Family
Edward Wiggin was born in Bangor, Maine on November 14, 1837 to Edward and Lettice Wiggin [1] His father worked as a brick mason, and Edward Junior was the sixth of the nine children.
Early Career & marriage
He attended schools in Bangor, and in 1854 took a teaching position in Hodgdon, just south of Aroostook. Four years later he married Lizzie Wiggin, and they soon had three children, but only son Fred Wiggin survived.
Civil War Enlistment
On January 1, 1862 Wiggin enlisted in the 6th Maine Battery. Promoted to Full 2nd Lieutenant and mustered out 15 Jun 1863. [2]
After the war he was appointed Collector of Customs at Fort Kent. In 1876 the family established their home on a farm in Maysville, later annexed into Presque Isle. Mr. Wiggin served as local superintendent of schools and later was the chief clerk for the State Department of Education at Augusta for 12 years.
Agriculture
Wiggin served on the State Board Of Agriculture and was elected its president in 1885. In December 1893 he was chosen Master of the State Grange. Toward the end of his life he was contributing to the US Bureau of Agricultural Statistics.
State Senate
In 1893 he was elected to the Maine Senate, where he served two terms. When serving the state legislature he advocated establishment of the Aroostook State Normal School at Presque Isle. “In no one thing was he more zealous and active,” stated his obituary.[1]
Promoting The Railroad
For his tireless crusading for the railroad, it was later written "it is probable that in no part of his career has Mr. Wiggin made a record of higher credit and usefulness as a citizen than in his labors to aid in securing a railroad outlet for Aroostook."
History of Aroostook
While agitating for improved railroad service to a Aroostook, he visited nearly every town in the county, at the same time gathering information for local histories, which were later edited in his name.
To his aptitude for useful public service Mr. Wiggin united a love for books, and marked gifts both as a writer and speaker. Much that was the product of his pen, published and unpublished, testifies to his attainment of the versatile writer in both prose and poetry, and had he devoted himself wholly to literature his gifts ought to have earned him wide recognition.
Final chapter
His wife of 51 years passed away in 1908. Edward Wiggin attended a reunion of the 6th Maine Battery held at Augusta in September 1912. Afterwards he made a brief stop to visit a nephew. At South Paris he was taken ill, remaining alert after his son's arrival, but finally lost consciousness. He died at age 74 of kidney failure and was buried beside his wife at the Maysville Cemetery.
Postscript
Ten years later, the Star Herald Press published Wiggin’s History of Aroostook[3], edited from Wiggin’s notes by George H. Collins, editor of the Presque Isle Star Herald.[4] It has served as an important resource for local historians.
[1] Death of Hon. Edward Wiggin. The Star-Herald, 26 Sept. 1912, p. 2.
[2] Historical Data Systems, comp. U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 [database on-line].
[3] Wiggin, E. History of Aroostook. Presque Isle, Star Herald Press, 1922.
[4] Coe, Harrie B. 1928.”George H. Collins.” In Maine, A History, Vol. 4. Harrie B. Coe: Books, pp.7- 8.
