"History of Greene Co., Ohio - Its People, Industries and Institutions Vol II" by M.A. Broadstone, 1918. p 584. "Joseph Shigley was born on a farm in Ross Township 1/2 mile southeast of his son's (Elmer) farm on 9/12/1820 (actually 16 Dec 1819). Son of George and Olivet (Franklin) Shigley, natives of Virginia. Joseph marrried Anna Prugh in 1844, then settles on the 250 acre farm where his son now lives. The farm was later expanded to 600 acres. Retired in 1881, divided up the land amongst his children and moved into Jamestown. Anna died 8/1884. He then married Mrs. Mary Atkinson who died in 1893. He died 11/1890. Member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Jamestown. Republican. Served as Township Trustee and Township Assessor. 7 Children: 1. John W. Living retired with his children in Silver Creek Township 2. Henry F. Died at home in Ross Township in 1878, 3 years after his marriage. 3. David C. Retired farmer in Jamestown. 4. Viola C. A widow now living in Jamestown. M. 1)S.S. Collett m. 2)Frank Kelly. 5. Ella Now living in Washington Court House, OH. Widow of Jasper L. Chapman. 6. Elmer Nelson 7. Mattie Died when 16. Joseph Shigley built a brick farmhouse in 1854, where Elmer Nelson was born and resided at the time of the book's publishing."
"Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio" 1890, p. 647-648. Joseph Shigley. The results of a steady career of industry and frugal living are amply illustrated in the person of Mr. Shigley, who spent the greater part of his life in farming pursuits, but who is now retired from active labor, and enjoying the fruits of his toil at a pleasant home in Jamestown, Greene County. He removed to the city in 1882, from Ross Township, where he had spent his entire life up to that time. He was born there September 19, 1821, and there spent the active years of his life, his labors being crowned with sucess. He was at one time the owner of more than 600 acres of land, the most of which he sold and gave to his children in 1882. In addition to general farming he made a specialty of livestock, mostly swine, of which he raised large numbers, and which yielded him handsome profits. Mr. Shigley acquired his early education in the district schools of his native township, and when a boy became familiar with the various pursuits of farm life. He chose this as his life vocation, and when ready to establish a home of his own, was wedded, in 1844, to Miss Anna Prugh. This lady was born and reared in Preble County, this State, and later prior to marriage, was for some time a resident of Montgomery County. She became the mother of seven children, and departed this life at her home in Jamestown, in August, 1886, at the age of sixty years. The second child of this marriage, a son, Henry F., was married, and died at his home in Ross Township, April 11, 1878; Mattie C. died when an interesting maiden of sixteen years; John W. married Miss Virginia Rakestraw; David C. took to wife Miss Eliza Short; Viola C. became the wife of S.C. Collett; Luella M. married Jasper L. Chapman; Elmer married Miss Minnie Paulin. With one exception they are all residents of Greene County. John lives in Monroe County, Ind. In 1887 Mr. Shigley contracted a second marriage with Mrs. Mary B. Atkinson, a native of Franklin County, Vt. She was born April 27, 1827, and came to Greene County with her parents, Seth and Nancy (Blake) Phillips, when a child of five years. The Phillips family settled first in Union County, where they lived for a number of years, and where the mother died at the early age of twenty-seven. Although so young she had already given birth to ten children. Mr. Phillips survived his wife very many years, living to the advanced age of eighty-one, and spending his last years in Licking County, this State. He traced his ancestry to England. To Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson there was born a family of six children, one of whom, Charles F., died at the age of five years. The survivors are recorded as follows: John O. married Miss Alice Wise, and lives on a farm in Clark County, this State; Ann M. is the wife of Charles B. Pennington, a retired farmer, and living in Jamestown; Laura A. is the wife of M.O. Larkins, and they live on a farm in Greene County; Seth M. is unmarried, occupies himself as a traveling salesman for a watch company, and makes his headquarters in Chicago, Ill; Guinn S. is the wife of James Armstrong, who has a wholesale millinery house in Ft. Wayne, Ind. The subject of this notice is the son of George and Olive (Franklin) Shigley, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and the father of German ancestry. The mother was of English descent, and a descendant of the family to which the famous philosopher, Benjamin Franklin, belonged. Mr. Shigley came to Ross County, this State, in 1805, where he was married. In 1812 he removed to Greene County, and settled on a tract of new land in Ross Township, from which he improved a farm. Later he enlisted in the War of 1812, participating in many of its important battles. After leaving the army he settled down upon his farm, and lived to be seventy years old. His wife died at the age of sixty-five. They were most excellent people, active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and sought to do good at every opportunity. They were devoted to their children, and for their sakes endured toil and hardships in order that they might escape much of wich they themselves were obliged to contend with. Their names are held in loving remembrance by their children, and to this day tears come into the eyes of Mr. Shigley as he remembers the sacrifices which those loving parents endured, and their uniform kindness to him from the time of his remembrance until they passed away. Following in the footsteps of his honored parents, Mr. Shigley has for many long years been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which his estimable wife also belongs. They are both warmly interested in the sucess of the temperance movement, and strong advocates of prohibition. Their aim in life has been to perform kind acts whenever they had opportunity, and to do the most good to the greatest number around them. In view of this it is hardly necessary to state that they have hosts of friends who are watching them with kindly solicitude as they travel down the sunset hill of life, and who will hold their names in loving remembrance after they have departed hence.
Joseph was born at
Ross Twp., Greene Co., Ohio, on 16 December 1819. He was the son of
George Shigley and
Olivet Franklin. He married
Anna Marie Prugh at
Montgomery Co., Ohio, on 7 October 1845. Joseph was listed as the head of a family on the 1850 Census at
Ross Twp., Greene Co., Ohio. Joseph was listed as the head of a family on the 1860 Census at
Ross Twp., Greene Co., Ohio. Joseph was listed as the head of a family on the 1870 Census at
Ross Twp., Greene Co., Ohio. He married
Mary B. Phillips in 1887. Joseph died on 13 February 1890 at
Greene Co., Ohio, at age 70. His body was interred in February 1890 at
Jamestown, Greene Co., Ohio, at Jamestown Cemetery.