Member Biography

James W. Quiggle 

Member

Portrait: Courtesy Clinton County Historical Society

Sessions Office Position District Party
1853       14 Democrat
1854       14 Democrat
1855       14 Democrat

Biography

01/20/1820 - 11/28/1878


James W. Quiggle (D14) Centre, Clinton, Lycoming and Sullivan Counties 1853-1855

Early Life:

James W. Quiggle, born January 20, 1820, Wayne, Clinton County Pennsylvania; son of Johannes "John" and Rebecca Quiggle, studied law, admitted, Clinton and Lycoming bars, 1841; married, Cordelia Mayer Quiggle, 1848, children, James Clarence Quiggle, Blanch Quiggle Shoemaker; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1853-1855; Lieutenant Colonel, Governor William Fisher Packer's staff, 1858-1859; presidential appointed, American Consul to Antwerp 1860-1861; deputy attorney general, prosecuting attorney, Clinton County; died, November 28, 1878 (aged 58) interment, Quiggle Cemetery, Lock Haven, Clinton County, Pennsylvania. 

Early Career:

Studied law, Congressman James Gamble, Jersey Shore Pennsylvania, 1851-1855.

Pennsylvania Politics: 

Lieutenant Colonel, Governor William Fisher Packer's staff, 1858-1859.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 14th district, Centre, Clinton Lycoming and Sullivan Counties, 1853-1855.

Deputy attorney general, prosecuting attorney, Clinton County.

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Appointed, President James Buchanan, American Consul to Antwerp, Civil War, tried to persuade General Guiseppi Garibaldi to command military operations for the Lincoln administration, 1860-1861; plan aborted, 1863.

Legacy:

Wife, Cordelia Mayer, sister of Judge Jacob Mayer. The Mayers were direct descendants of Richard Buffington, agent for William Penn who came to Pennsylvania from England, 1675. 

Son, James Clarence Quiggle, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1890-1893.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. Senate Members "Q" (wilkes.edu)Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

James W. Quiggle (1820-1878) - Find a Grave Memorial