Biography of Edward L. Wiggin

Edward L. Wiggin is one of the leading commercial men of Lewiston, handling an establishment as tobacconist, wherein he has made a good success. He is a native of Dayton, Washington, being born of pioneer parents, Lott and Mary J. (Newell) Wiggin, on February 15, 1871. His father was a wheelwright, born in Portland, Maine, in 1823, and died in 1899, in Lewiston.

He came up the first steamboat on the upper Snake and landed at Lewiston in 1861. He opened a trading store at the junction of the Snake and Clearwater and continued in the country until the time of his death. He was a prominent man in Lewiston and for many years was a member of the city council. Mrs. Wiggin is still living in Lewiston. Her father, Dr. Newell, was Indian agent at Lapwai from 1874 to 1875 and was one of the early pioneers of the country. He was a man of great influence and held in high esteem by both whites and Indians. When he retired from the agency, the Indians, as a manifestation of their appreciation, granted him a tract of land at the forks of the Snake and Clearwater rivers, which is still known as the Newell grant. He and his wife were content to pass their days in Lewiston and here also they sleep.

Our subject was educated in the common schools, and remained at home until of age. His parents came to Lewiston when he was four years old and he has remained here since and so is very familiar with both the city and surrounding country. When eighteen he wait to work in the Teller office and three years later went into the Tribune office. He also handled stock on the range and made camp Joseph his headquarters for a time. In 1895 he started his present business and his ability and care of business has given him the meed of excellent success and he is one of the prosperous business men of Lewiston.

On November 30, 1899. Mr. Wiggin married Miss Augusta M., the youngest daughter of A. Benson, a well known pioneer. Mrs. Wiggin was born in Lewiston, where also her wedding occurred, and the date of her advent into life was 1877, during the hostilities of the Nez Perces war and she is distinctly an Idaho product. She has the following brother and sisters: Mrs. Clifford Riggs, Mrs. Walter Addison, Albert, a resident of this County. Mr. Wiggin has the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. Joseph Molloy; John, a soldier in the Philippines and now in Lewiston; Charles A., also in Lewiston. Mr. Wiggin has a fine home in the city and one child, Albert Edward, eighteen months old.

Mr. Wiggin is a member of the I. O. O. F. in Lewiston, and also of the W. of W. He is a Republican and active. He is also a member of the Pioneer Association. Mr. Wiggin is well and favorably known and has the regard and esteem of all.

Back to: Nez Perce Biographies

Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903

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