Elizabeth was the daughter of Lewis and Mary (Saltsman) Keith. She married John Leedy on March 4, 1806 in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Together they had 12 children: Lewis K.; Catharine; Mary; Susan; Abraham K.; Samuel K.; Elizabeth; John K.; Margaret; Rosannah; David; & Sarah.

Elizabeth Ann Keith was born at Lincoln, Hopewell Twp., Huntingdon Co., PA; the 1st of 9 known children born to Lewis Keith (1767-1848) & Mary (Saltsman) Keith (1770-1837).

Family tradition indicates that Elizabeth's maternal grandfather, Anthony Saltsman, Sr. (1745-1778), a Sgt. in the Northumberland County, PA militia, was scalped by Indians at the West branch of the Susquehanna River. While being chased, he attempted to cross the river on ice, but he slipped and fell into their hands.

Elizabeth Ann Keith, a month from being 17 years old, was married to Pioneer "Big" John Leedy on 03-04-1806 at Morrison's Cove, Woodbury Twp., Bedford Co., PA. In the Summer of 1810, just four years into their marriage "Big" John Leedy traveled no less than 480 miles round trip on horseback scouting for more suitable farm land in the Ohio interior and returned to his family in PA.

In May of 1811 John and Elizabeth packed their belongings and moved the family of four young children in a Conestoga wagon from Bedford Co., PA via Ft. Pitt, PA. They traveled some of the same trails John had discovered the previous year. The family reached Sec. 35, Jefferson Twp., Richland Co., OH on 06-06-1811. For a while, they are said to have slept out in the open, starting a camp fire each night for security until a log cabin could be erected before winter set in. The log cabin was built near an artesian well situated in the middle part of the section of land. Eventually John purchased all 4 quarter-sections comprising 640 acres and would need clearing for farming.

Unlike her husband, Elizabeth Leedy was reportedly a small and slender woman, about 5' tall and plain in habits.

In June of 1812, the U. S. had declared War against Great Britian and by the Fall of 1812 the Indians had murdered the Copus, Seymour and Zimmer families of Richland Co., OH. To avoid the possibility of attack, John Leedy sent Elizabeth and young children horseback to the Fredericktown, OH blockhouse for protection. She and the children remained there for 9 days until the danger had passed.

John and Elizabeth Leedy raised all of their 12 children on this farm. In 1829 John improved the farm with a brick home, built just a few yards NW of the original log cabin site.

Children of "Big" John & Elizabeth Leedy ...

Lewis Keith Leedy (1807-1896)
Catharine (Leedy) Garber (1809-1879)
Mary (Leedy) Crawford (1810-1860)
Susannah (Leedy) Myers (1811-1903)
Abraham Keith Leedy (1814-1896)
Samuel Keith Leedy (1816-1853)
Elizabeth (Leedy) Miskimmins (1818-1900)
John Keith Leedy, M.D. (1820-1876)
Margaret (Leedy) Spayde (1822-1899)
Rosanna A. (Leedy) Brown (1826-1907)
David Keith Leedy (1828-c1848)
Sarah (Leedy) Gambrill (1830-1876)


In 1836 "Big" John & Elizabeth Leedy passed portions of the original Sec. 35 farm lands on to their children and moved a few miles north to Bellville, OH. Here they established a hotel and tavern on the present day east side of Main St., situated on the south bank of the Clear Fork.

After the death of her husband in 1851, Elizabeth Leedy moved to Pierceton, Kosciusko Co., IN and resided in the home of her daughter and son-in-law John C. & Margaret (Leedy) Spayde where she died at the age of 81y-10d. Her remains were transported from Pierceton, IN for burial beside her husband at the Owl Creek Church of the Brethren Cem., Sec. 2, Berlin Twp., Knox Co, OH.