Lewis Wigle (March 10, 1845 – July 30, 1934) was an Ontario farmer, businessman and political figure. He represented Essex South in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1875 to 1882 and in the House of Commons of Canada from 1882 to 1887 as a Conservative member.

Lewis Wigle
Member of Parliament
for Essex South
In office
1882–1887
Preceded byNew riding
Succeeded byJames Brien
Ontario MPP
In office
1875–1882
Preceded byNew riding
Succeeded byWilliam Balfour
ConstituencyEssex South
Personal details
Born(1845-03-10)March 10, 1845
Gosfield Township, Canada West
DiedJuly 30, 1934(1934-07-30) (aged 89)
Political partyConservative, 1875-1882
Other political
affiliations
Conservative, 1882-1887
SpouseBertha Smith
OccupationBusinessman

He was born in Gosfield Township, Essex County, Canada West in 1845, the son of Solomon Wigle. He owned a general store at Leamington and served as reeve of Mersea from 1867 to 1875. Wigle married Rebecca Hairaine in 1868. He was president of the Leamington and St. Clair Railway and a tobacco buyer for the Empire Tobacco Company. After the death of his first wife in 1898, Wigle married Bertha Smith, the widow of a Doctor Wray. After 1887, he ran unsuccessfully four times for the Essex South seat in the House of Commons and in the 1919 provincial election as an independent Conservative. Wigle served as mayor of Leamington from 1902 to 1904.

His daughter Edith married Seger McKay, mayor of Kingsville.

Electoral history edit

1875 Ontario general election: Essex South
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Lewis Wigle 1,014 51.19
Liberal J.C. Iler 967 48.81
Turnout 1,981 69.61
Eligible voters 2,846
Election voided
Source: Elections Ontario[1]
Ontario provincial by-election, September 1875: Essex South
Previous election voided
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Lewis Wigle 1,310 58.53
Liberal J.C. Iler 928 41.47
Total valid votes 2,238
Conservative pickup new district.
Source: History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario[2]: 81 
1879 Ontario general election: Essex South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lewis Wigle 1,418 52.93 −5.60
Liberal William Balfour 1,261 47.07 +5.60
Total valid votes 2,679 74.29
Eligible voters 3,606
Conservative hold Swing −5.60
Source: Elections Ontario[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1875. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  2. ^ Lewis, Roderick (1968). Centennial Edition of a History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario, 1867–1968. OCLC 1052682.
  3. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1879. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

External links edit