Semi-weekly herald., 1909-03-22

P'osi ans Were IN green an
white. Badges with green ribbons
green neckties on the gentlemen. an,
9 various articles in the ribbon line
+ such as the fair sex are partial 10
were seen In profusion last night.
The committees on duty did thei
work nobly and the lemonade stan,
did rushing business. Taken as
whole II was very successful affair
and we trust netted a sufficient sun
to purchase fine set of uniforms.
When news came that Thomas II
Wigglesworth. the well known railroad
engineer. had passed TO the great be
yond at $3.50 last Monday afternoon, nj
his home at Waterfall ranch In the
Animas valley. few were surprised
since Mr.. Wieglesworth had baen
gradually failing from the time he was
stricken with paralysis some weeks
ago.
Almost seventy-four years ago--his
natal day being July 3l---our late
friend was born In Palmyra, N. y,
of English parentage. His early life
was spent on a farm and here he fol.
lowed the ordinary pursuits of boys OF
his age and station in life.
At the age of IS he started out in
life fer himself. going as axman for a
surveying party for the Edgiield and
Kentucky railroad in Tennessee. Thus
began the long career as railroad en-
gineer which reflects credit ON all
who bear his name, and which lasted
ifty-four years. 1t was while work.
ing in this part OF the country that
Mr.. Wigglesworth assisted In the sur
vey OF part of the Blue Ridge in the
| Cumberland mountains.
For the pext nine years the young
man gradually worked his way up, and
| In his twenty-seventh year was mar.
ried TO Miss Ann c. Spradlin at Foun.
tain Head. Sumner county, Tenn.
Three years later, Mr.. Wigglesworth
moved his family west. coming TO the
San Juan In 1879. and residing In
La Plata county ever since. Here
his children grew up to manhood and
| womanhood. and with their mother,
| survive him. All have ut some time
| attended schhool in Durango. Charles
S. Wigglesworth. assistant engineer
Denver and Northwestern: w H. Wig.
ellsworth. county surveyor OF La Plata
county. Mrs. w. II. Howard OF Ennes.
Tex: DR.. A. NJ. Wigglesworth of Fort
Defiance. Ariz.. and John NJ. Wiggles.
worth, foreman of Telluride Power
| company. Vance Colo.-theae the chill.
dren. together with their mother are
left 10 mourn, as well as several
grandchildren.
In his work as an engineer Mr.. Wig.
ellsworth was instrumental In devel.
oping the resources OF this section.
and put through many big projects
He surveyed and superintended the
building OF the Silverton branch of the
Rio Grande. beginning TO work for the
company when they were no further
Than Alamosa: he surveyed and built
the Rio Grande Southern to Rico: was
chief engineer of the Colorado Mid
land, also OF the Crystal River rail
road. and OF the Elk Mountain rail.
road. He made the preliminary sur.
vey OF the Arizona & Colorado, and
did considerable engineering for IL.
tI 10.
The last work OF this kind that Mr..
Wigglesworth did was on the Cananea
Yaqui River & Pacific, for Mr.. Harri-
man.
The story OF HIS life, full as It is OF
worthy achievements. speaks palmer
than any words OF encomium the
writer may bestow. A man able to ac-
complish so much that Is worthy. In
one lifetime. needs no praise, his
works speak for him. II ia sufficient
to say that he was an engineer OF rec
ognfzed ability and untarnished in.
tegrity.
He was a member OF the Masonic
| order and belonged TO the San Juan
Pioneers association. He was a man
decided In his views and pronounced
in his likes and dlsllkes. true friend.
worthy citizen--a man honest in all
bis dealings. From his success 1t
would seem that he found his life work
and did II to the best of his ability.
and we all know how well that was,
for.
mo man is born into the world whose
work
Is not born with him. There is always
| work
And tools to work withal, for those
who viii;
And blessed are the horny hands OF
| toll"
The funeral services OF our late
friend were very largely attended this
afternoon. the Knights Templar being
present in full regalla, and large
turnout OF the Blue Lodge OF Ma
sons. The rest Of Red Men hall was
filled with members of the San Juan
Pioneers association and friends, as.
| lSpmhIpd 10 nav thair laai raAnaata IN