- ALEXANDER COLDEN WIGGINS, who is engaged in general farming
and stock-raising on
- section 35, Center Township, has been numbered among the
citizens of this county since 1853, all of which time he has
been identified with the leading interests of his township.
He was born June 22, 1794, in New Windsor, Orange Co., N.Y.,
and is a son of William WIGGINS. His paternal grandfather was
born in 1732, and died in 1801. His father was born in 1765,
in New York, and was descended from English ancestry. He married
Miss Fannie SMITH, in 1793, and unto them was born but one child,
our subject. The mother died in 1794, and Mr. WIGGINS was again
united in marriage in 1795, his second union being with Phoebe
HEWLETT. By that marriage seven children were born: William
H., born in 1796; Stephen, in 1797; Francis W., in 1798; Jacob
W., in 1800; Samuel, in 1805; George, in 1807; and Charlotte,
who was born in 1810, and died in 1886. The death of the father
occurred in 1838.
- The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood in his native
county, and on the 24th day of
- March, 1823, wedded Miss Phoebe STILL, who was born in Orange
County, N.Y., Nov. 9, 1802. On the 27th day of December following,
she was called to her last rest. Mr. WIGGINS was again married
July 11, 1825, when Mrs. Rachel (NEWBURG) CRISSY became his wife.
She was also a native of Orange County, born May 20, 1805.
Ten children graced their union, five sons and five daughters,
namely: James, who was born Jan. 18, 1827, married Miss Sarah
PAYNE, and is now engaged in farming in Sioux County, Iowa; Theodore,
born March 11, 1829, died on the 2d day of April following; William,
who was born Feb. 16, 1830, and served as a member of the 5th
Wisconsin Infantry under Gen. Grant, losing a leg at the battle
of the Wilderness, was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Jane
EASTMAN, and is now living in Evansville, Rock County; Frances
J., born in September 1832, wedded Henry METTLER, who died in
1874, after which she became the wife of Benjamin BOND; Harriet
Maria, born Dec. 14, 1834, died Sept. 5, 1836; Emily, born Aug.
19, 1837, became the wife of Abel BARLOW, and died Nov. 22, 1878;
Cornelia, born Feb. 25, 1840, is unmarried; Alex, born May 13,
1842, now the husband of Miss Edna HELMS, enlisted in the service
of his country in the ranks of the 13th Wisconsin Infantry, Company
A. served over four years, and is now farming in Plymouth Township,
Rock County; Catherine, born Oct. 22, 1845, is still single;
Jacob, born Jan. 18, 1850, is now engaged in operating the old
homestead. He was united in marriage Dec. 25, 1884, with Mrs.
Flora V. (VAN CAMP) MILLER, who was born Dec. 19, 1855, and is
a daughter of Nelson and Hannah (COLBURN) VAN CAMP.
- In 1853 Mr. WIGGINS cast his lot with the settlers of Rock
County, Wis., and the same year
- purchased the farm which has since continued to be his home.
He bought 380 acres of prairie land, and a 10-acre wood lot.
The land had been broken, but never planted, and the improvements
were indeed few. There was upon the place at that time what
is known as a gravel house, consisting of two rooms and an attic,
but in 1852 it was replaced by the fine structure, the present
home of our subject. Mr. WIGGINS has endured the trials and
privations of pioneer life, and has aided in the development
of the county, having by his untiring labor and energy made one
of the model farms of the community. In 1881 he was called upon
to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 31st day of March.
They had traveled life's journey together for almost fifty-six
years, and her death proved a sad loss.
- Mr. WIGGINS cast his ballot with the Whig party until the
organization of the Republican party,
- when he became closely identified with its interests, continuing
to support that party until recently, when he became allied with
the Prohibitionists. His first Presidential vote was cast for
John Quincy Adams, and he has lived under all the administrations
from Washington to Harrison, and remembers well the death of
the first President. He is a member of the Methodist Church,
and has always done all in his power to advance the religious,
educational and social interests of the community. An honored
pioneer and worthy citizen, Mr. WIGGINS receives the respect
of all who know him, and is held in high esteem for his many
excellencies of character.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 606-607.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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