Person:Arthur Wiggins (2)

Notes from Barbara Yancey-Dore: Believed moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana.

From Ruth A. McVey, ggranddaughter of Arthur, who received this information from SWLA Genealogical & Historical Library at Lake Charles, Louisiana: Arthur was killed at DeRidder, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana (now Beauregard Parish) by Bob Slaydon in a fight that also involved Press Burge (stepson) and Henry Boyd. All three were jailed at Lake Charles.

1860 Chambers County, Texas census age 18, born Louisiana, farmer living at home with widowed mother and family.

1870 Jefferson County, Texas census shown as Arthur age 28, born Louisiana, farmer living at home with apparently twice widowed mother and family.

1880 Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana census shown as A. Wiggins h/h 37 hauling saw logs, parents born Louisiana. Wife Mary M. keeps house, she and parents born in Louisiana. Sons: John R., age 5, born Texas, Louis, age 3, born Louisiana. Living with the family as boarders: Daniel Davis age 24, lavorer, he and parents born Louisiana, and J.J. Stacks, age 35, laborer, born Missouri, mother born in Ireland, father born in Austria.

1900 Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana census shown as Arthar (sic) Wiggins Born June 1842, he and parents born in Louisiana, can't write. Notice on this census he is "single," but is boarding in the house of his "ex" wife, with her "2nd" husband. He is employed as a Teamster, but has been unemployed for 4 months of the last year. His middle son is living next door and his youngest is living with the stepfather. Apparently, the oldest is the one child of Mary's that she showed to be deceased.

Voter's Registration Chambers County, Texas Number 249. Arthur X. Wiggins. November 25, 1869 Resident of the State of Texas for 26 years. Resident of the county and precinct for 12 months. A native of Louisiana by birth in 1842.

Marriage: Trip to Newton County Courthouse at Newton, Texas. Recorded in Book F, Page 76. Shown as Arther (sic) H. Wiggins and Miss Mary M. Dowden. Married by W.C. Southwell, Minister of the Gospel.

According to the newspaper article Arthur Wiggins age 65 was involved in a fight "to see fair play" between Press Burge (stepson) and Henry Boyd when Bob Slaydon hit Arthur over the head with a plank killing him almost instantly. It's ironic, but Press or Preston Burge and Bob or Robert Slaydon were related.