Re: NOBLE BATES WIGGINS of Spfld/Sangmn Co.
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In reply to:
NOBLE BATES WIGGINS of Spfld/Sangmn Co.
11/02/00
Noble Bates Wiggins was born 21 Oct 1841 in Cleveland, OH (another source lists his birthplace as Newburg, OH).His father, Benjamin L. Wiggins was born in Montpelier, VT.In 1830, Benjamin left VT and worked his way to OH by peddling tinware and Seth Thomas clocks along the way.He settled in Cleveland (other source states Cuyhoga County, OH) and was a farmer.His wife was Lucy Bates of Newburgh, OH.She was a Presbyterian.Benjamin and Lucy had 4 children (names not given).Benjamin died in Jul 1864 and Lucy died in May 1868.
At the age of 18, Noble attended Hiram College in OH for one year.On 19 Sep 1861, Noble enlisted in the Comp. G, Forty-second Ohio Infantry Volunteers under the command of Col. Garfield (who later became US President).Noble served until 2 Dec 1864.He participated in the Battle of Vicksburg and the Battle of Middle Creek, as well as other engagements.
Following the war, Noble returned to Cleveland and began work in the mercantile business until 1867 when he went to Springfield, IL.In Springfield he became proprietor of the Leland Hotel.
Noble B. Wiggins married 21 Oct 1869 to Clarissa Leland of Cleveland, OH.Clarissa was a daughter of Aaron P. Leland and Submit Arnold.Aaron P. Leland was born in VT, and was a son of Simon Leland, a member of the legislature.In politics he was a Whig, and he died in 1878.His wife, Submit Arnold was also born in VT and was a Presbyterian.Aaron and Submit Leland had 8 children:Louis, Horace S., George S., Jerome W., Charles E., Warren F., and Clarissa N.
[Note:Clarissa's brother Horace Leland, had entered the hotel business with his uncles, the Leland brothers of New York.Horace was the one who originally opened the Leland Hotel in Springfield, IL.Horace and the Leland Bros. were also involved with the ownership of:Sturtevant House in NY; the Ocean Hotel at Long Branch; and the Leland Hotels in Chicago, New York, and Albany.The Leland and Wiggins Hotel in Springfield, IL was built in 1864 and opened in Jan 1867 at a cost of $320,000.]
Noble and Clarissa Leland Wiggins had three children:Horace Leland Wiggins, Lewis Noble Wiggins and Lucy A. Wiggins.The Wiggins family attended First Presbyterian Church.Noble was a Mason and attained the degree of Knight Templar.In addition to the hotel business, Noble had a farm of 350 acres.Noble died 8 Oct 1901 at his Leland Farm.
Sources:
The Past and Present of Springfield and Sangamon County Illinois, 1904
and
History of Sangamon County, IL 1881, pp. 703, 727, and 728.