John Whitnah Leedy (March 8, 1849 – March 24, 1935) was the 14th Governor of Kansas, serving 1896 to 1898. He later was active in politics in Alaska and Alberta, Canada. Personal life and family Leedy was born near Bellville, Ohio, in Richland County, to Samuel Keith and Margaret (Whitnah) Leedy, the fifth of six children. His parents were members of the Church of the Brethren (colloquially called "Tunkers" or "Dunkers" in the United States). Upon the death of his father in 1853, he went to work for neighbors as a farm hand. He was only able to briefly attend school during a few winters. In 1863, Leedy attempted to join the Union Army, but was rejected because of his age and the intervention of his mother. But in 1864, he essentially ran away from home, following the 163rd Ohio Infantry in which his cousin Jacob M. Leedy was captain of Company D. After the Civil War, Leedy moved to Princeton, Indiana,where he served as a clerk in a store for three years. His health in decline, Leedy then moved to Carlinville, Illinois, and sought work as a farm hand. He worked for Squire Gore (later state auditor of Illinois), and within five years his health had returned and he had saved enough money to purchase his own farm. He married Sarah Jane Boyd (1851–1940) in 1874 and had three children: Clara Romaine (1876–1972), Alice May (1880–1964), and John Boyd (1880–1968). Leedy moved to Coffey County, Kansas, near Le Roy in 1880, where he purchased land for a farm. His interest turned to horse breeding and was known as a successful breeder. However, in 1890, his finances began to fail and during the Panic of 1893, Leedy was forced to turn over his farm and all improvements—including his home—to his creditors. U.S. Political career Originally a Republican, he became a Democrat in 1872 before joining the Populist Party at its foundation. In 1892, Leedy ran for the Kansas State Senate with both the Populists and Democrats nominations. He served in the State Senate from 1892 until 1897. At the Populist Party's 1896 convention, delegates chose Leedy as their gubernational nominee over Congressman William A. Harris. At the time of his nomination, Leedy was very poor and he and his family were renting a small house for $15 a month. Leedy defeated the incumbent Republican governor Edmund N. Morrill in the