Eugene R. Leedy

As printed in 1902

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 Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.