Career
He refused to sell his firm to the Standard Oil Trust and was chosen by the Massachusetts Independence League as its candidate for Governor of Massachusetts in 1907. Finishing second, ahead of the nominee of the Democratic Party, Hisgen became the logical choice as nominee of the national Independence Party launched in 1908 as an offshoot of Independence League activities. Although he toured the country on the campaign trail, Hisgen"s poorer-than-expected showing at the polls in November 1908 spelled the end for the Independence Party, many of whose members rejoined the Democrats.
Hisgen subsequently remained in the public eye as a periodic commentator on events in the petroleum industry.
He was born November 26, 1858, in St. Petersburg, Indiana to William Hisgen and Margaret Catherine McNally. His father was a German immigrant who had first lived in Albany, New York, before coming west to Indiana in 1857.
His mother was from Canada. Most of his education Hisgen obtained on his own through a steady reading of books
His father, who had some basic knowledge of chemistry, had long worked at creating a new and improved axel grease compound which could be pantented and marketed.
He died on August 27, 1925 in Miami, Florida.
