WI BIO - Brown Co - WIGMAN, John H. M. 1st Biography of John H. M. WIGMAN Men of Progress, Wisconsin: Selected List of Biographical Sketches & Portraits of Leaders in Business, Professional & Official Life ... History & Character of Wisconsin. Aikens & Proctor, eds. Milwaukee: Evening Wisconsin Company, 1897, pp 509-510 John H. M. WIGMAN, senior member of the law firm of Wigman & Martin of Green Bay [Brown County], Wisconsin, the son of James B. and Matilda (DOORENBOSS) WIGMAN, was born at Amsterdam [Holland], 15 August 1835. He attended school in Amsterdam until he was nine years old, when he was sent to college at Limburg [Holland], where he remained until 1847. In December 1847 his mother [Matilda (BOORENBOSS) WIGMAN] died. His father's [James B. WIGMAN's] failing health necessitated a change in the affairs of the family, and in 1848 the subject of this sketch and his brother, Henry J. WIGMAN, came to the United States with Rev. T. J. VAN DEN BROEK, arriving in Little Chute [Outagamie County], Wisconsin, in June 1848. He [John H. M. WIGMAN] remained with Father VAN DEN BROEK for a year, and then engaged in farming and other manual labor until 1854, when he entered a dry good store at Green Bay [Brown County, Wisconsin], as clerk, which position he retained two years. At the end of this time he took charge of the public school in the Town of Scott, Brown County [Wisconsin], studying law at the same time. He was elected Justice of the Peace in the spring of 1857, in 1858 was elected Clerk of the Town of Green Bay, and the next year town Treasurer. During these years he continued his law studies, borrowing books from the Green Bay lawyers and practicing before justice courts. On the breaking out of the civil war his [John H. M. WIGMAN's] brother [Henry J. WIGMAN?] enlisted in the 16th Michigan Infantry, and was killed in the battle of Fredericksburg on the day of his promotion to a Second Lieutenancy. [The battle of Fredericksburg was fought 13 December 1862] In 1862 his father [James B. WIGMAN] died, and Mr. [John H. M.] WIGMAN went to Holland to settle his father's estate. Returning in July [1862] and bringing his sister, Mrs. Helena M. BERENDSEN, with him, he [John H. M. WIGMAN] took up his residence at Appleton [Outagamie County, Wisconsin], entering the office of T. R. HUDD as a law student. In February 1864 he was examined in open court, and admitted to the bar. A law partnership was then formed under the firm name of Hudd & Wigman. He [John H. M. WIGMAN was elected District Attorney of Outagamie County [Wisconsin] in 1864, and twice re-elected. In 1868 the firm opened an office at Green Bay [Brown County], to which city he removed in 1870, with his family, having built the commodious residence which he still occupies. The firm of Hudd & Wigman continued in business until November 1889, when it was dissolved, Mr. [John H. M.] WIGMAN then taking into partnership his son-in-law, P. H. MARTIN, the firm since known as Wigman & Martin. Mr. Wigman is considered among the ablest, and is one of the most successful lawyers in [p 510] in the State, having frequently been victorious where defeat seemed imminent. Among many test cases in which he was most active is notably that of the bible in public schools. In April 1893 he [John H. M. WIGMAN] was appointed United States District Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, which office he held for four years, the term expiring 15 April 1897. In 1885 he became one of the organizers of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, a benevolent association now composed of 170 branches, with a membership of nearly 8,000. He [John H. M. WIGMAN] was elected its first President, and re-elected every two years up to the present time. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and in recognition of services rendered was made, by the papal authority at Rome, Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great on 01 March 1887. In 1857 Mr. [John H. M.] WIGMAN married Matilda LYONAIS. John H. M. and Matilda WIGMAN had nine children. Mrs. WIGMAN [Matilda] dying in 1876, he [John H. M. WIGMAN] married Miss Jane MEAGHER, his present wife. John H. M. and Jane (MEAGHER) WIGMAN have had two sons and two daughters. Of the thirteen children [from John H. M. WIGMAN's two marriages], eight still survive, four of whom, one son and three daughters, are married. 2nd Biography of John H. M. WIGMAN History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, vol I, p 127 J. H. M. WIGMAN, of Hudd & Wigman, attorneys at law, with office on the corner of Washington and Cherry Streets [Green Bay, Brown County, Wisconsin]. Their law partnership was formed in Appleton [Outagamie County, Wisconsin] in 1863, and in 1868 the office was established in this city [Green Bay] by Mr. HUDD, Mr. WIGMAN remaining in charge of the office at Appleton until it was discontinued in 1870, when he removed to this city [Green Bay]. Their practice extends to all the State and Federal courts, and their rooms are furnished with a valuable law library of 1,200 volumes. J. H. M. WIGMAN was born in Amsterdam, Holland, where he received his education. He came to America in 1848, and studied law in the office of his partner [Thomas R. HUDD], at Appleton, but before completing his studies made a trip to Europe in the spring of 1863, from which he returned the same fall. He passed his examination before the court, and was admitted to practice and immediately formed a law partnership with his legal instructor [Mr. HUDD]. The following year he [J. H. M. WIGMAN] was elected District Attorney for Outagamie County, and held that office by successive election until his removal to this city [Green Bay] in 1870. Submitted by Cathy Kubly