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biography
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Liggett, Sidney B., is one of the prominent railroad men of Pittsburg connected
with the traffic west of this city. Born in Pittsburg, May 10,1849, son of John and Catherine (Hutton) Liggett, he is of Scotch-Irish extraction, and connected with some
of the oldest and best families of Pennsylvania. His great-grandfather, Robert Liggett, born in the County Antrim, Ireland, in 1743, came in 1771 to this country with
his brothers, John and James. All three settled in Brandywine, West Nantmeal township, Chester County, Pa. When this part of the country was disturbed by the Revolutionary
War, John and James took up arms and joined Washington's forces. James was subsequently captured by the British, and confined in one of the old hulks used for their
prisoners of war. Robert Liggett moved from Chester to Washington County in 1781. He owned and managed a farm near the "Row-galley Tavern," so called colloquially
from the sign — a galley manned by rowers. He died on his farm in 1806. His wife, whose maiden name was Isabella Darragh, was a sister of John Darragh, the second Mayor of
Pittsburg. She was born in the County Antrim, Ireland, in 1759. The Darraghs were originally Scotch Covenanters. Some of them fought in the siege of Derry, and some were in Cromwell's army.
John Liggett, Sr., the grandfather of Sidney B., was born in Brandywine Manor, Chester County, in 1780. He was interested in a tannery at Pittsburg for a number of years,
was burned out two or three times in business, and finally became connected with Leech & Co., in the Pennsylvania Canal at Sharpsburg. A well-to-do and prominent citizen,
he was a Whig in politics and very active in local affairs. He married Rosanna Sharp, sister of James Sharp, one of the early and prominent settlers of the county, and after
whom the town of Sharpsburg was named. John and Rosanna (Sharp) Liggett were members of the Presbyterian church. Their children were: Isabella, who married Robert Knox; Eliza,
who married the latter's cousin and namesake; Jane, the wife of Merrick-Munson; John, the father of Sidney B.; Daniel; and James Sharp Liggett.
John Liggett was born in Pittsburg, and received a practical common-school education in this city. For a number of years he was in the chair-manufacturing business, under the
name of Childs & Liggett, a prominent firm in the early days of this city. In politics he was a Whig. He died in October, 1854. His wife, who was a daughter of William Hutton,
of Pittsburg, reared three children: Martha Fisk, the wife of Benjamin McLain, of Pittsburg; Sidney B., the subject of this sketch; arid Isabella Knox, unmarried, who died at the
age of twenty-eight. Both parents were members of the. First Presbyterian Church of this city. Sidney B. Liggett acquired his education in the public schools of Pittsburg and
at the Western University of Pennsylvania. His first position was a clerkship in the office of Hailman, Rahm & Co., iron manufacturers, with whom he remained until they
dissolved partnership four years after. The youngest clerk on their pay-roll when he entered their employ, he was the shipping clerk before he left it. He then obtained a position
as clerk in the auditor's office of the Fort Wayne Railroad, where he acquired valuable practical experience auditing railroad accounts. In 1879 he was made assistant secretary in
the executive department, and in 1881 he was promoted to the office of secretary, his present position. He has a varied amount of business to attend to, and the efficiency with
which he meets his responsibilities proves him a man of unusual ability.
Mr. Liggett was married November 15, 1870, to Emma Catherine Stevenson, daughter of John Stevenson, the senior member of the firm of John Stevenson & Co., one of the oldest
jewelry firms of Pittsburg. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Liggett were: Dudley Stevenson, Sidney. Sharp, Laura Catherine, John Darragh, and Clara Louise. The last-named died in her
fifth year. Mr. Liggett is independent in politics. He is a member of the Society of Colonial Wars, and also of the Sons of the Revolution, through the Sharp family. He was a Vestryman,
and for four years the treasurer, of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church at Sewickley. Mrs. Liggett is also a member of the church.
Biographical review: containing life sketches of leading citizens of Pittsburg and the vicinity, Pennsylvania. Boston: Biographical Review Pub. Co., 1897, Author: Anonymous, Submitted by C. Anthony.
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