Haggerty, Hampton

Hampton Haggerty
March 1, 1844-April 11, 1922


. . .illness, borne with heroic fortitude, Hampton Haggerty, 78, passed peacefully away at his cozy home, 298 North Third street, at 3:45 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
    Thirteen months ago, Mr. Haggerty suffered a stroke of paralysis and had since been confined to his home.  About a month ago he suffered a second stroke, and had since been unable to speak.
    Mr. Haggerty was born in Hancock county, Ohio, on March 1, 1844.  He was a son of Thomas and Nancy Haggerty, native of New Jersey, who resided for some years in Ohio, and in 1848 came to Michigan with their family, driving an ox team through, and located in Niles township, where the mother died at the age of 40 and the father when 65 years old. They were the parents of nine children, four daughters and five sons, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, but none of whom is now living.
    Hampton Haggerty was a child of four years when he accompanied his parents to Michigan, and one year later was orphaned by his mother's death.  He attended school in Niles township, and grew to manhood sturdy, ambitious and energetic.
    At the outbreak of the Civil war, Mr. Haggerty, then a youth of 17 years, enlisted in the defense of the Union, and his name was enrolled as a member of Co. L. second Michigan cavalry, in which he served until the close of the war, being the youngest soldier in his regiment.
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 emloy of others. In 1867, he married Fannie, daughter of William and Mary Lambert.  Mrs. Haggerty, who has been a faithful helpmate to her husband all these years, 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 rented a farm for a few years, after which he purchased the old Ives farm, four miles west of this city, consisting of 100 acres, which he cultivated for three years,  He then sold the property and purchased the H.N. Cameron farm, and later on bought still other farm property, meanwhile conducting a general farming and stock raising business.
    About 11 years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Haggerty left the farm and came to this city, to spend the evening of life in peace and contentment.
    In politics, Mr. Hagerty was a Republican, and he had served in the township as a member of the board of education. "Uncle Hamp," as he was more familiarly known, was splendid type of the rugged pioneer--the type that was instrumental in subjugating the forests and causing the countryside to blossom like the rose.  During the greater portion of his life he was blessed with seemingly inexhaustible good health, and was a confirmed optimist.  He loved the hills, the birds, and the steams, and always had a yearning for the old days and the old manners.  He was a kindly man, a loyal friend.  His cheery presence was always welcome wherever he went. When in a reminiscent mood, " Uncle Hamp" used to love to relate thrilling experiences of Cival[sic] war days.  He also frequently recalled the old-time neighborhood spirit, the huskings, quiltings, or apple cuts or raisings, or "bees" of any sort.  The processes of the dairy as his boyhood knew them, were reviewed with zest--the churning treadmill, the lifting of great masses of golden butter from the churn with the ladle, and much more of those Halcyon, haloed days!  And then the ride to town, over miles of corduroy road in the lumber wagon. The spring plowing, the sowing, the haying, the harvesting, even the road making, "Uncle Hamp" lived over again--all seen through the mellowing haze of time.  How remorselessly he killed off with a flintlock musket the bright-eyed chipmunks in the corn in "those days" and trapped and shot henhawks and crows, was told as he recounted his boyhood memories.
    "Uncle Hamp" is survived by the widow and one half-sister, Mrs. Hannah Kinney, of Lawton, and his niece, Mrs. Eugene Myers.
    The funeral services will be conducted at the Methodist church at 3:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, by the pastor, Mr. Lathrop. Interment will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star-Sun, Wednesday, Apr. 12, 1922, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library.)