It seems like Almost Yesterday that The Cape Girardeau Argus newspaper carried an editorial tribute to the oldest resident of the city, known to all as “Old Frank” Haggerty, who died in 1863 at an age in excess of 100 years.
Haggerty moved to Cape Girardeau in 1816 before Missouri was a state, accumulated some wealth which he attributed to God’s blessings and to whom he committed his life. He spent a number of years as a preacher, never married, and claimed to have no relatives in the whole wide world.
The editor of the The Argus wrote that by the time “Old Frank” was elderly he had fallen upon hard times. His money was gone, he was homeless, and often found sleeping in public places – dependent upon charity for survival. There was, of course, no welfare system in the 19th century, and Frank was on his own until he came to the attention of Mr. Giboney, a prominent Cape Girardeau land holder and businessman.
Mr. Giboney pleaded Frank’s case with the county court and from that time on “Old Frank” was provided a warm meal and a warm bed. He became a community “institution,” bothered by no one, accepted by all.
That is until the 20th Illinois Infantry came to “The Cape”, and late one evening in the autumn of 1863 an officer arrested the frail and palsied gentleman found wandering the streets and threw him into the guard house. There, it was reported, “Old Frank” became cold, sick and “as frightened as a scared rabbit” – and soon died.
The editor of The Argus concluded his editorial by asking, “Who does not remember Frank Haggerty?”
