SUMMIT COUNTY OHIO *********************************************************************** File contributed & permission given for use in the Ohio Biographies Project by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman <73777.25@compuserve.com> & the submitter From the The OHGenWeb Archives http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/oh/ohfiles.htm a part of The USGenWeb Archives http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Gina Reasoner greasoner@prodigy.net 12 October 1999 *********************************************************************** * 1882 HISTORY OF LA GRANGE COUNTY INDIANA F.A. Battey & Co., 1882 BENJAMIN GIGGY came to the United States with his parents, Benedict and Christina Giggy, in 1852. He was born August 29, 1844, in Canton Berne, Switzerland, and was one of five children. In Boston, Summit Co., Ohio, during the year 1853, he worked for $7 per month. Coming to this township in 1854, he was engaged in farm work for John Ray, and attended school until 1859. The three following years he worked at the stone mason's trade with this father. In August, 1863, he enlisted in company G, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but at Fort Wayne was taken down with lung fever, and was not able to report for six weeks. He was then furnished transportation to Louisville, Ky., where he was again attacked with lung fever, and in December returned home. In the spring of 1864, he enlisted in Company H, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the war closed. During his last three months of service he was detailed as clerk at Gen. Gillen's headquarters, District East Tennessee, and was mustered out at Nashville September 25, 1865. August 12, 1866, Mr. Giggy and Miss Sarah Bowen were united in marriage. She is a native of Holmes County, Ohio; born September 6, 1846. They have had seven children, viz.: May, Ella C., Alonzo B., Clara C., Clyde, Ray (died August 14, 1880), and Carl. Mr. Giggy purchased forty acres of his farm in 1864, and the other forty in 1871, and its improved conditions is mainly due to his efforts. CHRISTIAN GIGGY, one of the leading citizens of his township, came to America in the spring of 1851, in company with his sister Ellen, now Mrs. John Roy. He is a son of Benedict and Christina (Snyder) Giggy, who were parents of three boys and two girls, and was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, February 1, 1832. Mrs. Christian Giggy is also a native of the same place, born in July, 1818. She married Mr. Giggy in Summit county, Ohio, in August, 1851. She was Ellen Burkhalter, daughter of John and Barbary (Pfiefer) Burkhalter, parents of ten children. Mr. Giggy landed in New York, went to Cleveland, Ohio, remained a few days working in a foundry, then went to Peninsula, Summit County, Ohio, where he worked in a stone quarry for a time, then in a saw-mill, and farmed two years. He came to this township in 1855, and worked at the stone mason's trade in connection with farming. In 1859, he bought twenty acres of improved land, that he sold in 1862, and bought the farm of one hundred and fifteen, where he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Giggy are members of the Lutheran Church, and have a family of five children -Mary E., Rosanna (now Mrs. Hart), Charles W., Oscar L. and Sarah R. JOHN GIGGY is a native of Canton Berne, Switzerland, where he was born May 14, 1838. He came to America with his parents, Benedict and Christina (Snyder) Giggy, in December, 1852. Benedict Giggy was a soldier in Switzerland for twenty-one years. John Giggy worked in a cotton factory at Pittsburgh, Penn., for three months, immediately after his arrival, receiving $5 per week; he then went to Summit County, Ohio, where he worked as a stone-mason, and farmed two years; wages from $15 to $17 per month. In 1854, Mr. Giggy came to this township, and worked for $10 per month, until he was married, October 11, 1858, to Samantha Hart. He then bought a small farm near South Milford, which he sold in 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and in December, crossed the Ohio into Kentucky; was at the battle of Fort Donelson, and was wounded at Shiloh, and was sent to the hospital at Evansville, Ind., then home on a discharge furlough. In June, 1862, he reported at Indianapolis, but was ordered back home; he returned again in July, however, remained three or four weeks at the soldier's home; then started South and rejoined his regiment at Murfreesboro, and in the battle at Chickamauga was wounded in the hip. September 19, 1863, after which he walked back to Bridgeport, Ala., using a bed slat for a crutch, being three days on the road, and having nothing to eat all that time but three crackers. From there he was sent to the hospital at Nashville; remained about one month, then came home on a furlough. December 31, 1863, he again rejoined his regiment at Chattanooga, and re-enlisted in the same company as a veteran, participating in all the marches and engagements until they were mustered out at Indianapolis in October, 1865. Mr. Giggy then returned to his farm that he purchased in 1862, and worked as a stone mason in connection with farming. In 1872, he sold his farm, and in 1873, purchased the old homestead, where he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Giggy have a family of nine children -Ellen J. (now Mrs. Rowen), John H., Anna B., Emma R., Agnes, George F., Fred C., William M., and an infant unnamed. ______________