Marion County GaArchives Biographies.....Wiggins, Alford Redding January 12 1874 - March 8 1922
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carla Miles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002476 January 13, 2005, 8:44 pm

Author: Barbara Hall McClure

Family Histories
Page 498
Submitted by Barbara Hall McClure, dau. of Buena Vista Preston Hall.
Sources: Military records, Federal Census, death certificate and newspaper 
articles.

Alford Redding Wiggins, “Red”

Alford Redding “Red” Wiggins was the son of Alexander G. “Alex” Wiggins and 
Elizabeth, possible dau. of Charles Blandford and Martha Nancy Hardin of Harris 
Co., Ga.

Military records, death certificate and newspaper articles indicate that Alford 
Redding Wiggins was born 12 Jan. 1874 in Buena Vista.  He was known as “Red” 
Wiggins.  Family stories state that he was a big man, seven feet tall and 
weighing 350 pounds with flaming red hair, however, military records indicate 
that he had #10 blue eyes, light brown hair, medium dark complexion, was 5 
feet, 10 inches high, weighed 202 lbs on 11 Dec. 1911, chest 38 ˝ inches at 
expiration, 41 ˝ inches at expiration vision in right eye 20/40, vision left 
eye 20/20, missing 6 teeth.  Had childhood diseases of measles and mumps, bone 
felon of right thumb, scar on right cheek, various other scars and moles, was 
moderately addicted to the use of intoxicants or narcotics.  Could speak, read 
and write the English language well, his intelligence was good and that he was 
otherwise normal in all respects.  So much for family legends!

Controversy in military records, death certificate, newspaper articles, deeds 
and family records over variations of Red’s name including, Alfred Redding, 
Abner or Arthur Reading, seems to be clarified by deeds and a military record 
copy of his signature as Alford R. Wiggins.

Red Wiggins was living in Florida by 4 April 1895.  he enlisted 15 Nov. 1899 in 
the U.S. Army, Co. L, 18th Inf.; serving in the Philippine Islands with the 9th 
U.S. Inf. Co. I at Camp Jassman and Camp Downes.  He retired from the U.S. 
Army, attaining to at least the rank of Sgt., to Arlington, Ga. to be close to 
his sister, Rowena B. Wiggins Preston.  Various descendants of Rowena have in 
their possession mementos sent from Texas and the Philippines by Uncle Red 
Wiggins.

A.R. “Red” Wiggins became Chief of Police of Arlington and was wounded in the 
line of duty on 7 March 1922, in an attempt to stop a bank robbery.  He died in 
Albany at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital the following day, Wed. 8 March 1922 
of a gunshot wound in the abdomen.  His death was listed as homicide.  He is 
buried in Oak Grove Cem., in Arlington Ga., in an unmarked grave beside that of 
his sister, Rowena Wiggins Preston.  Red Wiggins was unmarried.


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