New-York tribune., 1901-01-06
BISHOP WIGGER DEAD.
The WELL KNOWN PRELATE EXPIRED
EARLY THIS MORNING FROM
PNEUMONIA

4
Nisger, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Newark. died shortly after midnight at Seton Hall
Inc Bishop had been suffering from pneumonia for
several days. He had bad sinking spell early on
Friday evening, but rallied from II and passed a
fairly comfortable night. Yesterday Saturday,
morning he had another sinking SPELL but again
rallied and his attending physicians during day
We're hopeful OF his recovery His brother Robert
Wigger, of New-York was with him at the time of
his death.
Bishop Wigger born in New-York City on
December lsfl. of Swiss parents. He received his
early education St Francis Xavier's College,
and entered Seton Hall College, at South Orange
In 1861 The following year. after Archbishop
Bagley had conferred on him minor orders. he
TO Genoa and entered the Collegio Brgriole Sail,
from which he graduated with high honors.
In 1850 he was ordained a priest. AS he was
turning TO America cholera broke out the ship.
and when port was reached the young priest asked
and received permission from Archbishop Bagley
TO remain on board and minister to the sick. For
this he was highly commended by the passengers
and the steamship company.
Bishop Wigger's first regular priestly labors
began at ST. Patricks Cathedral In Newark when
he became assistant Monsignor George II.
Doane, the pastor. He worked hard for several
years, and was then transferred to St. Vincents
Church. Madison where he did successful work.
ST. Johns Church. in Orange was 100000 in debt.
and Bishop Corrigan now Archbishop selected
Dr. Wigger for the task of wipng this debt.
1t was accomplished. He was then sent to Sum-
init. and soon afterward 10 Madison, where he
served in the convent there. DR.. Wigger was
consecrated Bishop OF the Diocese of Newark
on october is. 1881, at the Cathedral In Newark.
in the presence of prominent clergy, and in the
evening he was serenaded by ten thousand Catho-
lies Addresses and testimonials presented
him
The diocese had been divided into the dioceses
or Newark and Trenton, the former having two
thirds OF the Catholic population of the State or
10000 1t now has 10000. with 1s1 secular priests,
Is in religious orders. 200 churches and chapels,
academies for boys and 35 for girls, orphan asy-
lums. industrial and reform schools, hospitals.
several homes for the aged and 5000 children in
parochial schools.
In 1880 DIR. wigger celebrated the twenty-ffth
anniversary OF his ordination priest A few
months later the College of Cardinals, at Rome,
selected Bishop Wigger to succeed Archbishop
Huss, deceased, in the archdiocese OF Milwaukee.
main where he was and his request was granted.
bishop Wigger conceived the idea OF a great
nurtured it for several years. Then five years ago
ne called meetings OF the clergy and laity and
great favor. and finally enough money was pledged
TO warrant the Bishop in going ahead. The arc1i-
stone work given out The cornerstone was laid
py BISHOP Wigger on June II, 1899. with imposing
1t Bishop Wigger's desire to live to see the
Cathedral completed. There Will be no debt on the
is paid for in cash out of the building fund
Another work done by Bishop Wigger was the
cese amounting to ST. 50Oo00 at per cent interest
The interest on the debt had been and 6 per
cent.
Bishop Wigger an accomplished lingust. and
thoroughly understood Latin and Greek. He
f aW a ana e5f a. ed es haPs soss 81 e re-
was charming. His favorite exercise was walking
classes OF persons in the diocese he was held in the
highest respect