WIGENT, WILLIAM H. AND EMILY

by H.C.H.S from the 1940 Who's Who in Nebraska

Entry F452 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

William Horatio Wigent was born in
Reading, Michigan, December 8, 1873, the
son of George M. and Harriett (Norton) . He
received his education in Eaton County,
Michigan. He married Altha Hickox January
11, 1894. They had a daughter, Eva Dell that
married J.E. Lowe of Mullen. William
married Emmily Jeanette Wilson Elsner
September 3, 1937 of Omaha, Nebraska.

William worked as a stone mason, as
carpenter and woodcutter in Central Michi-
gan 1890 to 1900. In 1905, he came to Hooker
county to homestead and ranch till 1908
when he became owner and manager of
"Wigent Furniture Store" till 1925. In the
meantime he became a licensed mortician
and in those years on the second floor of his
building he owned the "W.H. Wigent Funeral
Parlor" (which now houses the NAPA Auto-
motive Store). In 1925 he became involved in
another business which replaced the furni-
ture business, called "The Wigent Variety
Store" which was referred to by the local
people as "The Dime Store" where many
articles of different varieties could be pur-
chased for 1 cent up to a $1 and later the
prices were increased up to about $5 for the
larger items.

Emily was a Secretary for many years in
different businesses in Omaha till her
marriage to W.H. Wigent. When she arrived
in Mullen she then helped out her husband
clerking in the Variety Store while he took
care of his mortuary business.

W.H. and Emily Wigent were involved in
community activities as well as Lodges and
clubs.