John D. Wiggins 1886-1906

WIGGINS, AMSTUTZ, AMHSTED, OLMSTEAD

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/8/2011 at 21:29:58

Jno. Wiggins Killed
Met Instant Death at Faribault, Minnesota, Tuesday
John Wiggins, a brother to Mrs. Robt. Amstutz and Miss Susie Wiggins of this city, was instantly killed yesterday at Faribault, Minnesota, where he was braking on the Milwaukee road. No particulars have been received by his Estherville relatives.

He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Wiggins and formerly lived with his parents in this city, being in the water supply service of the Rock Island of which his father was formerly a foreman. The family moved from Estherville three years ago and are at present living in Goldfield, Mr. Wiggins having charge of the pump house. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, March 21, 1906)

The sad news was received here this morning that Johnny Wiggins, a son of Geo. Wiggins, who a few years ago was superintendent of the electric light and water works plant of this city, was killed by being crushed under the cars at Faribault, Minn., yesterday. Mr. Wiggins was a brakeman on the C.M. & St. P. railroad. Details of the accident are not obtainable at this time. His parents live in at Eagle Grove, where his father has charge of the electric light plant. He has a sister living here, Miss Susie Wiggins, who is a waiter at the European hotel, and another sister, Mrs. Amhsted, who lives in Minnesota, arrived this morning. His body will be brought to this city for burial. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, March 21, 1906)

John Wiggins Killed
At Fairmount, Minn., last night an accident befell John Wiggins which cost him his life. John was a brakeman on the Milwaukee Railroad between Austin and Jackson, Minn. One of his legs was badly mangled, so badly that the loss of blood was very great and the shock so severe a one that the poor fellow passed away early this morning. His sisters, Mrs. Olmstead of Jasper and Miss Susie Wiggins of this city went to Fairmount this morning. The parents of this young man reside at Goldfield where Mr. Wiggins is in the water supply department of the Rock Island. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, March 21, 1906)

John Wiggins Buried Here
The remains of John Wiggins, the brakeman killed at Faribault on Tuesday night arrived here Thursday evening and the funeral was held the next afternoon from the Free Baptist church, Rev. McColley officiating. The funeral arrangements were under the auspices of the Knights of Pythias of which society he was one, being a member of Jewel Lodge No. 7, Ellsworth, Minn. The K.P.’s at Fairbault took charge of the remains and had them prepared for shipment to Estherville when the local lodge attended to all details here and assisted in the funeral and burial services. A delegation from Ellsworth came down Friday morning consisting of Dave Cramer, P.C.; F. M. Sadler, C.C.; William Martin M. of E. representing the lodge at Ellsworth and took part in the ceremonies to their departed brother. The Ellsworth lodge desires to render grateful appreciation to their brethren here for all they did and because they could not be here in time to attend the funeral preparations. Relatives of deceased from Luverne, Minn., Jasper and other places were in attendance at the funeral. The father of the deceased, Geo. Wiggins of Goldfield, left for home Friday evening. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, March 28, 1906)

Wiggins Laid to Rest
Funeral of Young Man Killed at Faribault Held Friday
The remains of John Wiggins, who was killed at Faribault, Minnesota last Tuesday while working for the Milwaukee railroad as brakeman, were brought to Estherville for interment. The funeral services were held Friday at 2 o’clock in the Free Baptist church, Rev. C. E. McColley, officiating. The services were in charge of Red Gauntlet lodge, No. 233, Knights of Pythias, the deceased having been a member of the lodge of the order at Ellsworth, Minnesota. The interment was made in Oak Hill cemetery.

The decedent was born in Luverne, Minnesota, May 29, 1886, and came with his parents to Estherville nine years ago. His father was superintendent of the city light and water plant four and a half years and the family later moved to a farm south of the city. Mr. Wiggins is now living at Goldfield. The young man is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Robt. Amstutz of Jasper, Minnesota, and Miss Susan Wiggins of this city.

John entered the employ of the Rock Island some two years ago and until last August was in charge of the water supply between Ellsworth and Watertown. He then went to Milwaukee and passed a fireman’s examination, but did not get a regular run and became dissatisfied and went to braking.

The accident which caused his death occurred in the Faribault yards. The chain on the safety coupler was broken and he reached in to left the pin while the cars were moving. His foot caught at the end of the guard rail and he was thrown under the cars, the wheels passing over both his legs, severing them below the knee and one arm was also crushed. He lived five hours after the accident. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, March 28, 1906)

Frank, John and James Wiggins of Luvurne, Minnesota, uncles of the late John Wiggins, attended the funeral of the latter in this city last Friday. Miss Susan accompanied them home. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, March 28, 1906)