Leah Sarah (Lowmaster) Keith (1809 - 1904)

Born 25 Feb 1809 in York, York, Pennsylvania, USA

Descendants

Died 16 Jan 1904 at age 94 in Green Township, Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Leah (Lowmaster) Keith was a centenarian, living to age 112.

Leah was the wife of Lewis Keith and daughter of George Lowmaster and Mary Magdalena (Shirey) Lowmaster

1900 fed Census, Green Twp., Indiana co., PA (T623 Roll 1415)

Joseph McDannell, age 67 (Nov 1832) PA mar 39y Catherine McDannell age 62 (May 1838) PA Leah Keith age 97 (May 1803) VA widowed Peter McDannell age 35 (Jan 1865) PA widowed

Obituary #1

Mrs. Leah Keith, aged 102, said to be the oldest woman in western Pennsylvania died at her home near Grisemore, Indiana county, Friday night. She was born in York county in September, 1802, and went to Indiana county when eight years of age, locating in the Mahonings. At the age of twenty she married Lewis Keith who took his bride over the hills to Green township where she lived until her death. Her husband died in 1859 and since then the widow had been making her home with her children.

Cambria Freeman, Jan 22, 1904

Obituary #2

COUNTY'S OLDEST RESIDENT DEAD Mrs. Leah Keith Rounded Out a Century of Life and Died Greatly Beloved SHE WAS A REMARKABLE WOMAN Many Other Deaths Have Occurred in This Vicinity During the Past Week

Mrs. Leah Keith, supposed to be the oldest resident of Indiana county died at her home near Grisemore, at 2 o'clock on Friday, January 15. Despite her great age Mrs. Keith had enjoyed very good health until about a month ago, when she was taken with a sinking spell from which the best efforts of her physician failed to arouse her. She gradually grew weaker until Death claimed her at the time mentioned. The exact age of this remarkable woman is hard to compute, even the members of her own household being uncertain about it. There are those who claim that she was but 102 years old, while there are other who say that from data she gave to them she must have been at least 112 years of age. Mrs. Keith used to say that she was 22 years of age when her oldest on Peter was born, and that Peter was 50 years of age when he died on the battlefield in the Civil war. This would indicate that she was from 108 to 112 years old. The deceased was a woman of strong convictions, yet she was generally beloved by those who knew her. She was always kindly and helpful in disposition, and always had a wise word of counsel or encouragement for those who needed it. In her younger days she had been very fond of singing, the old "Buckwheat" notes being in vogue then, and as she grew older, the change from that system to the music now prevailing never met a sympathetic response from her. Often in her last days her older neighbors would gather at her home to sing for her the songs of long ago. Mrs. Keith was born in the eastern part of this state, and came to this county in her youth. Her maiden name was Lowmaster. Her husband was Lewis Keith, who died in 1859. She leaves five children, the oldest of whom is Mrs. Mary Ann Boring, of Grip, Green township, aged 72. The other children are: Mrs. Joseph McDannell, with whom she made her home; Mrs. Mary McDannell and Jacob Keith, of Westmoreland county, and Levi Keith. There aged brother and sisters are living: Levi and John Lowmaster, Mrs. Katherine Snyder and Mrs. Betsey Rishell, of East Mahoning township, and Mrs. Laura Keith, of Grip. Thirty-five grandchildren, forty great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild are living. The funeral was held on Sunday and was largely attended.

Indiana Gazette (Indiana, Pennsylvania) Oct 21, 1904

Baptism

The definitive birth record can be found in Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, York, Pa., Baptisms 1802-1824 (York, Pa.), p. 125. Record of Maria Anna and Leah Lowmaster. Birth is 25 Feb 1809, baptism is 3 Apr 1809.

Burial

McDowell Cemetery Clymer Indiana County Pennsylvania, USA

Name: Leah Sarah Lowmaster. ^{[1] [2]}

Born 25 February 1809. York, York, Pennsylvania, USA. ^[1]

Buried Clymer, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States of America. ^[1]

File File: Media Format: jpg. 1904 Leah Lowmaster Keith Obit.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Source: #S725701870 Ancestry Record 60525 #89174713
2. ↑ Source: #S731311142 Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1965; Certificate Number Range: 033821-037090 Ancestry Record 5164 #752427030

• *[1]findagrave
• Source: S725701870 U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Record Collection 60525

• Source: S731311142 Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Record Collection 5164