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