LEGGETT, Richard Hemming - 1890 Bio (1811-1884)

LEGGETT, CHEEK, VIERS, FERRELL, HOCHULY, SMITH, COULTER, PHELPS, CUNNINGHAM, WHITING

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/13/2007 at 20:55:20

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 288 and 291

Richard H. LEGGETT, deceased, was for many years one of the prominent and enterprising citizens of Fairfield, where he located in 1855. As the proprietor of the Leggett House he had an extended acquaintance, as a business man his reputation was unmarred, and as a citizen he ranked among the best. He was born in Washington County, Pa., March 25, 1811, and was a son of Jesse and Mary (CHEEK) LEGGETT. The LEGGETT family is of English origin and was founded in America at an early day, its representatives becoming residents of Maryland.

When six years of age, Mr. LEGGETT left his native State and removed with the family to Carroll County, Ohio, where he received a common-school education. Later he engaged in merchandising in that county and afterwards engaged in hotel keeping. It was also during his residence in the Buckeye State that he raised a regiment for the Mexican War and was commissioned Colonel, but they were never called into active duty on account of the termination of the war.

In Jefferson County, Ohio, on the 25th of April, 1833, Mr. LEGGETT was united in marriage with Basheba VIERS, who was born in Island Creek, Jefferson County, Ohio, April 29, 1815, and is a daughter of Elisha W. and Margaret (FERRELL) VIERS. Her father was born in Montgomery County, Md., of English descent and her mother in Virginia of Irish parentage. In 1855, Mr. LEGGETT and his family started for Iowa. For eighteen years prior to his emigration westward he had engaged in hotel keeping in Carrollton, Ohio, and on his arrival in Fairfield he embarked in the same line of business. To the hotel which he opened he gave the name of Leggett House and to this day it remains the leading establishment of its kind in the city. In fact it is almost without competition and was raised to its present high standard of excellence by its founder.

Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. LEGGETT, three died in childhood and six grew to mature years, two sons and four daughters -- Samantha, wife of Rev. John HOCHULY, of Fairfield; Ella, who became the wife of Dr. Thomas SMITH, of New Philadelphia, Ohio, died March 15, 1857; James Milton married Jessie COULTER and died April 15, 1890, in Chicago; Permelia, is the wife of George W. PHELPS, of Fairfield; Charles D., Judge of the District Court wedded Beatrice CUNNINGHAM and resides in Fairfield; Frank E. is the wife of Charles WHITING of Chicago.

In earlier years Mr. LEGGETT was a Democrat but from the time of the Lincoln campaign until his death he was an ardent supporter of Republican principles. Socially he was a member of Clinton Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M. His wife united in 1858 with the Presbyterian Church, of which she has since been a consistent member. Since her husband's death, which occurred on the 8th of September, 1884, she has leased the hotel but is still one of its boarders.

As a landlord, Mr. LEGGETT was deservedly popular. His long experience had given him a thorough knowledge of the business and the ability to judge correctly of human nature. While his house was always as perfect in its appointment as possible, in keeping with the importance of the town, his table was ever supplied with the best the market afforded. He was genial and courteous and held the good will of a large circle of patrons who esteemed him as one of the best landlords in the West. He was a man whom everybody respected for his sterling integrity and manly independence of character. His life was in harmony with his profession and the respect and confidence with which he was held by all was but the natural sequence of his consistent living.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.