Wiggin, A. J.

WIGGIN, PARKER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 11/23/2008 at 17:43:41

WIGGIN, A. J.; Farmer; P. O. Prairie City; was born in New Hampshire April 14, 1830; came to this county in 1857; has 130 acres of land, valued at $6,500. Is father of seven children-Mary, Norris, Philura, Carrie, Orrin, Martha, George. From New Hampshire went to California in 1857; lived there five years; thence came to Jasper Co., where he has resided since. At the time he came here, there was only one store on Prairie City. Mr. W. has a fine farm at the edge of Prairie City with the Agricultural Grounds on it. When he came here there was nothing but wild prairies, and went through all the privations of a pioneer. Enlisted in the 10th I. V. I., Regt., Co. I; was in the service three years; was in thirteen regular battles; at both of the battles of Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, Island No. 10, New Madrid, Mission Ridge; mustered out of the service at Kingston, Georgia, in 1864. ~ "The History of Jasper County" (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878), 648
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Wiggin, Andrew J.

Eighty-two years have passed with leaden feet through the relentless gates of the irrevocable past since Andrew J. Wiggin, one of Jasper County's best known and most highly respected citizens, first saw the light of day in an old house in New England, but the years have been kind to him and he is as active as most men are at the age of fifty. All his faculties have been well preserved, so that he reads without glasses, can climb a tree as nimbly as a boy, has a keen, comprehending intellect and is still a man of affairs and influence. His early life was that of a soldier of fortune, a prospector and gold digger in the far West in the early fifties, and later was to be found gallantly defending his nation's flag on the field of battle, and in many ways he encountered and endured hardships and difficulties that would have crushed many of a less sterling spirit, but his courage, energy, tact and robustness carried him safely through and now, in the mellow Indian summer of his years, he finds himself surrounded by peace and plenty upon the pleasant place he procured over thirty years ago.

Mr. Wiggin was born on April 14, 1830, in New Hampshire, the son of Andrew Wiggin and wife, who lived on a farm in that state, of which they, too, were both natives. His great-grandfather Wiggin came from England to Massachusetts in the historic "Mayflower." The subject was the third in order of birth in a family of eight children, namely: Enoch, Laura, Sarah, Augusta, Mary, George and one who died in infancy. They were all born in New Hampshire, all remaining in their native state except Andrew J., of this review; Enoch, Laura and George are deceased, and the parents passed away many years ago.

Andrew J. Wiggin attended the country schools near his home for a time, but at the early age of fifteen years he started out in life for himself, went to Boston, Massachusetts, where he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1852, when, lured by the call of the western Eldorado with its possibilities of untold wealth to be had for the mere digging, fortune favoring, he set out with his savings to California, going by steamer from New York and across the isthmus and thence up the western coast by steamer. He followed mining there for five years, and while not finding the enormous wealth of which he had dreamed, yet he was very successful and came away with several thousand dollars. He returned to Boston in 1857, and that same year he came to Iowa, making the trip by rail to Mount Pleasant and from there by stage to Prairie City, and he purchased eighty acres of land in Des Moines Township. The following year he marred Cynthia Parker, who bore him six children, namely: Morris, the eldest, lives in Wyoming; Mrs. Mary Pentacoe lives on a farm near Des Moines; Orin lives on a farm in Nebraska; George makes his home in Omaha, Nebraska; Carrie, who has remained single, lives at home and keeps house for her father; one child died in infancy.

When the great rebellion broke out in the early sixties, Mr. Wiggin felt it his duty to forsake the pleasures of home, to leave his fields to grow up in weeds and go to the front and do what he could in saving the Union, consequently in August, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Tenth Iowa Volunteer infantry, in which he saw much hard service and proving himself to be a true and gallant American soldier, an exponent of the Anglo-Saxon that has never been defeated. He took part in fourteen of the hardest-fought battles of the war, besides a number of skirmishes. He was in, among others, both Battles of Corinth, Siege of Vicksburg, Raymond, Jackson, Holly Springs, Iuka, Champion's Hill, New Madrid and Missionary Ridge. His regiment was in the brunt of the bloody clash at Champion's Hill, and his company of thirty-four men lost twenty-two, including Captain Pogue. Captain Garret, who commanded them at the time of their enlistment, had been promoted to the rank of colonel. Captain Drew was their captain when they were mustered out in October 1864, at Kingston, Georgia.

After his return home Mr. Wiggin took up the cultivation of his land and about twenty years later he sold the eighty acres and bought forty acres where he now lives, adjoining Prairie City. Later he added to this until he had one hundred and sixty acres, which he farmed successfully until ten years ago, when he retired from active life, and a few years ago he sold all his land but four acres around his house, and here he continues to reside, the town having grown out around him. He has judiciously invested his money in various ways until he now enjoys an income of five dollars per day.

Mr. Wiggin has been twice married, but for a number of years now he has lived single. Mr. Wiggin is a Republican, but he has never sought office. He cast his first vote for Fremont for President, he having been a resident of San Francisco at that time. He is a member of the McCray Post No. 27, Grand Army of the Republic, being a charter member of the same. He was its commander for several years, and at the present time he is senior vice-commander, and he has always been active and prominent in the organization. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 593.