Thomas LIGGETT, one of the enterprising business men of Mount Ayr, where he carries on a fine grocery, is a native of Ohio, born on a farm in Union County, March 2, 1841, a son of Henry and Jane (BROWN) LIGGETT, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Scotland, coming to America with her parents when four years of age.

They were married in Xenia, Ohio, and settled in Union County, where our subject grew to manhood, his youth being spent in assisting his father clear and improve their farm from a heavily-timbered tract of land.

Thomas LIGGETT went to Livingston County, Illinois, in 1858, where he taught a district school, remaining there until the summer of 1861, when he went to Monmouth, Illinois.

At the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he enlisted [as a Private on August 10, 1861 from Sumner, Illinois] in Company C, Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry, when he was sent to Missouri. The first battle in which he participated was at Pea Ridge, when he was transferred to the Army of the Tennessee, and was at the siege of Corinth. In September, 1862, he was transferred [April 30, 1864] to the Army of the Cumberland, and took part in the battle of Perryville and in the campaign of Stone River. The following spring he was in the Tullahoma campaign, then went to Bridgeport and through Georgia, and took part in the battle of Chickamauga, where he was wounded, being shot through the cheek, the ball coming out at the back of the neck. He was then sent to the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, remaining there till the expiration of his term of service, when he was mustered out in September, 1864.

He then returned to Monmouth, Illinois, where he remained six years, during which time he followed the vocation of a teacher. He was married in February [18] 1869, to Miss Catherine ARTHUR (sic), a native of Warren county, Illinois. They have four children living - two sons and two daughters.

In 1870 Mr. LIGGETT went to Grand Prairie, his father's old home, where he had died in 1862, and there he followed farming on the homestead for two years, when he sold the farm and returned to Warren County, Illinois, and was engaged in the hardware business in the town of Alexis for two years.

In the spring of 1875 he came with his family to Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa, and soon formed a partnership with John R. HENDERSON and engaged in the grocery business, on the south side of the square. Mr. HENDERSON retired from the firm in the following spring, when Mr. LIGGETT took John S. KIRVY as a partner, with whom he was associated until July, 1878, when Mr. LIGGETT retired from the firm.

He was then nominated clerk of the courts on the Republican ticket, being elected by a majority of seventy-eight votes, assuming the duties of his office in January, 1879; was re-elected in 1880 by a majority of 600 votes, and in 1882 was again elected to the same office, holding that position, in all, six years, after which he embarked in the grocery business, and by his courteous and affable manner, and strict attention to the wants of his many customers, he has built up a good trade and gained the confidence and respect of the community.

Both Mr. and Mrs. LIGGETT are members of the United Presbyterian church, of which he is serving as elder.

Twice-A-Week News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
June 12, 1896

Like many more of our leading citizens, Mr. LIGGETT has taught in the district schools. He is a native of the Buckeye State - but of choice a Hawkeye - having made his advent in Union county, Ohio, March 2, 1841. At the breaking out of the [Civil] war, Mr. LIGGETT was in Monmouth, Illinois, where he enlisted in Co. C 36th Illinois Inf., his first battle beint that of the Battle of Pea Ridge. He escaped pretty luckily until the battle of Chickamauga, when he was shot in the cheek, the ball coming out at the back of the neck. He still carries evidence of that "Johnnie's" markmanship.

In [February 18] 1869, Mr. LIGGETT was married to Miss Catharine ARTHUR [in Warren County, Illinois], and they have four (sic) children, two daughters [sic, daughters Bessie, Mary, and Margaret; Pearl died in childwood] two sons [Arthur and Harry of Mount Ayr]. They moved to Mt. Ayr in the spring of 1875, when he formed a partnership with J. R. HENDERSON in the grocery business and has continued in the same occupation nearly ever since excepting the three terms he successfully served this county as clerk of the courts. He is now with his brother, J. Hall LIGGETT, conducting a very successful grocery business, as elswhere noted.

NOTE: Thomas LIGGETT, the son of Henry and Jane (BROWN) LIGGETT was born in Ohio, March 2, 1841. He died on January 16, 1907. Catherine Isabel (ARTHURS) LIGGETT was born on January 30, 1846, and died December 18, 1923. Thomas' mother Jane (BROWN) LIGGETT was born in 1816, and died January 2, 1891. They were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Iowa.

Submission by Mike Avitt
Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2010

NOTE: Thomas LIGGETT died January 16, 1907. Catherine Isabel (ARTHURS) LIGGETT was born in Warren County, Illinois January 30, 1846, and died December 18, 1923. Thomas and Catherine were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. Thomas and Catherine were the parents of six children:

1) Bessie LIGGETT
2) Mary LIGGETT, died in childhood
3) Pearl LIGGETT, died in childhood
4) Margaret LIGGETT
5) Arthur LIGGETT
6) Harry LIGGETT

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 278-79, 1887.

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System Database

American Civil War Soldiers, ancestry.com

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2009; updated September of 2010

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