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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-table Character--She Has Lived in the County Almost :■? Century But Never Visited Indiana and Is Seldom Out of Sight of Her Home-Still Able to Make Her Own Bed and Assist in Light Housework—Smokes Her Pipe with Relish. Other Incidents of Her Quaint Life.Out in one of the remotest corners of Green township, and clinging eloaely to the side of one of the steepest hills, ia a humble frame bouse which is thehomeof Mrs. Leah Keith, the oldest resident of this or any adjoining county. If she lives until nextgep-MRS, LEAH KEITH, Xeotrly 101 Years Old.tember, she will be 101 years old, and she gives good promise of celebrating this notable event. A Progress representative drove out 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 facts concerning the history of a character, wb03e ripe,old age has brought her into more than local prominence.Her home is located in a picturesque, but secluded spot, near Grisemore. No road leads to the home, and it was necessary to •climb a rough hill and a number of fences and opea 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 hand, but, when she caught the glimpse of strangers, she aroee quickly, and ^enfc into the bouse. 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 and is here reproduced. This was the first picture ever taken of the woman and this one was secured under most difficult ciicu instances 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 she always succeeded in evading the machine, wh ch she has always considered a device which would bring anything but happiness to the one who had been “taken”.The woman is of German descent and was bora in September, 3802, in York county. Pa. Her maiden name was Lowmaster and she 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 during the days when there lived many l who saw the last of the Indians that once inhabited the county.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 tohousekeeping during their entire wedded life. But in 1859 the husband died and since then the widow has been making her home with her children. Her husband was known in the neighborhood as a local preacher and is remembered well yet 'by many of the older residents of the neighborhood. He was a Winbrenaiian and in the early days before few, if any churches were established in the neighborhood he would conduct meetings at the widely scattered log cabins. According to stories that are still told in the neighborhood this Rev. Keith at these meetings claimed that certain things were revealed to him to expound for the welfare of the neighborhood.His widow continued to live in the same neighborhood until about four years ago, when her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McDonnell, with whom she makes her home, moved to the farm near Grisemore. She has five children living. The oldest is Mrs. Mary Ann Boring, of near Grip, in Green township, who is 72 years old. Mrs. Joseph McDonnell, with whom she makes her home is 57 years old. The ages of the other children could not be secured but their names follow: Mrs. Mary McDonnell and Jacob Keith, of Westmoreland county, • and Levi Keith, residing hear Grip. About 35 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and one greafc-great-grandchild are living. Such a train of generations is not to be found in many places in the state. Representatives of five generations is the record of this family of long livezs. Two brothers and three sisters are living at ripe old ages. They are Levi and John Lowmaster, Mrs. Katherine Snyder and Mrs. Betsey Riohel, all residing in East Mahon, ing township or adjacent to the neighborhood where the parents first located early in the last century, and Mrs. Laura Keith, of Grip. The late Mrs. Mary Ann DeHaven, of Grip, who died about three years ago at the age of 99 years was a twin Bister of the subject of this sketch.The advanced age of this woman is only one of her remarkable characteristics. Her vitality ia without a rival. The old lady proudly ^boasts of her health and claims that during her life of over a century she has never been seriously ill or not even on the sick list long enough at one time to cover a period of one day. Her children substantiate this statement.Her rugged constitution far excels that of her children. There are few of the marks of decline visible which so often accompany many who are considered old yet many years her junior. She stands and walks erect. Her form is not bent with age and while her step is slow it is certain. Her face is a mass of fine wrinkles but is full and has a color that expresses good health. She lives out-doors alt that she possibly can and these spring days she can be seen walking about the garden with cane in hand or gathering wood and carrying great armfuls to the house for fuel. She walks unaided everywhere, the cane being not so much for support as to guide her way. The only faculty of which time seems tb be robbing her is her eyesight. She can no longer see to read but she prayB a great deal and enjoys the prayer meetings which are held often at the home for her 1 benefit. 8he takes a bath daily, keeps her own fire and washes her owndishes. Often she assists in the light household duties and usually insists on washing the dishes. One of the greatest pleasures of her ripe old years is smoking, tihe finds great solace in her pipe. In fact she believes that her smokes, which are not a few each day, brings strength and rest to her and one can beet win her friendship by presenting her with a package of smoking tobacco. For years nearly all the tobacco consumed by her has been grown on the farm. Another feature of her remarkable constitution is the fact that she very seldom sleeps in daylight. She displays a lively interest in occurrences in the neighborhood but seldom ventures out of sightof her own home on account of hereyesight. 8he is a great home body and as far as is known she has not been ten miles from home during the last 50 years. She has never been in Indiana although rfie has resided witbin the county’s limits 93 years. Four years ago she saw for the first time a train but had no desire to take \ ride.She is older than the county that celeMrs. Keitii in Her Picturesque Garden.
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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