This file of Biography: Thomas Liggett (b.1842) Metropolis, Massac County, Illinois & his Ancestors 1893 forms part of the vast archive of 4,000+ pages of genealogical records relating to COUNTIES TYRONE, DONEGAL, LONDONDERRY & FERMANAGH provided without charge or subscription by CoTyroneIreland Welcome to the Premier Website & Research Tool for Cos. Tyrone, Donegal, Londonderry & Fermanagh Genealogy (cotyroneireland.com) A complete list of records pertaining to COUNTY TYRONE BIOGRAPHIES on this website can be found at the foot of this file.
THOMAS LIGGETT, a prominent resident of Metropolis, Massac County, was born in Staffordshire, England, June 22, 1842. His father, William Liggett, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and was the son of Andrew and Elizabeth (English) Liggett. The former was born on the same farm upon which he lived when his son William was born, and was descended from Scotch ancestry. His wife was also a native of County Tyrone and of Scotch ancestry. Both she and her husband spent their entire lives in that county, but all of their children came to America. Their names were as follows: America, William, Samuel, Elizabeth, Mary, James, Andrew and Mollie.
William Liggett was reared in Ireland, and at eighteen years of age went to Staffordshire, England, where he was employed in the coal mines of John Bradley & Company eighteen years. In 1857 he came to the United States, accompanied by his wife and two children. He sailed from Liverpool in September in the "Sardinia,"' of New York, and after a voyage of eight weeks landed in New Orleans. He then came by the way of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to Metropolis, and bought land twelve miles from the latter place, engaged in farming and resided there until his death, in 1886, at the age of 67 years. The maiden name of his wife was Maria Parkes; she was born in Staffordshire, England, and was the seventh daughter of William and Mary Parkes. The family of Parkes has been in existence in Staffordshire for more than three hundred years, the name being formerly Parkeshouse, but was shortened by an act of Parliament at the request of the family. Mrs. Liggett is still living in Metropolis, at the age of seventy-three years. She and her husband reared two children, Thomas and Elizabeth, the latter the wife of J. J. Robison, and now living in Metropolis.
Thomas Liggett was fifteen years old when he was brought to this country, and upon landing in the United States the family was without money. The father took sick and the support of the family devolved upon Thomas. When his father bought the land above mentioned he was compelled to go in debt, and afterward, when Thomas was in the army, he saved money which he sent home to pay the debt. He enlisted August 31, 1861, in Company A, Sixth Illinois Cavalry, as a private soldier, and in March, 1863, was promoted to Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant, and served in that capacity until March, 1864. He then re-entered the same company as a private, and in August, 1864, was promoted to be a Corporal. In March, 1865, he was made First Sergeant, and served in that capacity until November, 1865, when he was honorably discharged, having been with his regiment in all its marches, battles and campaigns.
In 1884 our subject commenced business as pension attorney, which he has continued until the present time. On his return from the army his father divided his land with him, and he thus had eighty acres of timber land on which to make his start in life. He built on that place and commenced to clear a farm before his marriage. He also bought other land, until his farm contained two hundred acres, one hundred acres of it cleared, upon which he erected good farm buildings. He lived there until November 24, 1886, when he removed to Metropolis, where he has resided ever since. He was married in 1872 to Martha A. Thompson, who was born in Delaware, the daughter of Rev. Jesse and Ann (Landreth) Thompson. Jesse Thompson was a native of New Jersey, where he was a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church for fifty-six years, and died at New Liberty, Pope County. David Landreth, grandfather of Mrs. Liggett, was a native of Scotland, and came to this country during the Revolutionary War. He was taken prisoner by the British, and when, near the close of the war, he was sent out of camp for water, he made his escape. He was a brother of Cuthbert Landreth, who established the well- known Landreth seed house in Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. Liggett have three children, viz: Martha A., Alice M. and Jessie. The second child died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Liggett are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and great workers in the Sunday-school, of which the former is Secretary. He is a member of Tom Smith Post No. 345, G. A. R., and served as Sergeant Major in 1886 and 1887, and has been Adjutant since 1888. He is a Republican in politics.
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