The Wigginton Genealogy

By Hickman J. Wigginton ~ 18 March 1897

Publisher of 'The Bulletin' - a newspaper published at Linneus, Linn County, Missouri

ALSO son of Rev. William R. Wigginton of Audrain County, Missouri

The Following is a brief lineal sketch of the Wigginton family, beginning as far back in history as any absolute knowledge can be obtained by the writer:

It was about the 1740 that two brother named Wigginton emigrated from England to America and afterward took part in the Rovolutionary War.

William Wigginton, one of the brothers, was a Baptist preacher and was the father of Bejamin Wigginton who, shortly after the Revolution, settled upon a farm in Prince William County, Virginia. It was upon this farm that the famous battle of Bull Run was fought during the late civil war.

Banjamin Wigginton married Miss Nancy Wilson, and unto them were born the following children:

Benjamin Wigginton of Culpeper County, Virginia; James Wigginton who emigrated to Louisville, Kentucky and married a Miss Thornsbury, and who was the father of Alfred and Mortimer Wigginton - both distinguished lawyers; Russell Wigginton of Prince William County who married a Mrs. Spindle; Mortimer Wigginton of Loudon County, Virginia; Elizabeth Wigginton who married a Rogers and who was the mother of the late Rufus Rogers of Martinsburg, Missouri, and of Dr. Ben Rogrs (dec'd -an eminent physician of St. Charles, Missouri; Nancy Wigginton who married Mr. Brewer; and John Wilson Wigginton who married Miss Catherine T. Redd, whose mother's maiden name was Miss Susan Bullitt of Fauquier County, Virginia.

Catherine T. Redd was a daughter of Allen Redd, who emigrated from Scotland about the middle of the eighteenth century. Miss Redd was a woman of fine intelligence and remarkable beauty of form and features. She was a sister of William I. Redd, a distinguished criminal lawyer who began his professional career in St. Louis in 1820, and who practiced at all the principal points along the Missouri River between St. Louis and Fayette. In 1830 he moved to Mississippi where he soon ranked among the ablest lawyers of the state. He was for years an acknowledged leader in the Democractic party in Mississippi and was at one time prominently mentioned in the South as a presidential probability. He had one brother, Parmenas Redd, who was considered one of the best linguists of his time and who was a professor in one of the colleges in Tennessee.

John W. Wigginton was a captain in the war of 1812. It was aftr several futile attempts had been made to organize a company of volunteers at Dumfries, Virginia, that he was called upon by the citizens to attempt an organization of the forces. He did so and a splendid company was raised.

In 1825 he moved with his family to western Tennessee and settled upon a farm 40 miles east of Memphis in Fayette County - now the site of Belmont, a flourishing city. They afterwards moved to Morgan County, Illinois, and in 1840 came to Missouri and settled in Boone County where he died in 1850 at the age of 75. His wife, Cather T. Wigginton, died in 1863 aged 84. They were the parents of the following named children, two of whom-Joseph A., aged 80, and Elder William R., aged 77, still survive... Susan R; Lucy A; John R; Benjamin F; Joseph A; and William R.

Susan R. Wigginton married Vivion Brookin Holmes, a prominent citizen and capitalist of Tennessee. Unto them were born two children, William Holmes and Catherine, who married Curtis P. Gay of Boone County, Missouri.

Lucy A. Wigginton married Major William Campbell of Tennessee.

John R. Wigginton, eloquent in speech and of magnetic presence, was a native of Virginia. He married Louise Taylor (1), Eliza Samuels (2), and Miss Ann Samuels (3). By the second marriage three children were born: Susan, Helen (who married William Landes of Bloomington, Illinois) and Sallie C who married Mr. Goodell of Mackinaw, Illinois and who is now the wife of Mr. Talmadge Phelps of Beaver, Nebraska.

Benjamin F. Wigginton, once a prominent citizen and politician of Paris, Kentucky, married Miss J. Mariah Tolbert of that city. To them was born John Tolbert Wigginton (musician and orator) who wedded Miss Sallie M. Miller - a daughter of Mr. Isaac Miller of Bourbon County, Kentucky. They became the parents of one son, Junius Wigginton, who now resides with his mother in Lexington, Kentucky.

Joseph A. Wigginton, one of Boone County, Missouri's best preserved and best informed citizens, wa born in Virginia, June 3, 1816. He was married to Miss Susan Blanton (1) of Cass County, Illinois and Mrs. Mary Renfrow (2) of Boone County, Missouri. By the first marriage six children were born: Catherine Bullitt, Julia, Benjamin, Lucy and Susan. Catherine Wigginton, now deceased, married Robert Karnes of Boone County, Missouri. They became the parents of Smith Karnes, now a wealthy farmer in Boone County, Missouri, and whose wife was Miss Mary Miller of Machinaw, Illinois. They have one son, Master Miller Karnes, aged about 10.

Julia E. Wigginton married Edward Allensworth (1), a popular and well to do citizen of Mackinaw, Illinois, Dr. Maus (2), a prominent physician of that place. By the first union were born two children - Elizabeth and Lucy. Elizabeth, amiable and winsome, (now deceased) married Dr. George Toalson of Mexico, Audrain County, Missouri., and Lutie (Lucy), a pretty and accomplished young lady, resides with her folks at Centralia, Missouri.

Lucy Wigginton is the second wife of Robert Karnes, one of Boone County, Missouri's most prominent and successful capitalists.

Rev. William R. Wigginton of Linneus, Missouri was born in Prince William County Virginia, May 7, 1819. He has been a Baptist minister for considerably more than half a century and has baptized perhaps as many people as any preacher in Missouri. He was married to Miss Obedience Hickman Daniel - a daughter of Captain James Daniel of Christian County, Kentucky. She was also a sister of Andrew Broaddus Daniel of Vandalia, Missouri., aged 84, and a 2nd cousin of the late Dr. Jno (John??) A. Broaddus of Louisville, Kentucky. The second and living wife was Mrs. Malinda Bell of Warren County-aniece of Rev. James Welsh, a noted pioneer divine. By the first marriage was born the following children: John D; Anna M; Mary Virginia; C. Josephine; L. Eldora; Charles J.; J. Lavenia; Laura B.; William R.; Hickman J.; and Elmer E.

Anna M. Wigginton married Milton M. Conger, of Linneus, Missouri. They have three living children-Earnest J. Conger, who married Miss Bert Colgan of Linneus, Missouri, and who is one of the editors and proprietors of the Linneus Bulletin; Captain W. Paul Conger of Company C., N.G.M., and Miss M. Josephine Conger, talented in literature and music.

Mary Virginia Wigginton (deceased) married Hilary B. Watts, of Audrain County, Missouri. They were the parents of Wayman W. Watts, of Los Angeles, California and Clyde M. Watts, a young newspaper man of Greencastle, Indiana.

C. Josephine Wigginton , artist and authoress, married A.P. Barton, journalist and metaphysician of Kansas City. They have three living children - Ethel V., musician; Homer R., cadet at Culver Military Academy, Indiana; and Ralph W.E. Barton.

L. Eldora Wigginton married Richard Sappington, a substantial citizen of Linneus, Missouri.

Laura B. Wigginton married Roland P. Watts of Linneus, Missouri. They have living four bright children - Mary, Russell, Laura and Wilmuth H.

Hickman J. Wigginton is one of the editors and proprietors of the Linneus (Mo.) Bulletin. He was married in June ' 91 to Miss Mamie Day, now deceased. She was a young woman of rare beauty and culture and was the daughter of Capatain and Mrs. A.J. Day of Wellsville, Missouri.

Elmer E. Wigginton died, at the age of 16, from a toy pistol wound accidentally inflicted at Mexico, Missouri., July 4th, 1881. He was a young man of fine intelligence and remarkable popularity for one of his years.

Linneus, Missouri. March 18, 1897 - The Wigginton Genealogy

~Property of Audrain County Area Genealogical Society~