Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 610] a prosperous farmer of Shenango township, who is carrying on farming operations on his farm, situated in the suburbs of New Castle, was born Oct. 9, 1837. He is the third of that name in direct descent. His father, Seth Rigby, was born in the Shenandoah Valley and came to Lawrence County in 1801, when a boy, his father settling where our subject resides. The father of our subject was a soldier in the War of 1812, in which he served one year, and was a participant in the battle of Lake Erie; his death took place at the age of eighty-seven years. He was a carpenter and cabinet-maker and worked at his trade many years at New Castle. He was second in a family of seven sons and two daughters born to his parents; the sons all became skilled mechanics. He married Margaret Brady, who was born in Westmoreland County, a daughter of Samuel Brady, who was a native of Germany. Our subject's grandfather, Seth Rigby, was born near Leeds, Eng., was a carpenter and wagon-maker by trade, and lived to the exceptional age of ninety-five years; he married a Miss Clark, who was born in Virginia of Irish ancestry.
Our subject was reared on the paternal farm on Sheep's Hill, and attended the district schools till he was nineteen years old; from that age till the outbreak of the war he lived with his father, and gave him all his time and earnings. He enlisted in Co. B, 14th Reg. Pa. Vol. Cav., and served two years and ten months, mostly in West Virginia and Shenandoah Valley. He was in many skirmishes, was under fire fifty-two times, and fought in the battles of Winchester, Haysville, Droop Mt., Rocky Gap, Opecan Creek, Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill, and Kearnstown. On his return from the army he worked eighteen months in the quarries, was then for a time on the farm, and then at Rosena Furnace for two years, living in New Castle during this period. Since then he has been living on the farm.
He was married in 1872 near New Castle to Elizabeth Carson, who was born in Allegheny City, and was a daughter of Alexander and Susan (Kirkpatrick) Carson. Alexander Carson was a carpenter by trade, and died from the effects of wounds received at the battle of Petersburg; he was a son of Hugh Carson. The following children have graced our subject's marriage: Ida May, who married Samuel Parks, and has one daughter, Mabel Ruth; Harvey E., who married Jennie Shoaf, and has a little girl, Pearl; Margaret Luella; Robert Perry; Hugh; Susan; and Frank, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Rigby are members of the Disciples Church. Mr. Rigby is a firm Republican. He is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and Knights of Labor, and was formerly a member of the I. O. O. F. This is, in brief, the outline of Mr. Rigby's life. As a young man, he was industrious and persevering, not easily daunted by difficulties or reverses. As a soldier he was brave and patriotic, and served his country with, the same or even greater fidelity than he would have attended to his own interests at home. As a citizen he sustains all the qualities of his earlier manhood, and enjoys the respect and esteem of his friends and neighbors.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
Previous Biography | Table of Contents | Next Biography
Explanation/Caution | Lawrence Co. Maps | Lawrence Co. Histories
Updated: 23 Jul 2001