Elihu WIGGINS was born 18 September 1830 in Georgia. He was married to Judith Elizabeth (Bess) WELCH, the daughter of I. B. WELCH & Mary C., was born 11 March 1827 in Georgia. I. B. and Mary C. Welch are buried in the Harris Creek Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas.

They moved to Alabama sometime before their son David Adolphus was born in 1854. In 1870 they moved to Smith Co, Texas, buying a place in the northeast part of the county from Hundley FOWLER. This house was built in 1852 in the Center Community, nine miles north of Tyler. It was made of hand-dressed lumber and put together with square nails. It sat in an old-fashioned garden of roses, poppies and many other blooms. A bell on a long pole was used to call the hands from the field at meal times.

"The main road near their house as the old Tyler-Shreveport road and about 1 1/2 miles north of this house it joins the Dallas-Shreveport road. The home was the free hotel to hundreds of traveling salesmen who then toured the county in horse and buggy would spend the night at the Wiggins home. They always paid for their lodging, and sometimes left free samples of goods. However there were many peddlers who walked with heavy packs on their backs, most of whom were too poor to pay. There were many foreign peddlers such as Syrians and the Wiggins family found their guests nearly always interesting."*

In 1871 Elihu was listed as a deacon of Harris Creek Baptist Church.

Children of Elihu and Bess:

1. David Adolphus, born 9 February 1854, Alabama; died 16 June 1924, Smith Co, Texas; buried Center Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas; married 10 January 1883 Anna Browning CRITTENDEN

Elihu died 5 September 1911 and Judith died 16 February 1912. They are both buried in the Harris Creek Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas.

David Adolphus WIGGINS was born 9 February 1854 in Alabama. He came to Texas with his parents, Elihu WIGGINS and Judith Elizabeth WELCH in 1870. On 10 January 1883 he was married to Anna Browning CRITTENDEN in Smith Co, Texas. Anna was born 13 October 1861 in Alabama.

They lived in the house with Dolph's parents and raised their children there. Children of this marriage were:

1. Thomas Elihu, born 12 June 1884, died 22 Apr 1960
2. John David (Jake), born 2 August 1887, died 13 February 1945
3. Ada, Born 22 November 1888; died 29 Dec 1939; married 3 December 1926, Smith Co, Texas, E. C. OLIVE
4. Bessie, born 6 March 1892; died 1 July 1924; married 3 December 1911, Smith Co, Texas, Claude E. OLIVE
5. Mary Fannie, born 1 October 1898, died 1 May 1903
6. Anna Lee (Roxie), born 11 July 1894, died 14 December 1984, married 4 March 1917 Alvin R. DENTON
7. Robert (Bob), born 14 August 1901, died 30 April 1952

All the children were born in Smith Co, Texas and buried in Center Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas. E. C. and Claude E. OLIVE are believed to be the same person although what is stated is what was in the Smith County Marriage Book II, 1900-1926. He was born 20 February 1884 and died 20 Sep 1929. He is also buried in the Center Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas.

Dolph died 16 June 1924 and Anna died 6 January 1918. They are both buried in the Center Cemetery, Smith Co, Texas.

These files are submitted by volunteers just like you! I make it a habit that anytime I work with records, whether for myself or to share with others, I submit them to the USGenWeb/TXGenWeb project. It doesn't take much extra effort and it really can help many people. I'm very grateful to the many volunteers for all the great info provided.
If you agree, please email, Scott Fitzgerald with your submission.