My grandfather (in the middle in the above photo, undated, click to enlarge) has been difficult to track, as various records have him as William Albert, Irbet, William A, Herbert W, and Herbert John.

His baptismal record from St. Peter’s Church in Mendota (written in Latin) lists him as William Albert Wigley, born in January of 1879 to parents Charles (Carolus) Wigley and Marie Dupuis.

The 1880 US Census shows the entire family at that time. Click this jpg for the enlarged and highlighted image or this PDF. Charles is listed as the head of household, with Marry A (misspelling of Mary, A for Agnes), and children Isabelle, Marry, Nellie, Isaac, and Irbet (misspelling of his middle name, “Albert”?), age 1. It also list Angeli Dupuis, mother-in-law (Angelique Renville) living with them.

Page 19 (enlarged and highlighted image) of the 1899 McLaughlin Census (complete PDF) shows that my great-grandmother Agnes Wigley, (nee Dupuis) and her two children, Sarah and Herbert, were living in St. Paul. She’d evidently separated from her husband, Charles Wigley, by then.

The 1900 US Census (click this jpg for an enlarged and highlighted image or this PDF) shows Mary as the head of household, living with daughter Mary (married name Bartlet, with her daughter Villa, age 4), son Charles (born in 1877; why wasn’t he listed on the 1880 census?), son William H (my grandfather, born in January, 1878, which is a discrepancy from previous DOB listing the year 1879), daughter Sarah (born in 1884). No mention of Isabelle, Nellie, or Isaac.

The 1910 US Census (click this jpg for an enlarged and highlighted image or this PDF) shows my grandfather living with the James Auge family, listed as a brother-in-law, age 30. His name is now Herbert, with middle initial appearing to be either H or W.

The World War I Draft Registration Cards database for 1917-1918 (dated Sept. 12, 1918) (click this jpg for an enlarged and highlighted image or this PDF) shows my grandfather as Herbert John Wigley, with only part of his birthdate showing, January 31. He lists his age at 38 which would make his year of birth as 1880.

The 1920 US Census (click this jpg for an enlarged and highlighted image or this PDF) shows my grandfather as Herbert J. Wigley, head of household. He’s married to Bernice, and they have one son, my uncle, Herbert J. The census was done on January 9th, so my dad isn’t listed, as he was born on March 27, 1920.

The 1930 US Census (click this jpg for an enlarged and highlighted image or this PDF) show my grandfather as Herbert John Wigley, his wife Bernice, and two sons, my uncle (now listed at Herbert J. Jr) and my dad, Lawrence J. Wigley.