The following story has been submitted by the Logan County History Center:
By: Mary Mortimer & Chloe Simmons
D.A. Liggitt served as the Logan County Representative for the Ohio General Assembly, was elected twice to the Ohio State Senate, and was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio in 1924.
David Alexander, or D.A., Liggitt, was born on September 15, 1873, to Oliver and Catherine Shields-Liggitt in Belle Center. He graduated from the local high school in 1891. Continuing his education, Liggitt attended Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio, earning a degree in education. In 1898, when the Spanish-American War was declared, Liggitt joined the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company F.
After the Spanish-American War ended in December 1898, Liggitt and four “Buckeye Boys” from Logan County, who had mustered out of service at Macon, Georgia, decided to make the trek home together. The group bought a surplus Army wagon and four mules for $200 for their journey back to Logan County.
On June 3, 1899, they finally arrived in Logan County and camped near Zanesfield. Shortly after finishing their early evening meal, the Logan County Sheriff arrived and “arrested” the Buckeye Boys, saying he had received a telegram from Georgia claiming they had stolen their outfit. The sheriff and several deputies escorted them to Bellefontaine.
When the Buckeye Boys reached East Columbus Avenue in their wagon, they were met by a large crowd of family, friends, and neighbors who had gathered to welcome them home. They soon realized the arrest was a joke—an elaborate way to bring them to a planned celebration.
Upon reaching the Courthouse Square, David Liggitt was called upon to speak from the courthouse steps. He recounted their experiences in an entertaining and memorable manner, noting they had faced “many hardships as well as lots of pleasure.” The journey took 112 days to complete. One highlight of the trip was a visit with President William McKinley, who presented each soldier with an autographed card, a red carnation, and an engraving of the White House.
After the war, Liggitt continued teaching school in Logan County until his retirement in 1923.
Many changes marked Liggitt’s life during the early 1900s. On June 24, 1903, he married Adda Belle McConnell of Belle Center. The couple had seven children: Margaret, Mary, Martha, Katherine, Oliver, Robert, and Willis.
In 1908 and 1912, Liggitt ran for Logan County Representative to the Ohio General Assembly but was unsuccessful. Around the time of his father Oliver’s death in 1914, he won the position.
According to his obituary in the Belle Center Herald Voice, Liggitt nearly resigned during his first term. “During his first term his career almost ended when he came home and told his wife he was going to resign. When she asked him why, he said he would rather quit than vote for a particular bill.”
Four years later, Liggitt was elected Republican Representative to the Ohio Senate for the 13th-31st District. He was not reelected in 1920, losing to James R. Hopley. In 1922, he won the Republican nomination in the 13th-31st District during the 85th General Assembly.
After losing his bid for Lieutenant Governor in 1924, Liggitt changed careers and became a representative for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, overseeing thirteen Ohio counties. After ten years with the BMV, he returned to politics and, in 1936, won election to the Ohio State Senate, defeating Kenton native Andrew T. Durover. He served seven terms before retiring in 1953.
In May 1947, Senator Liggitt sponsored legislation appropriating $165,000 to construct an armory in Bellefontaine for the Ohio National Guard Company H, 148th Infantry, and its medical detachment. The City of Bellefontaine provided two lots on South Main Street near the Logan County Fairgrounds. Knowlton Construction Company of Bellefontaine submitted the lowest bid at $128,150 and began construction in October 1948. The armory was dedicated on March 9, 1950.
Liggitt was widely known throughout the community and belonged to numerous organizations. In 1941, he was elected State Commander of the United Spanish War Veterans Frank D. Blain Camp No. 40, becoming the first veteran from a small community to hold the position. He had served as Junior Vice Commander the previous year and helped organize annual reunions of the Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment for many years.
He was also a Past Master of the Belle Center Masonic Lodge and a member of the Bellefontaine Royal Arch Masons.
David A. Liggitt died on January 18, 1956, at the Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Hospital in Sandusky, Ohio.
To learn more about Logan County’s history, visit the Logan County History Center. The center is open for tours Wednesday through Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with free admission.
