Quigg, A. R.
A. R. Quigg, pioneer of Elk City Kansas
Taken from Montgomery County History 1903
A hardware merchant of Elk City and one of the oldest residents of Louisburg township. Mr. A. R. Quigg holds an honored place in the hearts of a large body of its citizens. His connection with the remarkable development which has come to Montgomery county in the past, has been of a most substantial nature, and places him in the list worthy of the special mention accorded those whose names appear in this volume.
Mr. Quigg first came to Kansas in 1866. Remaining a short time in each of Johnson and Franklin counties, he then settled in Leroy, Coffey county, and engaged, as a carpenter and builder. The year 1870 marks his coming to this county and his location in Elk City, where he engaged in the cabinet making and undertaking business. This he abandoned for the hardware business, in 1878 , and his connection with this business has been continuous and successful to this date. Elk City has had no more earnest advocate of its interests than he. In season and out, he has spent time and money in the advancement of its interests and now takes a pardonable pride in the evidences of its growth. He has served the people of his township in several of the minor offices - treasurer and clerk - and has used his influence, at all times, in furthering projects which had for their object, the moral and material, advancement of his community. He votes the Republican ticket with regularity and is looked upon as a valued worker in the ranks of that party.
Noting, briefly, the salient points in the ancestral history of our esteemed subject, his father, Joseph Quigg, was a Pennsylvanian, born in 1811, and with his parents went to Indiana at twelve years of age. When he grew to manhood, he adopted farming as an occupation, following that till his death in 1873. He was a man of intensely patriotic mold, an out and out Abolitionist, fairly worrying himself sick over the fact that he was beyond the age to enter the army as a volunteer soldier. He married an Ohio girl, of the name of Lydia Swain, and became the father of nine children,as follows: Ira, of Indiana; A. R. the subject of this sketch; Sallie, widow of Harvey Mendenhall; Cyrus Hl, of Indiana; and Frank. Those deceased are Eunice, William, Mattie and John.
A. R. Quigg was born in Wayne county, Indiana, April 14, 1843. He education was such as could be procured in the short winter months in the district school. He helped his parents on the farm most dutifully until the date of his enlistment in the army, August 6, 1861 when he went forth as a sacrifice, if need be, for an undivided country. He enrolled, as a private of Company E Sixty-ninth Indiana Volunteer infantry, and in the very first battle, that of Richmond, Kentucky, was severely wounded. He remained in the service until his honorable discharge, on the 8th of August 1863.
The 4th of May, 1871, was a day made memorable int he life of our subject, by his marriage to the lady who now presides over his home, and who has been a splendid partner of his joys and sorrows. Mrs. Quigg, maiden name was M. J. Sutton. She was born in the Buckeye State and is the daughter of Enoch Sutton. Four children have come to bless the marriage of our subject and his wife; Mrs. W. E. Johnson, of Joplin, Missouri, whose three children are: Ralph, Paul and Helen; Bertha, Emma and Frank.
Successful as a business man, honored by his fellow townsmen, and revered by a large circle of friends and acquaintances in the county, Mr. Quigg is passing into happy and peaceful old age, conscious of having measured up to all the requirements of a good and loyal citizen.