From A
Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. I, p. 167
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902
HARVEY WIGGINS
The agricultural interests of Rice county are well represented by Harvey Wiggins, who devotes his time to farming and stock-raising in Atlanta township. For twenty-six years he has resided in this locality. He was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, November 3, 1849, and is a son of Benjamin Wiggins, whose birth occurred on the same farm, and he is now eighty-one years of age. The grandfather, Edward Wiggins, was born in the panhandle of West Virginia. His parents, however, were natives of Ireland, and when young people left the Emerald Isle for the new world. Removing from his native state Edward Wiggins took up his abode in Coshocton county, Ohio, on Wills creek, a branch of Muskingum river. There he cleared a tract of land and developed a farm, upon which he made his home from 1807 until his death. His son, Benjamin Wiggins, was there reared amid the wild scenes of frontier life and became familiar with pioneer experiences in Ohio. Having attained man’s estate he married Jemima Magnus, who was born in Coshocton county, a daughter of George Magnus. Unto Mr and Mrs Wiggins were born ten children, of whom six are living, namely: Edward, who was a soldier in the Union army and is now living in Coshocton county; Samuel, who has a similar record for army service and is also a resident of Coshocton county; John, who wore the blue during the Civil war and now makes his home in Rice county, Kansas; Harvey, of this review; Mrs Mary Williams, of Coshocton county; and Mrs Amanda Workman, who is living in the same county. Those who have passed away are: Seth, who died at the age of thirty years; Benjamin, who died at the age of ten years; and two who died in infancy. The mother reached the psalmist’s span of three-score years and ten and then departed this life, honored and respected by all who knew her. The father, however, has reached the age of eighty-one years and is still living on the ancestral home in Coshocton county, where throughout his active business career he carried on farming and stock-raising. In politics he was a stanch Republican and gave three of his sons to the Union during the Civil war. Like him they were all stanch admirers of Lincoln. Honored and respected he has lived an upright life and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of young and old, rich and poor, wherever he is known.
Harvey Wiggins, the well known resident farmer of Atlanta township, Rice county, was reared on the old homestead, and the plowing, planting and harvesting became familiar to him in youth. His literary training was received in the public schools of Ohio. At the age of twenty-two years he was united in marriage to Isabella Sturtz, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, a daughter of Adam and Jane (Wiggins) Sturtz, of that state. The young couple began their domestic life in his native county, where they resided until 1875, when they removed to Jefferson county, Nebraska, but after five months there passed came to Rice county, Kansas. Here Mr Wiggins purchased a homestead claim, upon which he yet resides. He has greatly improved it, making it one of the valuable farms of the county, and his tract of land of three hundred and twenty acres yields to him a good return. Its improvements are modern and indicate his progressive spirit. A comfortable residence, a substantial barn, sheds, and orchard and richly cultivated fields give evidence of his thrift and care. He also has three hundred and twenty acres of fine land in Mitchell township, Rice county, and is thus extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits. Stock-raising has also proved to him a profitable source of income.
In 1884 Mr Wiggins was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died September 21, of that year, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she was a consistent member. She was also a devoted wife and mother and a kind neighbor. She had three children: Ada, now the wife of David Foreman, of Harrington, Kansas; Ella, wife of Daniel Brubaker of Washita county, Oklahoma; and Jesse, who married Delia Monroe and resides in Mitchell township, Rice county. On the 22nd of February, 1888, Mr Wiggins was joined in wedlock to Mary E Brubaker, an estimable lady, who was born in Greene county, Tennessee, her parents being Jonathan and Margaret (Carter) Brubaker. Her father passed away, but her mother is living in Rice county. He devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits until his life’s labors were ended in death, when he had attained the age of sixty-three. In politics he was a Democrat, and was an elder in the German Baptist church, in which his wife also held membership, while his children are of the same religious faith. In the Brubaker family were four daughters and three sons, namely: Nancy, Mary E, Margaret, John, Benjamin, William and Lucy. The marriage of Mr and Mrs Wiggins has been blessed with four children, - John F, Leora M, Blanche and Harvey Stanley. In his political views Mr Wiggins is a Republican, and has served as township treasurer, while for fifteen years he has labored earnestly and effectively as a member of the school board. His wife belongs to the German Baptist church. His landed possessions comprise six hundred and forty acres in Rice county, and his property is the visible evidence of a life of usefulness and activity. He is a champion of education, temperance and morality, and is regarded as one of the valued, progressive and upright citizens of his adopted county.