LIFE OF JOHN LEEDY [The
following article takes up the entire front page of this edition of
the newspaper]
With the First
History of the Leedy Family. Life is real! Life is
earnest!, sang the poet many years ago, and in that reality we find
pleasant reminiscences as well as painful experience. Whatever
may have been one's lot in life, his record cannot be so barren as
to awaken no thought of joy, or contain no works of honor.
When the mind is gently wafted o'er the last half a century in which
this land has turned in the hands of the white man, from a
promiscuous forest and dense wilderness into grand and valuable
habitations, it is enraptured at the sight. Now and then we
yet find among us a representative of the generations that
penetrated the dense forest that only, seemingly, a few years ago
covered the earth where fine dwellings are now located, and planted
the banner of progress, and watered it with the grant of life,
Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; but the greater number
of that stalwart race have yielded to the conqueror of all, and we
now revere the turf of the valley that conceal these treasures from
mortal vision. Among this latter number we find one who fills
a large measure in the early history of the southern part of the
county, and present an engraving of him and a short sketch of his
eventful life.
The Leedy Family. There has been no record of the Leedy family
preserved, to the best of our knowledge, and any date in regard to
their immigration to this country is hard to find. We are
informed however, that originally, one family came from Switzerland
and first settled in Maryland. besides the parents, this
family consisted of five children, four sons and a daughter,
Abraham, one of the number settled in Pennsylvania, in Bedford
County, and he is the parent of all the Leedys in this part of the
country. Another brother settled in Virginia and he is the
father of another tribe of Leedys, a number of whom are now living
in Indiana, and some in the southern states. The daughter was
never married, and as for the other sons, we know nothing regarding
their history. John Leedy was born in Maryland, September
10th., 1779, and while he was yet young his father packed his
household goods and family on two horses and emigrated to Morrison's
Cove, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. There he commenced with
economical habits and an industrious hand, and soon came in
possession of much land. john was brought up on a farm.
On the fourth of March, 1806, as near as we are able to ascertain,
he was married to Elizabeth Keith, who was born near Coffee Run,
Pennsylvania, and was then seventeen years old. Lewis Keith
was her father and her mother's maiden name was Mary Saltsman.
The only male person in this country that was present at his wedding
that we know of, was Abraham Long, now residing in the extreme
south-east corner of Jefferson Township. He was an infant
however, and his father carried him on horse-back concealed in the
bosom of his overcoat and no one knew except his parents that he was
present until after the ceremony when the overcoat was removed and
the hidden guest was revealed. After he was married, they set
up house-keeping in Bedford County in the Cove and remained there
until they left for this country. Mr. Leedy engaged in farming
and also turned his attention to the stilling business.
Fighting For The Championship
Of Morrison's Cove. On a cold winter day, with a deep
snow on the ground, a public sale was held in the north part of
the cove. It was everywhere conceded in the north part of
the cove that John Leedy was the strongest man. In the
southern part of the cove, the fighting laurels were yielded
unto a man named Ben. DeRush. He new of Mr. Leedy's record
in the north, and came up to this sale on purpose to prove by an
actual test of fighting weight, who should be crowned champion
of the whole cove. After learning who was the person, by
way of introduction to the contest, he walked up to Mr. Leedy,
and lifted up his trowsers [sic.] leg and pulled down his
stocking. No attention was paid to the rude act, and the
parties separated. Soon the man returned to Mr. Leedy and
repeated the same actions. He then asked DeRush for an
explanation and he at once told the reason of his peculiar
conduct. A fight was at once agreed upon, and the
champions prepared for battle. Both stripped stark naked
except their trowsers [sic.], and work was at once commenced.
It was on the top of a rather steep hill where the fight
commenced, and as they fiercely dealt with one another and each
one alternately turned the other, they rolled down the hill
lashing the snow with their naked feet, and the steam arose from
the champions in so great a volume as to almost hide them from
sight. They tumbled on quite a distance and a momentary
halt was occasioned by DeRush, being pinned to the ground by his
opponent but unfortunately he had his opponent's thumb in his
mouth and as he received heavy blows on the ribs, he rolled the
thumb between this teeth until the flesh was ground to the bone.
He at last gapped under the sledgehammer blows, and Leedy of
course took his thumb out of the trap. They kept on
rolling down the hill and finally they came to a fence against
which the snow had drifted several feet deep. when they
came to the fence it happened that Mr. Leedy was under and after
frequent attempts, he failed to turn his opponent, and so deep
was he imbedded in the snow that he could do northing but beat
his opponent with his heel. In this condition he at once
thought of calling "enough", but on a second thought, he decided
to die rather than to give up. The fence was torn away,
and the contest turned more in Leedy's favor. But as there
seemed to be no end to the battle they were finally separated.
DeRush remarked that he <<illegible>> willing to call it even
and <<illegible>> no more. Leedy was not satisfied
with <<illegible>> compromise on such promises, and asked his
opponent to fight or admit himself beaten. He did, and
John Leedy was acknowledged the champion man of Morrison's cove.
DeRush depended upon biting and gnawing as his fort in a fight,
and in his contest with John Leedy, he bit great chunks of flesh
from his back and other parts of his body, which left permanent
marks through lift and the mangled thumb became calloused where
it was almost gnawed off. Leedy used his massive fists as
weapons, and so effectually did he use them that the contestant
was almost in a jelly after the fight, and took his bed and
never fully recovered from the stalwart strokes. DeRush
united with the church soon after, and lived a pious life.
The fight was commenced in good humor and the parties separated
in the same mood.
Settling In Ohio. In
the Spring of 1811, he packed his goods and set out for Ohio.
After a long and tiresome journey over a rough and wilderness
country and numerous stops with strangers and friends on the
way, he called a halt on June 6, 1811, at a beautiful strong
spring located at the center of section thirty-five in the
southern part of this township. The wagon was turned into
a temporary dwelling house, and two forks and a beam were hoistd
[sic.] on which to hang the flesh pot to cook the first meals.
The ax was lifted from its quarters in the wagon-box and
vigorously applied to the trees surrounding the spring. In
a short time a log cabin 16 X 18 was erected, and then work
commenced in earnest upon the surrounding forest, to prepare the
ground for the reception of good <<illegible>>.
A Year of Trouble.
The year of 1812 was a year of trouble to the pioneers.
The English again invaded the United States, and agents were
sent among the Indians by the British Government, to foment
hatred in the hearts of the Savages against the Americans, who
made extensive preparations, for an attack by the Indians, and
the settlers were made restless through fear. In that year
the Seymour family, which occupies so conspicuous a place in the
early history of the country, was murdered, and general
consternation everspread the country. In this year our
pioneer left his log cabin and took his family to the block
house in Fredericktown. They remained there about nine
days, and the storm having partly subsided, they returned to
their habitation and went on with the work of the pioneer age.
In this year Mr. Leedy set up his apparatus and commenced to
still whisky, which occupation he followed at times for many
years. While the Indians were yet in early traveling
distance they frequently bought liquor of him.
A Race for the South-East
Quarter of Section Thirty-Five. When Mr. Leedy settled
in Jefferson township he took up the Western half of section
thirty-five, <<illegible>> the eastern half yet remaining in the
possession of the government. <<illegible>> built his home
almost on the <<illegible>> of the quarter sections.
<<illegible>> almost pared the foundation walls of his dwelling
house. One day as he was busy at work a neighbor came
hurriedly to him with the message that T. Brown, a neighbor, was
on his way to Canton to enter that quarter section. Mr.
Leedy at once mounted his nag, and not having sufficient money
in his possession to obtain the land in question, he rode to
Fredericktown, to get what he had deposited there and then
struck a bee line for Canton. He rode all that day, from
ten o'clock in the morning when he received the news, and
through the night, arriving in Canton early the next morning.
He tied his beast, and went direct to the land office, and when
the door was opened he went in and made his business known.
As soon as the transaction was ended and he received the papers
for the south-east quarter of section thirty-five, he turned
around and opened the door to leave, and just there he met T.
Brown. They exchanged civilities and that was the last
time they ever spoke to each other; but Pioneer Leedy had
the land all the same. This happened in 1816.
Moving to Bellville.
He remained on the farm, tilling it, clearing new fields, and
making improvements until the year 1836, when he left it in the
care of his children and moved to Bellville and opened a Hotel.
He occupied the building which the Bellville Bank now occupies.
He followed this occupation about six years at that stand.
He moved to his farm after discontinuing the Hotel business, and
remained there till his death, which took place September 6th.,
1857.
His Family Connections, &c.
The Leedys were a very hardy people and they played an important
<<illegible>> in the pioneer drama of Central Ohio. The
subject of this sketch came to this State in 1811, when the
country was yet a howling wilderness, and was the first actual
settler in southern Richland County. At that time his
nearest neighbor lived south of Ankenytown, or where it is now
located. He had four brothers and four sisters. They
lived in Pennsylvania some time after he came to this country,
but they all finally followed after, and settled around him.
The names of Abraham, Jacob, Samuel and Daniel Leedy, the
Hetricks, Martin Crow, and John Long, are familiar to every
person who is acquainted with the early his tory of this part of
the country. Mr. Leedy's mother and sisters were very
large women. His mother turned the scales at about three
hundred and fifty pounds, and we are informed that at one time a
horse was brought to the gate for her to ride to meeting and
when she mounted her weight broke the animals back.
Several of the sisters weighed over three hundred pounds and the
original of our engraving, weighed over three hundred and fifty
pounds during his declining years. Lewis K. Leedy is the
oldest of the children, Catharine was the second and is the wife
of Samuel Garber and the grand-mother of the publishers of this
paper. The remaining are in order as follows: Susan,
who is claimed by some to be the first white child born in
Jefferson Township, Elizabeth, Abraham, Samuel, Margaret, Rosah,
John, S-----, <<illegible>> David <<illegible>> last died when
young. The others grew to man and womanhood, and those
still living reside in the west except the oldest two. Mr.
Leedy was one of the first Trustees of Jefferson Township, and
when he commenced to serve the Township was not very wealthy, so
he and his colleagues agreed to serve for nothing and William
Spears was Clerk and he received one dollar for his services.
Lewis Leedy was a member of the first school board. The
person who is apt in human nature will notice that the
accompanying engraving exhibits great decision and force of
character, coupled with a good degree of self-reliance and power
to look danger in the face without fear and agitation.
These traits were also strongly manifested in the character of
his companion, so they were admirably armed, in character, to
brave the dangers and privations of the life which they lived.
She was ready at any time that necessity might demand to take
hold of the old rifle, or knife to stab the struggling deer.
The nature of pioneer life stimulated a man-like nature in the
early mothers, and they became bold and resolute. But
whatever may have been the fits of nature bestowed in physical
strength and endurance upon any person, he is subject to his one
common law of nature that slowly binds the source of life and he
must yield the sphere which he occupied in life to the
generation following after. Elizabeth Leedy died at the
residence of her daughter in Indiana, a few years ago, and her
remains were brought to Ankenytown and interred in the
Brethren's Church Yard at the side of her companion, and there
they are together, sleeping the sleep that knows no breaking.
Bellville
George Stealts, Jr., intends to leave
for Kansas soon.
Geo. Weaver of Ind., was here on
business last week.
Mrs. Dr. Stofer, of Danville, is
visiting her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Boals.
James Geddes, of Kendallville, Ind.,
is visiting his uncle, J.W. Geddes.
Mr. Wm. Batterson spent last Sunday
with his parents at Mansfield.
Jacob Klotz and wife left last
Thursday morning for a visit at Fremont.
Andrew Stevenson will address the
Democracy at this place Monday evening Oct. 6th.
Mrs. Susie Beattie visited her
sister, Mrs. Maggie Hill from Thursday, till Sunday.
Jesse Hollabaugh the old basket
maker, formerly of Bellville, has been taken to the Infirmary.
[Mansfield] Call.
Republican speeches were delivered at
the Town Hall Monday evening by W.L. Sewell and Dr. Johnston.
Mr. W.S. Bradford of Mansfield
assisted by W.H. Stone attended Bowers' Drug Store while he was at
the Exposition.
An Oyster Supper will be given Friday
evening Oct. 3rd. at Sowers' Hall, Lexington, for the benefit of the
Lexington Band. Everybody invited.
Mrs. Lavenia G. Ordway was a
contestant in the Women's walking match at the Fair Thursday.
She was dressed in blue and made a fine appearance, though she came
in "last best'.
Besides those mentioned in our issue
of last week, I.K. Moody, I. Fisher, J.W. Kelly, P. Horn and A.A.
Patterson attended the Cincinnati Exposition and all were well
pleased and benefited thereby.
Last Thursday was quite a moving day.
Mr. Widney moved into his residence on Euclid Avenue, Messrs. S.
Cutting and Andrew Redding moved to "The Place' and Messrs. C.A.
Lander and J.H. Kellenberger, occupy the vacated house.
Beachy Smith will be home to-morrow.
Aunt Phebe has removed to the
country.
H. Alexander is expected home the
10th.
Dr. A.I. Beach returned Saturday
night.
Two McFarland Bros., of Ind., were in
town Saturday.
W.F. Madden visited his nephew at
Urbana last week.
Mrs. Stinemetz, of Mt. Vernon, has
been visiting at E. Whites.
Post, the carriage trimmer is engages
with Gerlach & Myers.
S.W. Carpenter visited his old home
in Seneca Co. last week.
E.D. Lash of the Call passed a
few days at his home here the first of the week.
B.C. Brown started on a trip to sell
baskets Monday, and expects to be gone two weeks.
Born: To Mr. & Mrs. G.W.
Miller, Monday night, a lively, interesting little boy.
Miss. M. Holtom is visiting her
brother and attending the Exposition at Cincinnati.
Mrs. S.K. Garber returned from a
visit to Mrs. M.C. Oldfield, living near Crestline, Tuesday.
Wm. F. Madden will speak at the South
School house on Friday evening Oct. 3rd., on the financial question.
A new arrival at Rev. Heindel's last
Sunday morning, in good time for meeting. He will soon assist
in the pulpit.
Jeremiah Geddes of Kendallville,
Ind., is visiting his son, J.W. Geddes, south of town. He was
a brother of James Geddes, who died in Mansfield a short time ago.
Mr. Isaac Critchfield stopped here on
his return from a business trip to the West the first of the week
and was the guest of Mrs. Dr. McMahon. His home is at Howard.
One Sheriff's sale is announced as
follows for Saturday, October 25th.: Ella Brown and et. al.
vs. Arthur A. Brown, the undivided one-half of the southwest quarter
of section 26, township 21, of range 19, subject to the life estate
of Louisa J. Brown, now Louisa J. Patterson, therein.
Appraised at $890. Also the undivided one-half of lot number
2039, in Mansfield, subject to the life estate of Louise J. Brown.
Appraised at $300. Terms cash.
Licenses to marry have been granted
to Nathaniel Pluck & Elmira Craiglow, J.H. Krause & Lola D. Porch,
Jacob K. Dearnt & Nellie M. Ally, Clark W. Momyear & Lucinda
McCormic, Edward Houston & Amanda McCormic, Archibald Purdy & Olive
W. Norrick, Ambrose Klotz & Mary H. Heinei [sic.].
Rev. C.A. Lander and wife are
attending a conference meeting at Flint.
Mrs. Wise of Bucyrus is visiting her
daughter, Mrs. G.M. Heindel.
Jacob Mock of Eureka, Mich., attended
the funeral of his father last week.
I.K. Moody and D. Fisher left to-day,
Wednesday, ticketed for Columbus.
Rev. Mrs. Lewis will leave to-morrow
(Thursday) morning for Delaware.
A number of Bellvillites had an
oyster supper at F.L. Garber's Tuesday night.
Mrs. Ogleby of Springfield, an old
School-mate of John Hamilton's, has been visiting him.
Esq. Baughman of Newville died of
apoplexy Monday, and was buried Wednesday.
Esq. Smith and wife left today,
Wednesday, for a visit to friends in Union City, Ind.
J.H. Kelly's father, now in his
eightieth year, and his sister, Mrs. M. Johnson, of Mansfield, are
visiting him.
C.H. Ordway and family have gone to
Cambridge City, Ind. He expects a position as bookkeeper in
the car factory at that point.
Dr. McMahon has a full set of the
celebrated Day mechanical and surgical appliances, and is therefore
well prepared to adjust fractures and dislocations.
Wooden Wedding. The following
account of the wooden wedding of Mr. & Mrs. J.M. Reed, living at New
London, is taken from the Record published at that place:
"One of the most pleasurable social events of the season, took
place on Wednesday evening at the residence of our highly esteemed
citizen, Mr. J.M. Reed, the occasion being the fifth anniversary of
their wedded life, or in more Homely phraseology, their wooden
wedding. The even was spent in <<illegible>> chat,
interspersed with <<illegible>> instrumental music, no <<illegible>>
being in order with the exception of a few very appropriate and
humorous remarks by Rev. E.W. Sanders, of Galion, who addressed the
bride and bridegroom, closing with an expression representing the
sentiments of the whole party -- that Mr. & Mrs. Reed might live to
celebrate the anniversaries in regular order up to the diamond
anniversary, which so few couples are permitted to reach. A
sumptuous repast followed which was elaborately prepared, and
reflected great credit on Mrs. Reed's culinary skill. The
invited guests comprised acquaintances in the village, and friends
of Mr. & Mrs. Reed's from abroad. Among the guests from a
distance were Mrs. Reed's father, Mr. Evarts, of Bellville, and his
two daughters, Miss Evarts and Mrs. Shelly, of Wooster; Mr.
Reed's sister, Miss Reed and Mrs. E. McCully, of Crestline;
Rev. E.W. Saunders and wife, of Galion; Mrs. Evarts and Mrs.
Reed of Crestline. The fits were nearly al selected with a
view for usefulness more than elaborate embellishment and consisted
of the following: Dressing case, by citizens of the village.
Ornamental parlor clock, W.M. Chapman, wife and sisters. Set
of book shelves, R. Evarts and daughter. Express cart, Rev.
E.W. Sanders. Large chromo, J. Shelly. Large chromo,
Miss Belle Pond. Bible stand, Mrs. Ella McCully. Cedar
pail, Mrs. Wm. Reed. Bracket mirror, Mrs. S. Evarts.
Fancy basket, Mrs. J.M. Reed. Set of table mats, Misses Cora
and Ida Myers. Lemon demolisher, Mr. G.C. Evarts. Wooden
spoons, Willie Evarts. Cloth and hair brushes, Mr. & Mrs.
Myers. Comb bracket, Miss Debbie Reed. Two brooms, R.
Evarts. box of matches, Mrs. W. Reed. Card and match
case, Miss Emma Reed. Feather fly brush, Mrs. W. McCully.
Two small baskets, R. Evarts." Mrs. Reed was a native of
this vicinity and is a daughter of Esq. Evarts. She taught
twenty-three terms in High and Dist. schools here, and is an amiable
and accomplished lady.
Independence.
H. Tresham now wears the Marshal's
Badge.
Mr. & Mrs. Ames have moved to
Centerburg.
A bouncing girl is reported at Andy
Simmon's.
Dave Palm and family were in town
over Sunday.
Geo. Darling has moved his family to
Centerburg.
Joe. McCullough is preparing to build
a house this fall.
Geo. Wohlford is extensively
repairing his dwelling.
A team of Wm. Greer's ran off last
week, but hurt no one.
Mr. Tucker, our school teacher, will
move to town this fall.
Walter Craig, son of A.D., is with
his Grand-pa Dawsey.
Loose and Lafferty are daily adding
to their stock of furniture.
Mrs. M. Flemings, near Newville, is
sick with the lung fever.
We learn that Bowersox is clerking
for Pete Ackerman, at Mansfield.
Levi Hissong has received back
pension amounting to over five hundred dollars.
Bob McCrory and S.S. Bloom made
speeches to a large crowd last Saturday evening.
Loro, the Mansfield Bowersox
saloonist, moved his saloon to Mansfield last week.
Mrs. Dr. Hubbs and son have gone to
Loudonville to visit friends and attend the fair which commences
today.
Oberlin & Hitchman have a potato on
exhibition that weighed 3¼ pounds. Wm. Simmons has the honor
of growing it.
Blystone & Rummel's mill has been
idle for several weeks on account of a broken wheel. It will
be in operation soon. |
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Advertiser's
Index
- Bellville Lumber Yard
- J.H. Kellenberger (break,
cakes)
- Shafer & Mock (butchers)
- Guyselman Bros. (harnesses,
collars)
- Bellville Planing Mills
- Gerlach & Myers (carriages)
- J. Frank Bowers (drugs,
medicines)
- Bloom & Seiler (meat market)
- G.I. Clark (Tinner)
- Wm. Lanehart (furniture,
undertaking)
- U.F. Armstrong (clothing)
- Miss E.A. Charles (hats,
etc.)
- Samuel Carpenter (groceries)
- T.G. Bristor, Mansfield
(dentist)
- O.A. Hubbs, M.D.
- M'Creedy & White
(blacksmiths)
- I.C. Ball (marble, lime,
plaster)
- Amos Kanaga, Mansfield
(attorney)
- J.B. Lewis (homeopathic
physician)
- Clifton House, Wm. Lefever
Proprietor
- D. Palm (barber)
- Oberlin & Hitchman (drugs)
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