Elmer Nelson Shigley
Elmer Nelson Shigley, of Ross township, proprietor of a farm on the Cedarville-Jamestown pike, rural mail route No. 3, out of Cedarville. was born on the farm on which he now lives and has lived there all his life. He was born on February 25, 1861, son of Joseph and Anna (Prugh) Shigley, the latter of whom was born on a farm six miles south of Dayton, in the neighlaoring county of Montgomery, in 1826, a daughter of John F. and Rebecca (Nicodemus) Prugh. who had come to Ohio from Maryland and after a sometime residence in Preble county had moved over into Montgomery county, where John F. Prugh operated a mill and became the owner of three or four hundred acres of land. He and his wife were originally Methodists, hut later became affiliated with the Reformed church in the neighborhood of their home.
They were the parents of three sons and four daughters. Joseph Shigley was born on a farm in Ross township, this county, a half mile southeast of the place where his son Elmer is now living, September 19, 1820, son of George and Olivet (Franklin) Shigley, natives of Virginia. George Shigley came to Ohio as a young man and located in Ross county in 1805, presently moving to Greene county and establishing his home in Ross township in 1812, becoming the owner there of a farm of about two hundred acres. During the War of 1812 he gave service as a soldier. He and his wife were Methodists and the first services conducted by the Methodists in that community were held in their house. When a congregation was organized at Jamestown they became affiliated with the same. George Shigley died at his home in Ross township on May 14, 1867, he then being seventy-seven years of age, and was buried in the cemetery at Jamestown. His wife died at the age of sixty-five. Of the children born to them five sons and five daughters grew to maturity and as most of these married and reared families, the Shigley connection in the succeeding generation became a quite numerous one hereabout.
After his marriage in 1844 to Anna Prugh, Joseph Shigley established his home on the farm on which his son Elmer now lives, buying there a tract of two hundred and fifty acres, and enlarged his holdings until he eventually became the owner of more than six hundred acres, which upon his retirement from the active labors of the farm in 1881 he divided among his children and then moved to Jamestown, where his last days were spent. His wife died there in August, 1884. and he later married Mrs. Mary Atkinson, who survived him, his death occurring in November, 1890, and hers, in 1893. Joseph Shigley was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Jamestown. Politically, he was a Republican and had served the public as township trustee and as township assessor. To Joseph and Anna (Prugh) Shigley were born seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the others being John W., who is now living retired with his children in Silvercreek township; Henry F., who died at his home in Ross township in 1878, three years after his marriage; David C., a retired farmer, now living at Jamestown; Viola C, a widow, now living at Jamestown, who has been twice married, her first husband having been S. S. Collett and her second, Frank Kelly; Ella, now living at Washington Court House, this state, widow of Jasper L. Chapman, and Mattie, who died at the age of sixteen years.
Elmer N. Shigley grew up on the home farm in Ross township and received his schooling in the Oak Grove school, After his father's retirement in 1881 he continued to live on the home farm, making his home with his sister, Mrs. Chapman, and her husband until his marriage three years later when his father gave him a part of the farm. To that portion he added by purchase until he now is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, including the tract on which stands the brick farm house erected by the father there in 1854 and in which he was born, and there he makes his home. Mrs. Shipley is also a member of one of Greene county's old families, the Paullins, further mention of which pioneer family is made elsewhere in this volume. She also was born in Ross township, Minnie Paullin, daughter of Enos and Sarah Paullin, both now deceased, and she was married to Mr. Shigley on November 6. 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Shigley are members of the Christian church at Jamestown and he has served as a member of the board of trustees of the same. Politically, he is a Republican, as was his father.
From Portrait and Biographical Album of Clark and Greene Counties, Chapman Bros., Chicago, published 1890