h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It appears the first member of the Leib family arrived in Philadelphia as a passenger on a ship in 1753. John George Leib was a tanner by trade, and many thought he had been born in Strasbourg, Germany about 1730.
He was married in 1757 to Marretha Dorothea Leibhart. After only ten years in the country (1763) he had established himself well enough to purchase his own tannery in the German Town (Northern Liberties) area of the city.

They had several children together. Two of them became rather prominent and deserve a mention here

The first born was Dr. Micheal Leib who would serve as a Congressman and Senator on both the state and Federal level. His daughter Lydia Leib will become a prominent figure in this story.

The second is John Lewis Lieb who was a Philadelphia lawyer, who moved west to Detroit, Michigan in the year of 1817 to become a territorial judge, the same year Thomas joined his first ship. The Harrison books states clearly that he was Thomas' father, but no other records found support this. It is possible that most of these reports were written only by those who knew him in Detroit and never knew he had another son, or that the truth lies elsewhere. There is a street near the river that bears his name, although the spelling on many of the signs has been corrupted to 'Leeb' using the Anglican pronunciation, in proper German it should be pronounced 'Libe' as the second letter is given the pronunciation in that language.

The Harrisons

Thomas Harrison was born in Cumberland County, Great Britain, He married Sarah Richards in Philadelphia 21 June,1764, so he had emigrated sometime prior to this date.

His son John Harrison married Lydia Leib on 27 November 1802. Their first child was born on 27 November, 1803 Caroline Matilda.

John would become a very important manufacturer of chemicals, and is credited for developing the first practical method of producing Sulphuric Acid in the Americas. He became a very wealthy man.

We will continue with Thomas' career, but I may take a brief pause for 11 November first.


F S

[Amy P]