His parents were members of the Church of the Brethren (colloquially called "Tunkers" or "Dunkers" in the United States).

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.

[2] Leedy moved to Coffey County, Kansas, near Le Roy in 1880, where he purchased land for a farm.

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.

At the Populist Party's 1896 convention, delegates chose Leedy as their gubernatorial nominee over Congressman William A.

In 1901, Leedy moved to Alaska, where he discovered a gold mine and consequently became very wealthy, and practiced law despite having no formal legal training.

He received more than 16 percent of the vote but came in last behind Conservative candidate Fred Davis and the defeated Liberal incumbent John McArthur.

[10] Leedy ran for a seat to the House of Commons of Canada as a Non-Partisan League candidate in the electoral district of Victoria in the 1917 federal election.