The Leedy Family of Knox County, Ohio

Throughout his active business career Joseph Leedy was prominently connected with the agricultural interest of Berlin township and as an honorable business man and public-spirited citizen he was widely known in Knox county, commanding uniform respect by his sterling worth.

Mr. Leedy was born in Pennsylvania, December 5, 1825, a son of Abram and Elizabeth (Zook) Leedy, who with their family emigrated westward to Ohio when our subject was but four years old. They located on a farm on which Ankenytown has since been built, and there the Httle son grew and developed into manhood, pursuing his education in the district schools, while in the summer months he gained practical experience in farming from work in the fields. He was thus well prepared to carry on agricultural pursuits on his own account when he married and began life for himself. He became the Owner of a valuable property, the well tilled fields annually returning to him golden harvests. Upon the place were seen substantial barns and outbuildings, good grades of stock, the latest improved machinery and well kept fences which divided the place into fields of convenient size. Everything about the place indicated the supervision of a progressive owner.

On the 5th of October, 1854, Mr. Leedy married Miss Elizabeth Keiser, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, May 12, 1834, daughter of Jacob Keiser, who was a native of the Keystone state and became one of the early settlers of Richland county. He wedded Elizabeth Worst and they became the parents of twelve children, of whom Mrs. Leedy was the sixth in order of birth. Her girlhood days were spent in the county of her nativity and she was trained to the duties of the household. At their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Leedy took up their above upon the farm which is now the home of the widow, and eleven children were there born unto them: Nancy, the wife of Seth Conrad; George; Sylvester; Josephus; Caleb; Dennis; Sada, the wife of C. V. Humphrey; Cerelda, the wife of W. H. Cocanour; Lenora, the wife of John Fry; William; and Cora May, the wife of V. A. Merrin. All are married and the family circle yet remains unbroken as far as the children are concerned, but the husband and father was called away, leaving behind him a large circle of sorrowing friends as well as his immediate family, among whom his place can never be filled.

Mr. Leedy was very reliable in all business transactions, and his honesty, as well as his industry and perseverance, was a salient feature in his career. His success as a farmer enabled him to leave his family in comfortable financial circumstances. In his political views he was a Democrat, but never aspired to office. He held membership in the Progressive Brethren church and his wife also belongs there. She is still living upon the home farm, which comprises three hundred acres of the rich land of Knox county. The family is one of prominence in the community and well deserves mention among the representative citizens of this portion of Ohio.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

REV. ISAAC LEEDY.

From an early period in the development and improvement of Knox county Rev. Isaac Leedy has resided within its borders and has had marked influence upon its material and moral development. He is the minister of the Brethren church in Berlin township and is a man of no restricted influence, his labors having had marked benefit in uplifting moral standards. He was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, December 23, 1827,

QJuicu2 oZ!ke-c and traces his ancestry back to the land of the Alps, for his great-great-grandfather, Abraham Leedy, came from Switzerland to America, taking up his above in the Keystone state. The grandfather, who bore the same name, was supposed to be a native of Pennsylvania and there he spent his entire life. The father of our subject was the fourth Abraham Leedy and was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, April 5, 1787. After arriving at years of maturity he married Elizabeth Zook, who was born in Bedford county March 26, 1 79 1. The wedding was celebrated February 2, 1812, and they became the parents of eleven children, nine sons and two daughters, namely: John, Catherine, Samuel, Jacob, Abraham, David, Daniel and Joseph, all of whom have passed away; Isaac, of this review; Susanna, t'.ie widow of S. P. Dyer; and Aaron, who lives in Richland county. In 1829 the parents removed with their family to Knox county, locating in Berlin township, near the present site of Ankenytown, which was built upon the land that Mr. Leedy owned. He died March 8, 1860, in the seventy-third year of his age. He was a member of the Dunkard church and his earnest Christian life was an example well worthy of emulation. His wife passed away June 24, 1865, in her seventy-seventh year.

Isaac Leedy, whose name introduces this review, was only about two years old when brought by his parents to Knox county in the year 1829. His environments were those of the frontier and with the family he experienced hardship and trials incident to pioneer life, also enjoying pleasures which are otherwise unknown save in frontier settlements. He began his education in a little log school house which stood on the present site of Ankenytown. He was an earnest and thorough student and has al- V. ays been a deep thinker and close reasoner. At the age of eighteen he put aside all his text-books in order to give his entire attention to the work of the home farm.

As a companion and helpmate for the journey of life Mr. Leedy those Miss Nancy Bostater, the wedding being celebrated December 25, 1851. She was born in Maryland September 30, 1828, a daughter of Jacob and Susanna Bostater, who came to Knox county during her early girlhood. They were the parents of ten children and when the mother died, on the 4th of March, 1866, at the age of thirty-eight years, she left a little babe only four days old. The other children of the family are: Elias, who was born October 10, 1852, and died December 26, of the same year; William, who was born December 15, 1853, and is deceased; an infant daughter deceased; Elizabeth, who was born October 15, 1856, and is the wife of C. D. Martin, of Berlin township; Martha, who was born October 28, 1857, and died January 6, 1858; Caleb, who was born November 21, 1858, and is now a farmer of Berlin township; Hannah, who was born January 1, 1861, and is the wife of Charles O. Miller, of Berlin; Emily, who was born June 17, 1863, and died March 3, 1865; Joshua, who was born September 12, 1864, and died March 7, 1865; and Susanna, who was born March 1, 1866, a babe at her mother's death, and is the wife of B. C. Debolt, of Berlin township. After the death of his first wife Mr. Leedy was again married, on the 23d of October, 1866, his second union being with Miss Lovina Wolfe, who was born in this county

March 16, 1838, a daughter of John and Margaret Wolfe. Seven children were born of this union: Minerva, who was born October 27, 1867, and is the wife of J. C. Hess, of Ankenytown; Noah, who was born October 2, 1870, and died May 16, 1873; Mary E., who was born December 5, 1872, and is the wife of Fred vlerrin, justice of the peace in Morris township; Normanda, who was born June 11, 1875, died November 20, 1879; a son who was born April 15, 1878, and died unnamed; Samuel Alva, who was born July 14, 1879, and is at home; and Verda A., who was born April 8, 1882, and is still under the parental roof.

After his first marriage Rev. Leedy located on the old homestead and lived in the upper story of the old milk house, which was a log building. In 1865 he removed to what was known as the old Trayer farm, and made his home thereon until 1885, when he moved to his present place of residence in Berlin township. He has erected all of the buildings upon this place and he also constructed buildings upon the Trayer farm, including the house and barn. In his farm work he is systematic, persevering and industrious, and thus has become the possessor of a desirable property, but in the midst of his business cares he has found time to devote to the work of the ministry. In the spring of 1859 he was called to the ministry of the Brethren church, and at once began to equip himself for the work, upheld in all his labors by his strong faith and unwavering purpose to exercise his talents for the benefit of the Master's cause. Rev. Samuel Leedy, a brother O'f our subject, was a minister of the Dunkard church at Ankenytown, but taught views more nearly in accord with the New Testament in observance of some of the ordinances, which resulted in his own disfellowship being accompanied by Isaac and several others. A new society was organized in 1859, generally known as "Leedyites," of which the two brothers were the principal ministers. Others who held similar views soon joined them, and several societies were organized in western Ohio and in Indiana. For upwards of twenty-four years Isaac Leedy continued as pastor of the local society, in the meantime giving a great deal of attention to the propagating of the faith. Much dissatisfaction developed among those who had remained in fellowship with the old church and steps were taken to again unite the three branches of the church. At a conference held in Dayton, Ohio, in 1883, the "Leedyites," the Progressive Brethren and the Congregational Brethren affected a consolidation.

Not long after this event Rev. Samuel Leedy removed to Vernon county, Missouri, where he organized a society at Montevallo, of which he became pastor, so remaining until his death, on November 17, 1889, in his seventy-fourth year. His son, Rev. Simon Leedy, succeeded him, and so remains. Since retiring from active pastoral work Rev. Isaac Leedy has continued occasional work in the cause of the Master, his chosen field being mainly of an evangelical nature, and his services are also widely sought to officiate at marriage and funeral services. Reared under the strictest rules of the old Tunker society, he accepted all the teachings and observances as authorized by the Gospels until he united with the church. He soon began careful investigation and study and became a deep and careful Bible student. He has since seldom taken things for granted, but has demanded substantial proof for support of any propositions. He has held to that principle in his own preaching, presenting only such arguments as were substantiated by abundant testimony. With no pretensions at elegance or finished oratory, he possesses such pleasing address, combined with forceful and vigorous language, that few men have exerted more influence in Christian growth and development of the community, and his work has resulted in great good. He resides upon his farm in Berlin township, comprising seventy-seven acres. At one time he had a quarter section of land, but he has rendered substantial assistance to his children. He has served as township trustee and was school director for a number of years but refused other local positions. His life has been one ever actuated by the strictest fidelity to duty and in the work of the church his labors have been of wide spread benefit. His straightforward principles and genuine worth have made his example well worthy of emulation and thus to know Rev. Leedy is to honor and respect him.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EUGENE R. LEEDY.

Eugene R. Leedy, who is engaged in general farming in Berlin township, his home being on the old state road, is numbered among Ohio's native sons, for his birth occurred in Jefferson township, Richland county. The family has been one of prominence in this state from the early pioneer days, so that one of its members, scarcely needs an introduction to the readers of this volume. Aaron Leedy, his father, was born in Knox county, Ohio, and was the youngest child of Abraham and Elizabeth Leedy, of whom individual mention is made elsewhere in this volume, and in a large family he was the only one born in this county. He was reared and married in Berlin township, the lady of his choice being Elizabeth Garber, who was born in Jefferson township, Richland county, and was a daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Leedy) Garber. The parents began their domestic life in Knox county, but subsequently removed to Richland county, where they still reside. They had six sons and two daughters who lived to mature years, and they also lost one daughter.

Eugene R. Leedy was born on the 16th of February, 1861, and is the second son and third child in this family. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his youth. He was educated in the common schools and early worked in the fields, assisting in the cultivation of the home farm until his marriage, which occurred December 11, 1884. He wedded Nancy J. Beal, who was born in Berlin township April 10, 1864. a daughter of Franklin Beal, who was born in Richland county September 28, 1839. His mother died when he was only four weeks old, and he spent his boyhood days on the farm, in the home of D. Hetrick, in Berlin township, Knox county, where he became acquainted with Miss Susan Fink, whom he married September 12, 1861. She was born in Berlin township November 23, 1840, and became the mother of two children, a son and a daughter. Her people were among the first settlers in that township, and aided in reclaiming the wild land for purposes of civilization. Franklin Beal made farming his life work, and resided upon the tract of land which constitutes our subject's present farm. His death occurred April 12, 18S5. The marriage of our subject and wife has been blessed with three children, — Lulu May, Erma Elizabeth and a son who died in infancy. The two latter were twins.

Eugene R. Leedy, of this review, owns and resides upon a farm of fifty-one acres in Berlin township, and he is one of the wide-awake and progressive business men of this section. He follows general farming, and at the same time makes a specialty of the cultivation of fruit and the raising of poultry, and in all branches of his business he is meeting with success, for he has studied the needs of fruits, cereals and of fowls. His opinions are largely received as authority in these matters, and that his methods are excellent is shown by the splendid results which attend his labors. He was reared in the faith of the Universahst church, to which his father and mother belonged and of which he is now a member. He votes the Democratic ticket when questions of national importance are involved, but at local elections cases his ballot independently. He is a strong temperance man in every respect, using neither liquors nor tobacco in any form, and he does all in his power to inculcate like principles among his fellow men. Three times he has served as a member of the board of education, and the schools have found in him a warm friend. He belongs to Wayne Lodge, No. 303, Knights of Pythias, of Fredericktown, and also to the Patrons of Husbandry, Bellville, and of the latter he has been secretary for seven years. He takes an active part in its work and does everything in his power to promote the welfare of his community and advance the general good. He is now the president of the Leedy Reuniou Association, which was organized in 1895, and since that time he has been filling some office in the organization. The spirit of continuous activity and of progressiveness has resulted in carrying forward plans to successful completion, and it is along these lines that Mr. Leedy has become known as one of the leading representatives of agricultural interests in Knox county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM H. LEEDY.

One of the enterprising business men of Knox county is William H. Leedy, of Ankenytown, one of our worthy young native sons whose labors have been directed to successful ends in the land of his forbears, with which he has ever been quite contented. He has led a quiet life and his integrity has always been unassailable. He is one of the representative men of his community, with no ambition for anything but the sphere of a private citizen, and his many friends hear willing testimony to his amiable qualities and sterling characteristics.

Mr. Leedy was born at Ankenytown. Ohio, on March 10, 1873. He is the son of Joseph A. and Elizabeth ( Keiser) Leedy, the father born in Pennsylvania in 1825, and the mother in Richland, near Mansfield. Ohio, in 1834. When five years old, in 1830, Joseph A. Leedy was brought by his parents to Knox county, Ohio, and located at Ankenytown, where he grew to manhood and married in that vicinity, and there he took up farming for a livelihood; and, prospering through hard work and close application, he became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land, and was for years regarded as one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of his community. He led a retiring life, devoting his attention to his farm and family, manifesting little interest in public affairs. His family consisted of eleven children, of whom William H., of this sketch, was the tenth in order of birth. They are all grown, married and have families of their own. The death of the father occurred in 1902 and the mother died in 1906.

William H. Leedy, of this sketch, was reared on the home farm, where he assisted with the work during his boyhood days, and attended the district schools near his home. Early in life he began farming, which he continued successfully until 1901, when he entered the mercantile business at Ankenytown, near the station, having bought a stock of goods there He started off successfully in his new field, but subsequently sold out, and in 1906 built a store house, eighteen by forty feet, and here he has since conducted a general store, carrying a large and carefully selected stock of goods, and has enjoyed an ever-increasing trade, his customers coming from a wide radius of territory in this part of the county.

Politically, Mr. Leedy is a Democrat and has been more or less active in party affairs. He has served his township as assessor and treasurer in an able and praiseworthy manner. Fraternally, he belongs to the Maccabees, and in religious matters he and his wife are members of the Brethren church.

Mr. Leedy was married on January 27, 1901, to Belle Guthrie, a native of Ankenytown, having been born just south of here, and here she grew to womanhood and received her education She is the daughter of John and Rachael Guthrie, the father a native of Pike township, Knox county.

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Leedy, named as follows: Florence, Robert, John.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.