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SHE IS OLDER THAN THE COUNTYMrs. Leah Keith, of Green Township, Is Hale and Hearty at Nearly 101 YearsSketch of the Life and the Eccentricities of a Remark■*able Character--She Has Lived in the County Almosi Century But Never Visited Indiana and Is Seldom Out oj Sight of Her Home-Still Able to Make Her Own Bed andAssist in Light Housework—Smokes Her Pipe with Relish Other Incidents of Her Quaint Life.Out in one of the remotest corners of Green township, sind clinging cioaely to the aide of one of the steepest hiUe, is a humble frame house which is the home of Mre. Leah Keith, the oldest resident of this or any adjoining county. If she lives until next Sep-* s. ■ -s.housekeeping during their entire weddelt; life. Bat in 1859 the husband died auc since then the widow has been making be home with her children. Her hasbanc was known in the neighborhood as a loca preacher and is remembered well yet 'bi many of the older reaidente of the neigh borhood. He was a Winbrenarian and n the early days before few, if any churcbei were established in the neighborhood hi would conduct meetings at the widely scattered Jog cabins. According to stone; that are still told in the neighborhood thii Rev. Keith at these meetings claimed tha certain things were revealed to him fclt; expound for the welfare of the neighborMRS. LEAH KEITH,X'early 101 Years? Old.tember, 6he will be 101 yeara old, and abe gives good promise of celebrating this notable event. A Pbogbsss representative drove oat recently and paid the aged lady a ■visit. Through the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Patteron, who reside on the adjoining farm, the newspaperman was able to gather many facte concerning the history of a character, whose ripe,old age has broaght her into more than local prominence.Her home is located in a picturesque, but secluded spot, near Griaemore. No road ieadB to the home, and it was necessary to ■climb a rough hill and a number of fences and open almost as many gates before the house could be reached. The first person the little party saw was the subject of this sketch. She was seated in the doorway with a cane in her band, but, when she caught the glimpse of strangers, she arose quickly, and dent into the house. After considerable persuasion she consented to accompany Mrs. Patterson to the garden, and while she was exhibiting the flowers and vegetables a snap-shot picture of the old lady was taken aDd is here reproduced. This was the first picture ever taken of the woman and this one was secured under most difficult circumstances as she as well as her daughter, with whom she makes her home, opposed it. Several have attempted to secure a photograph of the old woman but sbe always succeeded in evading the machine, wh ch she has always considered a device which wonld bring anything bnt happiness to the one who had been “taken”.The woman is of German descent and was bom in September, 1802, in York county. Pa. Her maiden name was Lo win aster and sbe was a daughter of George and Mary Shirley Lowmaster. When she was eight years of age she came to this county with her parents and located in the neighborhood which was known in the early days of the county as “Mahoning”, now East Mahoning township. The entire county was then almost an unbroken. wilderness and she often entertains those about her by reciting the experiences encountered daring the days when there lived many i who saw the last of the Indians that once inhabited the conoty.At the age of 20. or in 1822, she was married to Lewis Keith, who carried his bride shortly afterwards over the hills to Green township. The cpuple located in the neighborhood of Grip, known for many years as Keith’s Hollow. They resided in the same house in which they first went toHis widow continued to live in the samlt; neighborhood until about four years ago when her son-in-law and daughter, Mr and Mrs. Joseph McDonnell, with whon she makes her home, moved to the fain near Griaemore. She has five childrer living. The oldest is Mrs. Mary Am Boring, of near Grip, in Green township who is 72 years old. Mrs. Joseph Me Donnell, with whom sbe makes her homi is 57 years old. The ages of the other child ren could not be secured but their names fol low: Mrs. Mary McDonnell and Jacol Keith, of Westmoreland county, and Lev Keith,_ residing near Grip. About 3igrandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren ant one great-great-grandchild are living Sadi a train of generations is not to b found in many places in the state. Rep resentatives of five generations is the rec oid of tbiB family of long livers. TW' brothers and three sisters are living at ripold ages. They are Levi and John Low master, Mrs. Katherine Snyder and Mrs Betsey Riahel, all residing in East Mahon ing township or adjacent to the neighbor hood where the parents first located earl; in the last century, and Mrs. Laur' Keith, of Grip. The late Mrs. Mar Ann DeHaven, of Grip, who died abon three years ago at the age of 99 years was ; twin Bister of the subject of this sketch.The advanced age of this woman is onL one of her remarkable characteristics. He vitality is withont a rival. The old lad; prondly boasts of her health and claim that during her life of over a centnr; she has never been seriously ill or not evei on the sick list long enough at one time tlt; cover a period of one day. Her childrei substantiate this statement.Her ragged constitution far excels that her children. There are few of the mai of decline visible which so often accom] ny many who are considered old ? many yeara her junior. She stands a walks erect. Her form is not bent w: age and while her step is alow it is certa Her face is a mass of fine wrinkles bnt fall and haB a color that expresses go health. She lives ont-doora all that t possibly can and these spring days she c be seen walking about the garden w: cane in hand or gathering wood and can ing great armfuls to the house for fn She walks unaided everywhere, the ca being not so mnch for support as to gui her way. The only faculty of which tii seems to be robbing her is her eyesigl She can no longer see to read but she prs a great deal and enjoys the prayer roe ings which are held often at the home i her £ benefit. She takes a bath dai] keeps 4op her own fire anlt;J washes hex o\ dishes. Often she assists in the lig household duties and usually insists washing the dishes. One of the great* pleasures of her ripe old years is smokin 8he finds great solace in her pipe. In fa sbe believes that her smokes, which are n a few eaeh day, brings strength and rest her and one can beet win her friendship I presenting her with a package of Bmokii tobacco. For years nearly all the tobac consumed by her has been grown on t farm. Another feature of her remarks! constitution is tbe fact that she very st dom sleeps in daylight. She displays lively interest in occurrences in the neig borhood bnt seldom ventures out of sigof her own home on account of h eyesight. 8he is a great home body ar as far as is known she has not be ten miles from home daring the last years. She has never been in Indiana i though Rhe has resided within the conntg limits 93 yeara. Four yeara ago she R? for the first time a train but had no to take ride.She is older than the county thatMrs. KeitT| in Her Picturesque Garderi
Newspaper Details
Indiana Progress
Indiana, Pennsylvania, US
Wed, Jun 24, 1903
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
NC, USA 15 Jan 2019
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