HENRY
L. BIGELOW
HENRY L. Bigelow, a representative of one of
the sterling pioneer families of Michigan, a veteran of the civil war and an
honored citizen of Grand Ledge, where he is now living practically retired, was
born at Phelps, Ontario county, New York, September 16, 1830, being a son of
William W. and Sarah (Tower) Bigelow, the former of whom was born in Phelps,
Ontario county, New York, February 11, 1808, and the latter in Geneva, that
county, her death occurring at Northville, Wayne county, Michigan, when she was
forty-eight years of age. The father died in Delta township, Eaton county, in
April, 1865. In 1836, the year prior to the admission of the state to the
Union
, William W. Bigelow came with his family to Michigan, locating in Northville,
Wayne county, where he remained twelve years, contracting in the chopping of
timber in the forest wilds and also working at the carpenter’s trade. In 1848
he removed to
Farmington
,
Oakland
county, where he was engaged in farming land on shares until 1853, when he came
to Eaton county and bought one hundred and sixty-eight acres of government land,
in Delta township. The land was covered with a dense growth of timber and he
made a sufficient clearing to permit the building of a small plank house,
completing the same in the autumn of 1853 and bringing his family from
Oakland
county in the following spring. He reclaimed about seventy-five acres of his
land to cultivation, erected good buildings, and continued to reside on this
homestead until his death. In politics he was originally an old-line Whig, but
upon the organization of the Republication party he identified himself
therewith, continuing to support its cause during the remaining years of his
life. He was industrious and frugal, having gained independence through his own
exertions, and his life was one of unbending integrity and honor. After the
death of his first wife he married her sister,
Lucinda
Tower
, who died in 1885, four children having been born of the first union and one of
the second; Henry L., subject of this sketch, was the firstborn; Francis M.
served in the same company and regiment as the subject of this sketch in the
civil war, enlisting in October, 1861. His health was poor at the time of
enlistment, and he served only a few months, being discharged on account of his
ill health. He re-enlisted in 1863 in the Seventh Michigan Cavalry and served
until the close of the war. He was drowned in the Grand river in 1865, never
having married; Mary also met death by drowning the Grand river, having been
sixteen years of age at the time; Lucy became the wife of Cyrus Beach and both
are now deceased, their only child, Cyrus, being a farmer near Charlotte, this
county; William G., the only child of the second marriage, is a resident of
Missaukee county, Michigan. Henry L. Bigelow secured his educational training in
the common schools of
Michigan
and as a youth learned the carpenter’s trade, under the direction of his
father, with whom he continued to be associated in the work of his trade until
he had attained the age of twenty-eight years, when he initiated his independent
business career. When the dark cloud of civil war cast its pall on the national
horizon Mr. Bigelow was among those who responded to President Lincoln’s first
call for volunteers.
September 16, 1861
, he enlisted as a private in Berdan’s United States Sharpshooters, Second
Regiment of Michigan Volunteer Infantry. Before the command left the city of
Lansing
, Mr. Bigelow was made first sergeant of his company. He proceeded with his
regiment to the front and took part in all the engagements in which the same was
involved up to and including the second battle of
Bull Run
. He had previously been taken ill and had been ordered to the hospital, but
refused to leave his regiment. After the second Bull Run engagement his
affliction became so serious that he was taken to the hospital, his exhaustion
being such that he had no remembrance of anything that happened from the time he
was taken from the field until he found himself in the hospital in the city of
Philadelphia
. His illness entailed permanent disability, and on this account he was given an
honorable discharge
November 29, 1862
. He has never recovered from the effects of the disease thus contracted and has
been in impaired health for a number of years past, receiving a pension of
thirty dollars a month and being imminently entitled to the same. After his
discharge Mr. Bigelow returned to his home, in Grand Ledge, and when he had
sufficiently recuperated his energies he resumed the work of his trade, which
continued to be his vocation during the greater part of his active career
thereafter. He still does more or less carpenter work, when his health will
permit. He retired from active business about twenty years ago. He does
insurance and conveyancing in a moderate way and has been a notary public for
the past score of years. He has a comfortable residence, owning the property,
and is surrounded by a host of old and tried friends. He was formerly aligned as
a stanch supporter of the principles and policies of the Republican party, but
for the past few years he has maintained an independent attitude. He is one of
the popular comrades of Earl Halbert Post. No. 108, Grand Army of the Republic,
of which he is quartermaster at the time of this writing, and has been for about
seven years.
January 23, 1856
, Mr. Bigelow was united in marriage to Miss Sarah P. Shear, who was born in
Pontiac
,
Michigan
,
September 5, 1832
, being a daughter of John B. and Catherine (Clark) Shear, the former of whom
was born in the state of
New York
and the latter in
Vermont
. Both passed the closing years of their lives in Eagle township,
Clinton
county,
Michigan
, the mother passing away at the age of sixty-two years and the father attaining
the age of eighty-two years. They came to
Michigan
in 1830, locating in
Pontiac
, where they remained until 1833, when they removed to
Clinton
county, where Mr. Shear secured forty acres of government land, in Eagle
township. He made the trip to the land office in
Kalamazoo
, walking the entire distance, and there made proper filing of his claim. He
afterward bought an adjoining eighty acres, and developed a good farm from the
virgin forest, continuing to reside on the old homestead until the time of his
death. Of this thirteen children four died in infancy, the others attaining
maturity, while of the number three are now living, --- Mrs. Bigelow; Mrs. Mary
Ward, of Grand Ledge; and Mrs. Angeline Hodge, of Big Rapids. Two of the sons
were members of the Third Michigan Volunteer Infantry in the civil war, -- Abram
having removed to Arkansas and the other members of the family having heard
nothing from or concerning him in several years, the supposition being that he
is deceased; John H., the other soldier, was killed by his horse while on his
way home, after having been mustered out of the service. In conclusion is
entered a brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Bigelow: Mary
died in infancy; Frank H. is a machinist by vocation and resides in the city of
Seattle
,
Washington
; John H., is foreman in a chair factory in Grand Ledge; Kate I. is the wife of
Frank Summerville, of Oneida township; William P. is with his brother Frank in
Seattle.