The County Holding Corp., Lehighton, Richard G. Searles, president, today announced the purchase of the Lehighton Leader, from Mrs. Marian Morthimer.

The Leader was established in 1903 by George H. Morthimer, who headed it until 1918 when he was succeeded by the late George Morthimer who, was publisher until his death in 1942.Mrs. Morthimer served as head of the paper from that time until the present.