Lewis Wigle

Who was Lewis Wigle?

Lewis Wigle 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 Canadian House of Commons from 1882 to 1887 as a Conservative member.

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. Wigle served as mayor of Leamington from 1902 to 1904.

His daughter Edith married Seger McKay, mayor of Kingsville.