My Genealogy Hound

HAMPTON HAGGERTY. One of the brave soldiers of the Civil War who fought in the defense of the Old Flag is the subject of this brief biographical notice, who is now engaged in the peaceful occupation of tilling the soil of section 17, Howard Township, Cass County. Born in Hancock County, Ohio, on the 1st of March, 1844, he is the son of Thomas and Nancy (Heaton) Haggerty, natives of New Jersey. The Haggerty family is of direct Irish descent, the great-grandfather of Hampton having been born in Ireland.

After the marriage of Thomas and Nancy Haggerty, they removed to Ohio, where the father followed the occupation of a farmer. In 1848 they came to Michigan and located in Niles Township, Berrien County, where both died — the father at the age of sixty-five years, and the mother when forty years old. They were the parents of nine children, there being four daughters and five sons. Eight of the number grew to manhood and womanhood, our subject being the next to the youngest. He was a child of four years when he accompanied his parents to Michigan, and one year later, when too young to realize his great loss, he was orphaned by his mother’s death. He attended school in Niles Township, Berrien County, and grew to manhood sturdy, ambitious and energetic.

When the Civil War broke out, Mr. Haggerty was a youth of seventeen years, but notwithstanding the fact that he was a mere lad, his patriotic spirit was fired, and he enlisted in the defense of the Old Flag. In 1861 his name was enrolled as a member of Company L, Second Michigan Cavalry, in which he served until the close of the war. From the ranks he was promoted to the position of Corporal, and in that capacity participated in many of the important engagements in Sherman’s march to the sea, proceeding thence to Washington. In 1865 he received his discharge at Nashville, Tenn., and returning to Michigan resumed the ordinary pursuits of life.

For about two years Mr. Haggerty worked on a farm in the employ of others. In 1867 he married Fannie, the daughter of William and Mary Lambert. Mrs. Haggerty was born in England, and in her childhood accompanied her parents to Michigan, in 1846, and has since made her home in this State. After his marriage, Mr. Haggerty located on a rented farm in Niles Township, belonging to Judge Jewett, and three years later he rented his father-in-law’s farm, remaining on that place for three years. He then purchased the old Ives farm, four miles west of Niles, consisting of one hundred acres, which he cultivated for three years. He then sold the property and purchased from H. N. Cameron the place where he now resides. He owns one hundred and sixty acres, all under cultivation with the exception of fifteen acres of timber-land. On this place he conducts a general farming and stock-raising business with efficiency and success.

It is worthy of note that our subject was the youngest soldier in his regiment, and that he and three of his brothers served for four years in the service of the Union, enlisting in the year 1861, and receiving an honorable discharge in 1865. None of them was ever in the hospital or wounded at any time during the war, and none of the four draws a pension for services rendered.

All enlisted as private soldiers, and served with valor and distinguished bravery until peace once more reigned throughout the country. Politically, Mr. Haggerty is a Republican, and has served as a member of the School Board.