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    Welcome to the Official Website
    for Keith Smith's book
    3D paperback version the book An American Patriot

    An American Patriot:

    A Revolutionary War Soldiers Fight
    for Liberty and Love
    Now Available!
    Truth lies in the grave,
    in the dark places where no new adventures live
    but the living endlessly retell
    stories of those who’ve gone before.
    We are not gone if someone speaks our name.
    About
    PXL_20260322_131913157.PORTRAIT~2.jpg
    About the Author

    Keith Smith is a devoted student of history whose passion for genealogy has shaped the way he understands both the past and himself. For Keith, tracing family lines is far more than compiling names and dates—it is a journey of discovery into the lives, choices, and circumstances that came together to form his own story. He is deeply motivated to learn not only how he came to be, but also who helped make him who he is today.

    Keith finds particular joy in uncovering unknown or long-forgotten individuals in his family tree. Each discovery offers a new window into the past, revealing people whose lives were shaped by their time, yet whose experiences still resonate. He is fascinated by what made these individuals unique—their struggles, ambitions, beliefs, and the quiet moments that defined them. Accuracy matters deeply to him, and he is committed to preserving his family’s history in a way that remains faithful to documented records and the broader historical narrative.

    As he studies his ancestors, Keith strives to move beyond the written word. He seeks to understand who they were as people, not just as historical entries. This pursuit has taken him to places his family once lived, walked, and fought, allowing him to connect physically and emotionally with their world.

    His interests are especially rooted in the colonial period and the American Revolution, eras that represent profound transformation, sacrifice, and purpose. Coupled with a deep appreciation for American military history, these passions fuel his ongoing research and writing. Through his work, Keith aims to honor the lives of those who came before him and ensure their stories are remembered with integrity, depth, and respect.

    My Book

    War tested his courage. Love gave him purpose.


    Restless wanderlust first carried Thomas Elwell from the Virginia frontier into Lord
    Dunmore’s War, but it was the fiery call of liberty that bound him to the American
    Revolution. He survived starvation, disease, and the bitter cold of Valley Forge. He
    fought through brutal combat, endured imprisonment by the British, and carried the
    grief of losing his closest friend.


    But amid the bloodshed, Thomas discovered something he never expected: hope. In
    his darkest days, a courageous young woman named Elizabeth nursed him back to
    strength, leaving him with a vision of life beyond the battlefield. Long after the war
    ended, her memory would ignite a new kind of quest: one not for glory or vengeance,
    but for love.


    Told by his descendant, Keith Smith, An American Patriot: A Revolutionary War
    Soldier’s Fight for Liberty and Love brings to life both the grit of America’s fight for
    independence and the humanity that carried one soldier beyond the war.

    My Books

    "It’s wonderful to see a genealogist like Keith Smith take his family research to the next level by publishing it in An American Patriot: A Revolutionary War Soldier's Fight for Liberty and Love. This engaging work not only honors his 5th great-grandfather’s courageous service during the Revolutionary War but also celebrates the legacy of his own father, whose passion for family history inspired this journey.

    As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence, Keith’s book stands as a patriotic tribute to the ordinary men whose extraordinary sacrifices helped secure the blessings of liberty that Americans enjoy today. By bringing Thomas Elwell’s life vividly to the page, Keith has beautifully demonstrated how telling our family’s stories in an entertaining and meaningful way helps secure their place in both family and American history, inspiring future generations to cherish and protect the legacy of freedom they handed down."

    Lisa Louise Cooke, international speaker, author, and host of the Genealogy Gems Podcast.

    "A well-researched, briskly paced historical novel that makes the most of the author’s unique family history. This well-executed debut novel would be a fine complement to Ken Burns’ recent (and excellent) documentary about the Revolutionary War."---Kirkus Reviews

    Upcoming Events

    OHSSAR Annual Meeting - Speaker

    24 Apr 2026 - 26 Apr 2026

    More Information Coming!

    OGS Annual Conference - Vendor

    29 Apr 2026 - 2 May 2026

    More Information Coming!

    Family Tree Magazine - Article

    March/April 2026 Issue

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    Maineville, OH 45039

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