CHARLES LONGLEY RIGBY

Charles Longley Rigby, residing on section 22, Fremont township, is one of the prominent farmers and stockmen of the county, cultivating a tract of six hundred and forty acres of valuable land within a mile and a half of Stanwood, known as the Evergreen Farm. He is likewise well known as the president of the Union Savings Bank and his name is an honored one in financial circles here. One of the worthy native sons of Cedar county, his birth occurred in Stanwood on the 20th of February, 1874. His paternal grandfather, Washington Rigby, took up his abode among the earliest settlers of this county, coming from Ohio in 1836. Here he entered land and opened up a farm, accumulating almost one thousand acres. This property included the tract of six hundred and forty acres which is now in possession of our subject.

William T. Rigby, the father of Charles L. Rigby, was born in Red Oak township, Cedar county, in 1842, and was here reared and married. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eva Cattron, is a native of Delaware county, Ohio. On reaching mature years he took up general agricultural pursuits, operating and improving the farm of six hundred and forty acres which now belongs to his son. He set out a twenty-acre grove of evergreen and larch trees and devoted his time and energies to farming interests until 1891, when he removed to Mount Vernon in order that his children might enjoy better educational advantages. In 1899 he went to Vicksburg, Mississippi, and has there resided continuously since, being chairman of the National Park Association at that place.

Charles Longley Rigby was reared under the parental roof and obtained his education at Cornell College, being graduated in 1894. He then returned to the old homestead farm in Fremont township and has since been successfully engaged in its operation, the well tilled fields annually yielding golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon them. In connection with the tilling of the soil he buys and feeds stock, fattening from sixteen to twenty carloads of cattle, hogs and sheep annually. He is also a stockholder and for some years was a director of the Union Savings Bank, of which institution he is now the chief executive officer. His understanding of modern banking methods and his diligence and progressive spirit constitute him a valued factor in the successful control and promotion of this enterprise.

On the 23d of March, 1898, at Rockford, Iowa, Mr. Rigby was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Billings, a native of Iowa. Our subject is a republican in politics but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to the blue lodge at Mount Vernon. He enjoys an extensive acquaintance in Cedar, Johnson, Jones and adjoining counties and well merits the regard and esteem which are uniformly accorded him.