Wagoner numbers among her native sons Marsh Corgan, who, as sheriff of Wagoner, has the distinction of being the youngest man to hold that office in the United States. He is tireless in his devotion to the duties devolving upon him in that office and has gained the trust, confidence and goodwill of his fellowmen. Air Corgan was born in Wagoner, on the 6th of October, 1895, a son of John M. and Anna E. (Easton) Corgan, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Iowa. John M. Corgan went to Iowa at an early age and subsequently to Indian Territory, locating in what is now Wagoner County, near Gibson. He operated a tie camp there, selling to the railroad, and he achieved substantial success in that connection. Later he engaged in teaming and ranching and he was active along those lines until his demise in March, 1918, at the age of sixty-five years. Mr. Corgan served as a snare drummer in the Confederate army during the Civil war. He tried to enlist in the Union army but was refused because of his extreme youth. Mrs. Corgan survives her husband and she is residing in Wagoner.
In the acquirement of an education Marsh Corgan attended the common schools of Wagoner and after putting his textbooks aside was employed as engineer of the ice plant for a period covering three or four years. In 1917, however, he put all personal interests aside and enlisted for service in the World war. He was a member of Company C, Three Hundred and Fifty-eight Infantry, Ninetieth Division, and he was active in the battle of St. Mihiel. At the time of the armistice he was in an Officers Training Camp at Langres, France, where he was commissioned second Lieutenant. He received his honorable discharge from the army in March, 1919, and returned to his old job in the ice plant here, in which connection he remained until November of the year 1920. In that year he was elected to the office of sheriff of Wagoner County, at this time being the youngest man ever elected to that office in the United States. Mr. Corgan was offered a contract with the White Sox to play professional baseball at a considerably larger salary than he receives as sheriff, but he refused.
Since attaining his majority Mr. Corgan has given his political allegiance to the Republican Party, in the interests of which he takes an, active part. Fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen of the World and as a veteran of the World war he holds membership in the American Legion. He is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, in which faith he was reared, and he is a generous contributor to its support. Mr. Corgan has many friends in the community who have known him from boyhood and they are proud of the success he has attained.