THOMAS L. LEGGITT. This successful farmer and old soldier who resides on section 7, Whitley Township, is the son of Thomas N. Leggitt, who was born in Licking County, Ohio, and of Evaline E. Kliver, a native of the same place. There they were married and made their first home and thence removed in course of time to Vigo County, Ind., where they resided a year before coming to Edgar County. There they settled and remained permanently for eleven years, after which they returned to Indiana and purchased a farm in Vigo County where they lived for five years. Thomas N. Leggitt then sold out his Indiana farm and removed to Kansas, settling near Independence where he died in 1889. His bereaved widow survives him and is making her home with her children in Kansas City.

Of the fourteen children of this worthy couple our subject was the third in order of age, being born in Licking County, Ohio, August 9, 1842. He was still residing under the parental roof when the Civil War broke out and President Lincoln made his first call for troops, our young man promptly enlisted in the service of his country, the date of his enlistment being April 20, 1861. He joined Company G, Forty-third Indiana Regiment, and served until August 29, 1862, when he was mustered out of service.

But this short period of warfare did not satisfy the young soldier and he recruited and was mustered in again in Company B, Seventy-first Indiana Regiment, or Sixth Cavalry, serving in that company until September, 1865, with the exception of three months during which he was in Company E, of the same regiment. He was wounded at Moore's Landing, Ark., the ball going through his left hand. All through this period of conflict he was the same brave, unflinching, intrepid soldier, worth of trust and reliance and full of enthusiasm for the old flag and the Union. He never felt that he did or could do too much for his native country and its institutions of liberty.

When the war was over our young hero returned to his father's home in Edgar County, Ill., but remained with him only a few months as he had now resolved to strike out for himself. In March, 1866 he came to Moultrie County and began work by the month, afterward going to the home of an uncle and remaining two years.

In Moultrie County this young man found the lady who was to be his companion through life and was united with her in marriage April 20, 1871. She was a widow at the time of her marriage with him, her name being Mrs. Julia A. Whitfield, nee Reed. She was a native of Moultrie County, having been born here November 11, 1844. After marriage they settled in Whitley Township where he has since been a resident.

The six children who have been granted to Mr. and Mrs. Leggitt are: Thomas L., Clara J., Mary E., Julia E., William A. and Olive A. William A. died when only nine months old but the other children have lived to be the joy and comfort of their affectionate and judicious parents. Mr. Leggitt has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits and is a successful man in his work. One hundred and fifteen acres of rich soil constitutes his farm, upon which he has made excellent improvements. Of his record he may truly feel proud as it proved the stuff of which he was made and all who knew him in that relation are proud to say that he did good service and his full duty by his country in her hour of need. At the time he was mustered out he had the rank of First Corporal. The buildings upon his farm are first-class and his home is a delightful one, within the walls of which he and his amiable wife extend toward their friends a gracious hospitality.

Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, 1891 - p. 212/215

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