Matthew W. Diggs

As printed in 1882

MATTHEW W. DIGGS, harness and saddlery. Farmland. Matthew W. Diggs was born June 20, 1840, in this county. His father, Armsbce, originally came from Guilford County, N. C, where ho was born June 18, ITIl.'J. The father of Mr. Diggs settled in Randolph County in 1817. He settled on the farm on which he lived at the time of his death, he having cleared it from a wilderness to a cultivated and pleasant home. Mr. Diggs was married. May 4, 186M, to Ruth Diggs, who was born January 3, 183; He was educated in tlir common schools of this county; followed the occupation of farming until 186' when he engaged ia harness and saddlery, in Farmland. His stock is we., selected; worth Sl.-'JOO, his sales reaching $3,-500; is a m,ember of the Methodist Episcopal Church, I. 0. 0. F., No. 208; ardent temperance man. and a Republican. He owns two town lots on which is eno dwelling and a business father was born in the State of New York in the year 1798, and his mother was "born in New Jersey, 1799. They lived in Newark, N. J., until the year 1832, when they removed to this State and settled in Henry County. They lived here for about ten years, when they removed to Franklin (county, Ohio, where Mrs. Halliday (Ellas' mother) still lives, and where William died August, 1862. Elias was eight years of age when his parents came to this State. At the age of fourteen, he entered the store of Mark E. Reeves, of Washington, Wayne Co., Ind., where he remained for eight years in the capacity of a clerk. He was married to Jane Ringo, daughter of Peter and Margaret Ringo, of Centerville, Wayne Co., Ind., in the year 1846. After marriage, he entered into the general mercantile business in Washington, Wayne Co., and remained until 185'i, when he removed to this county, and settled in Maxville, where he again entered the goods business, lie remained here until 18Gl,when he was elected to the office of County Treasurer, and re-elected in 1863. As a business man, Mr. Halliday displayed that tact and enterprise which has characterized him through life. He was careful to look after his business in detail, and was eminently successful. After his term of four years as County Treasurer expired, he purchased a piece of land (30 acres) adjoining Farmland, and moved on it, where he still resides, lie is owner and proprietor of 32-5 acres of excellent land situated in M In > In.ill] ihis county. In addition to farming, Mr. Halliday is et-.111 lining and shipping all kinds of stock. He was first "I County Commissioner in the year 1876, and has hehl I: I I It I,1 ii-ly ever since, his term expiring next December..\s n c.jui.;ii.:i ril, Ut liii.s served the people faithfully and honestly, and will retire from olhce with the universal.iudginent, " Well done, good and faithful a cost of $3-5,O0O,'and five excellent iron bridges at a cost of 20,000, besides many other acts of interest to the county. Mr. Halliday is over alive to the best interests of the county, and he has done much to bring Randolph to the front rank as one of the best counties in the State..\Ir. and Mrs. Halliday are the parents of seven children, of whom five are now living. Their two sons, William R. and Waldo M. are both married, and reside in Lynn, this county, where they are engaged in a general mercantile business. They also have a daughter married and living in Farmland; the other two sons arc at home with their parents,.Mr. H. has a fair education notwithstanding his early advantages were very poor. He is a stanch Repuulican, and is a member of both the orders of F., & A. M., and I. 0. 0. F. He and his good wife have been acceptable members of the M. E. Church for over thirty years. Mr. Halliday is one of Randolph County's substantial, honored and useful citizens, of the strictest integrity and honesty of purpose. He and his family are hon. ored and respected by all who know them.

As printed in History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.