My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH SHIGLEY. The results of a steady career of industry and frugal living are amply illustrated in the person of Mr. Shigley, who spent the greater part of his life in farming pursuits, but who is now retired from active labor, and enjoying the fruits of his toil at a pleasant home in Jamestown, Greene County. He removed to the city in 1882, from Ross Township, where he had spent his entire life up to that time. He was born there September 19, 1821, and there spent the active years of his life, his labors being crowned with success. He was at one time the owner of more than six hundred acres of land, the most of which he sold and gave to his children in 1882. In addition to general farming he made a specialty of live-stock, mostly swine, of which he raised large numbers, and which yielded him handsome profits.

Mr. Shigley acquired his early education in the district schools of his native township, and when a boy became familiar with the various pursuits of farm life. He chose this as his life vocation, and when ready to establish a home of his own, was wedded, in 1844, to Miss Anna Prugh. This lady was born and reared in Preble County, this State, and later, prior to her marriage, was for some time a resident of Montgomery County. She became the mother of seven children, and departed this life at her home in Jamestown, in August, 1886, at the age of sixty years. The second child of this marriage, a son, Henry F., was married, and died at his home in Ross Township, April 11, 1878; Mattie C. died when an interesting maiden of sixteen years; John W. married Miss Virginia Rakestraw; David C. took to wife Miss Eliza Short; Viola C. became the wife of S. C. Collett; Luella M. married Jasper L. Chapman; Elmer married Miss Minnie Paulin. With one exception they are all residents of Greene County. John lives in Monroe County, Ind.

In 1887 Mr. Sliigley contracted a second marriage with Mrs. Mary B. Atkinson, a native of Franklin County, Vt. She was born April 27, 1827, and came to Greene County with her parents, Seth and Nancy (Blake) Phillips, when a child of five years. The Phillips family settled first in Union County, where they lived for a number of years, and where the mother died at the early age of twenty-seven. Although so young she had already given birth to ten children. Mr. Phillips survived his wife very many years, living to the advanced age of eighty-one, and spending his last days in Licking County, this State, he traced his ancestry to England.

To Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson there was born a family of six children, one of whom, Charles F., died at the age of five years. The survivors are recorded as follows: John O. married Miss Alice Wise, and lives on a farm in Clark County, this State; Ann M. is the wife of Charles B. Pennington, a retired farmer, and living in Jamestown; Laura A. is the wife of M. O. Larkins, and they live on a farm in Greene County; Seth M. is unmarried, occupies himself as a traveling salesman for a watch company, and makes his headquarters in Chicago, Ill.; Guinn S. is the wife of James Armstrong, who has a wholesale millinery house in Ft. Wayne, Ind.

The subject of this notice is the son of George and Olive (Franklin) Shigley, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and the father of German ancestry. The mother was of English descent, and a descendant of the family to which the famous philosopher, Benjamin Franklin, belonged. Mr. Shigley came to Ross County, this State, in 1805, where he was married. In 1812 he removed to Greene County, and settled on a tract of new land in Ross Township, from which he improved a farm. Later he enlisted in the War of 1812, participating in many of its important battles. After leaving the army he settled down upon his farm, and lived to be seventy years old. His wife died at the age of sixty-five. They were most excellent people, active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and sought to do good at every opportunity. They were devoted to their children, and for their sakes endured toil and hardships in order that they might escape much of which they themselves were obliged to contend with. Their names are held in loving remembrance by their children, and to this day tears come into the eyes of Mr. Shigley as he remembers the sacrifices which those loving parents endured, and their uniform kindness to him from the time of his remembrance until they passed away.

Following in the footsteps of his honored parents, Mr. Shigley has for many long years been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which his estimable wife also belongs. They are both warmly interested in the success of the temperance movement, and strong advocates of prohibition. Their aim in life has been to perform kindly acts whenever they had opportunity, and to do the most good to the greatest number around them. In view of this it is hardly necessary to state that they have hosts of friends who are watching them with kindly solicitude as they travel down the sunset hill of life, and who will hold their names in loving remembrance after they have departed hence.