Leyda, David

DAVID LEYDA, farmer, is a son of James and Jane (Reed) Leyda, and was born August 14, 1832, in Mercer county, Pennsylvania. His grandfather, David Leyda, removed from Washington to Mercer county in 1808. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died about 1874. James Leyda was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1804, removed with his parents to Mercer county four years afterward, and resided there until about 1869, when he removed to Franklin, Pennsylvania, where he still lives. His wife, Jane, was a daughter of William Reed, a pioneer of Lawrence county. She died in 1856. Their children were as follows: David; Rebecca A., deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Bleakley; Mrs. Hulda C. Burns; Mrs. Sarah Rahouser, deceased; John G., deceased; Mrs. Jennie Mitchell, and Mrs. Margaret Hays. By a subsequent marriage with Elizabeth Evans Mr. Leyda had a family of several children. David Leyda was reared a farmer, educated in the common schools, and remained with his parents until his twenty- sixth year, when he commenced farming for himself. In 1868 he came to Venango county and located in French Creek township, about two miles southwest of Utica, where he purchased the farm upon which he has since resided, and has been a successful farmer. On the 8th day of May, 1856, he married Eliza Jane, daughter of Stephen and Jane Reed, of Mercer county, a union blessed with the following children: Jennie, deceased wife of Addison Lupher; Odessa, wife of Albert Thompson; James A.; Sarah, wife of Joseph McCandless; Lottie; Laura L.; Alice, deceased; Cora M., and Benny. Mr. Leyda is a Republican in politics, and the whole family are members of the United Presbyterian church.