Clarence G. Biggs 1879-1935

BIGGS, ZIEGLER, PUFAHL, ALBRIGHT, FOOTE, CANFIELD, DEEMER

Posted By: S. Ferrall
Date: 6/24/2009 at 05:56:49

Clarence Biggs, 55, Dies Here Tuesday
Well-known Piano Tuner succumbs to Bright's Disease at Local Hospital

Clarence Biggs, 55, well-known throughout North Dakota where he has traveled in pursuit of his piano tuning profession since 1903, died at 6:41 p.m. tuesday at a local hospital from Bright's disease.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Perry Funeral parlors with Rev. Walter E. Vater officiating. Interment will be made in Fairview cemetery.

Mr. Biggs, a single man, had been living with his sister, Mrs. Ula Demmer, at 308 Avenue B for the last two years. Although in poor health for over a year, he was not taken seriously ill until Christmas Day.

Born August 21, 1879 in Allamakee county, Iowa, he came to this state at the age of 24 and lived at Fargo until 1918, when he moved to Bismarck. Besides his piano tuning profession he sold pianos and was a skilled musician, playing a great variety of instruments.

He leaves four sisters, Mrs. Nannie Canfield and Mrs. Carrie Pufahl, both of Waukon, Iowa. Mrs. Cora Foote of Waterloo and Mrs. Deemer and two brothers, William of Monona, Iowa and Thomas of Bakersfield, Calif.

~Bismarck Tribune, January 9, 1935

___________________________________

Relatives Go Home from Local Funeral
William Biggs and wife of Monona, Ia., together with their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Ziegler of Luana, Ia., Mrs. Carrie Pufahl and son Paul of Monona, and her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. B.L. Albright and daughter, Patricia, of Castalia, Ia., left Bismarck Sunday after having attended the funeral of Clarence Grant Biggs here last Friday.

Two sisters and a brother of Mr. Biggs, Mrs. Cora Foote of Waterloo, Ia., Mrs. Nannie Canfield of Monona and Thomas Biggs of Bakersfield, Calif., were unable to come for the services.

An obituary of Mr. Biggs, prepared by his sister, Mrs. Ula Deemer of Bismarck, discloses that he was born in Allamakee county, Iowa, Aug. 21, 1879, the youngest of 10 children. When only four years old he showed special aptitude for music and at seven was tuning the guitar and violin of his older brothers. He also became an expert on the auto-harp, an instrument little used now.

Mr. Biggs came to North Dakota in 1903, working as a piano tuner for a Fargo music house. His work took him all over the state and he was widely known in this section, having made his headquarters here for a number of years.

~Bismarck Tribune, January 16, 1935

~transcriber is not related and has no further information