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View Tree for James Willard DwigginsJames Willard Dwiggins (b. 09 Jul 1860, d. 26 Aug 1927)

James Willard Dwiggins (son of Unknown and Ellen Dwiggins) was born 09 Jul 1860 in Near Frankton, Indiana, and died 26 Aug 1927 in Orestes, Indiana. He married Flora May Russell on 09 Dec 1880 in Indiana, daughter of James Russell and Caroline Bradbury.

 Includes NotesNotes for James Willard Dwiggins:
The life of James Willard has been quite a mystery. He was born near Frankton, Indiana in Madison County where he lived all of his life. Ellen Dwiggins was his mother and there are very fews clues as to his father.

Details were not broadcast and embarrassment kept it under the hats of relatives. Records of his birth and life in Madison County burned in 1880 when the courthouse was destroyed by fire. Somehow through the years revealing questions were not asked and testimonials were not forthcoming or recorded. As I asked the question of James Willard's ancestry to those still living including my father (Garland Dwiggins), the only answer I received was a shrugged shoulders answer from JW's granddaughter, Mary Harrison Paddock. "There was never much said about his parents and we never knew them. We had heard the rumor that his last name would have been Welborn. Census records revealed that during JW's adolescent years he lived with Daniel and Sarah Knotts, his loving grandparents taking care of their own. The 1870 census had him listed as JW Dwiggins age 10. Also on the census listing is another JW age 20 which is the son of Daniel and Sarah, John W. In 1880 JW Wilborn, age 19, the same person, was listed as living with John Dwiggins, 31, his wife Amanda and his grandmother Sarah age 76. In 1880 JW's mother and Grandfather had died and were not listed.

James Willard and Flora lived just north of the railroad at Orestes and two blocks east in the farm house next to the track. Years later Leigh and Bertie Tempest resided in the home. The home was very nice and always painted nicely decorated with a white picket fence.

A devastating tornado smacked Orestes April 17, 1922, killing three persons an injuring another with injuries of which he would never recover. Their home was twisted on the foundation and had roof damage like most of the other homes in the community.

James was a fence man by trade. He dug the post holes, set the posts and strung the fence by himself. He had a pair of wooden fence stretchers that he used and built fence anywhere he could travel with his horse and wagon. The Dwiggins Wire and Fence Company was owned and operated by John Dwiggins, the son of John and Margaret Dwiggins and James worked for them. If you wanted a straight fence, you purchased the Dwiggins Fence products. The straight line of wooden posts and fencing were always a trademark of the company. James was also a blacksmith in the town of Orestes, Indiana in 1890.

Most days JW wore bibs with a jeans jacket. As the locomotives passed by his home he had a common habit of pulling his pocket watch from his jacket pocket to check the time. James Willard loved horses and always kept a nice garden.

James died Aug. 25, 1927 at his home in Orestes, Indiana in Madison County. He was born near Frankton on July 10,1860. He lived all of his life in Madison Co. Frankton area. He married Flora Russell Dec. 9, 1880 in Alexandria. They had 5 children; Carrie, Lena, Maude, Edward, and Clara Ellen that died sometime around 1908-1909. He also had a half brother, John Chafin.



More About James Willard Dwiggins:
Burial: Unknown, Parkview Cemetery - Alexandria, Indiana.

More About James Willard Dwiggins and Flora May Russell:
Single: 09 Dec 1880, Indiana.

Children of James Willard Dwiggins and Flora May Russell are:
  1. +Clara Ellen Dwiggins, d. 1918.
  2. +Carrie Dwiggins, b. 1883, Madison Co. Indiana, d. 27 Apr 1974.
  3. +Sarah Arlena Dwiggins, b. 15 May 1884, d. 13 Jun 1966, Elwood, Indiana.
  4. +Maude Dwiggins, b. 21 Jan 1887, Elwood, Madison Co., Indiana, d. 06 May 1954, Lily Creek Community, N. Madison Co. Indiana.
  5. +James Edward Dwiggins, b. 28 Feb 1890, Madison Co. Indiana, d. 26 Apr 1969, Orestes, Indiana.
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