MO, 1942. His office was located at 417 Bolivar Street in that city. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War II Draft Cards (Fourth Registration) for the State of Missouri; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975; Record Group Number: 147; Box or Roll Number: 970, accessed 07/15/2017.)

Relocation

Leech was born in Winburg in the Orange Free State of South Africa in 1880. He emigrated from South Africa to Canada by 1906, landing in the East and taking the Great Northern Railway west to Vancouver, where he lived from 1906-c. 1915.

The architect first visited the US on or about 03/15/1907, entering the country at Blaine, WA. According to naturalization paperwork, he left Vancouver permanently on 08/10/1915, traveling aboard the Canadian Pacific steamship, Adelaide, and arriving in Seattle, WA, on the same day. Another document stated that Leech arrived in the US on 08/24/1915 from Vancouver. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Manifests of Passengers Arriving at St. Albans, VT, District through Canadian Pacific and Atlantic Ports, 1895-1954; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: M1464; Roll Number: 288, accessed 07/15/2017.) From Seattle, he traveled to El Paso, TX, where he arrived on 08/28/1915.

He rented a room at the Hotel Hollenbeck at 214 1/2 Texas Street in El Paso from 1916 until at least 1918. (See El Paso, Texas, City Directory, 1917, p. 472 andAncestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: Texas; Registration County: El Paso; Roll: 1953280; Draft Board: 2, accessed 07/15/2017.) By 1919, Leech he resided at 1101 Myrtle Avenue in El Paso. Two years later, he lived with his wife and his two step-sons at 1313 North Ochoa Street in El Paso, and continued to reside here in 1923.

In 1931, he and Elizabeth had settled in San Antonio, TX, where they lived at 327 East Huisache Avenue. (See San Antonio, Texas, City Directory, 1931, p. 579.)

In 1942, at age 62, Leech lived in Jefferson City, MO, with his wife, where he worked for the Work Projects Administration. He lived at 722 Cliff Avenue in Jefferson City. This information came from his World War II Draft Registration form of 04/27/1942. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War II Draft Cards (Fourth Registration) for the State of Missouri; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975; Record Group Number: 147; Box or Roll Number: 970, accessed 07/15/2017.)

He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, CA.

Parents

His father was John Richard Leech, his mother, Julia Emma Nicks Leech.

Spouse

He married Elizabeth Virginia DreisoernerLeech (born 10/24/1883 in Quincy, IL) on 11/09/1918 in El Paso. (See Source Information Ancestry.com. Texas, Select County Marriage Index, 1837-1965 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 07/15/2017.) She had been married previously to Harry Hinrichs on 11/23/1904 in Jackson, MO. (See Source Information Ancestry.com. Missouri, Marriage Records, 1805-2002 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007, accessed 07/15/2017.) With Harry Hinrichs, she had had two children, Otto, (born 03/15/1907 in Saint Louis, MO) and Paul, (born 11/05/1908 in Saint Louis, MO).

Biographical Notes

His last name has been occasionally misspelled as "Leach." For some of his life, he may have gone by the name Austin N. Leech, as he was listed this way in El Paso city directories of the 1910s and 1920s.

The California Death Index had his birth date as 04/18/1882. This appears to be in error, as a US Naturalization Declaration of Intent form wrote his birthdate as 04/18/1880. He began the process of applying for US Citizenship on 07/15/1919 in the US District Court (Western District) in El Paso, TX. This naturalization form indicated that he stood 5-feet, 8-inches tall, weighted 196 pounds, and had a small, circular scar on his left cheek. His hair was brown, and eyes were grey. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at Fort Worth; Fort Worth, Texas; ARC Title: Declarations of Intention for Citizenship, 1906-1989; NAI Number: 584751; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: 21, accessed 07/15/2017.)

Leech continued the citizenship process on 12/27/1921 in El Paso. Two local contractors, V.E. and H.J. Ware, served as witnesses for him. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at Fort Worth; Fort Worth, Texas; ARC Title: Petitions for Naturalization, 1907 - 1988; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: 21, accessed 07/15/2017.)

SSN: 555325901.

• Winburg, Orange Free State South Africa (Architect's Birth)
  Winburg, Orange Free State South Africa

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• Los Angeles, CA (Architect's Death)
  Los Angeles, CA

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