CHARLTON M. LIGGETT is a prosperous young merchant of Independence, Penn., and a son of David A., whose father, Thomas Liggett, came from Scotland with a brother, and after landing in America, remained a short time in Baltimore, Md. They made a permanent settlement in Washington county, Penn., where Thomas was united in marriage with Parmelia Dempster. The young people settled in Independence township, where the following children were born and reared: Joshua, Elizabeth (deceased), James (deceased), Harriet (widow of Laban Headington), Robert, Mary Ann (deceased widow of John Hemphill), William, Thomas, David A., and Anderson. Mr. Liggett was a man of perfect physical proportions, and was noted for his firm character and strict integrity. He died January 29, 1861, his widow on September 17, 1882. David A. Liggett was born September 1, 1831, on his father's farm in Independence township, and received his early education in the country schools, afterward taking a course at the West Alexander (Penn.) Academy, which is now abandoned, but at that time was a popular and flourishing institution. After leaving school he followed the mercantile business in Independence, this county, for thirty years; then became a traveling salesman, visiting the principal cities and towns of western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and West Virginia. This business afforded him an excellent knowledge of that portion of the country, with which he became very familiar during sixteen years of life as a commercial traveler. On August 10, 1852, he was united in marriage with Esther Armstrong, who was born January 15, 1832, daughter of James Armstrong, of Hopewell township. The children born to them are Charlton M., Emma J. (Mrs. J. T. Raybuck, of Omaha, Neb.), Ella L. (wife of Rev. John Buckey, an M. E. minister of Holbrook, Mass.), Annie F. (wife of Rev. A. H. McKee, an M. E. minister of Hamilton, Ind.), Nettie S. (married to Rev. J. C. Burnworth, an M. E. minister of Newton, Greene Co., Penn.), Carrie A. (Mrs. William Kinnaman, wife of a farmer of Cass county, Ind.), Lizzie Bertha (living at home), Orie W. (a traveling salesman) and Grace E. (living with her parents). This family are among the leaders of the community, as are the other representatives of the name. Politically Mr. Liggett has always been a Democrat. Charlton M. Liggett was born May 18, 1853, at McConnell's Mill, near Canonsburg, Penn. During his boyhood his parents moved to the village of Independence, where he attended the common schools, and assisted his father as clerk in the store. He afterward took a position with the wholesale grocery house of J. A. Miller, of Wheeling, W. Va., with whom he remained two years. He then accepted a similar situation at an increased salary with Nicholas Schultz, of the same city, where he remained about the same length of time. The experience thus gained had given him much valuable information concerning mercantile life, and also made him acquainted with the leading merchants of eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, advantages which he was not slow to appreciate. After leaving the employ of Mr. Schultz, he engaged in the manufacture of cigars, being the proprietor of a factory in Steubenville, Ohio. In the year 1877 he sold this business, and returning to Washington county again entered mercantile life, in which he is now engaged. On May 6, 1880, he was married to Clara A., daughter of W. A. Smith, a resident of Brooke county, W. Va. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Liggett were Mabel C., Harry H., Sheldon S. (deceased), Merwyin, Roscoe, Esther and Paul W. "Charley," as Mr. Liggett is familiarly called by his many friends, is a very popular and prosperous merchant. Politically he is a Democrat, and although that party is in the minority in his neighborhood, he has held various offices of trust, to which he has been elected by admiring friends, regardless of party connection. The efficient manner in which he has discharged such duties is evidence of the good judgment of those who elected him to the positions.

Text taken from page 892 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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