BIGELOW, William Perry 1828-1918

BIGELOW, BATTLES, SMITH

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/18/2010 at 12:03:50

William Perry Bigelow, 1828-1918

William Perry Bigelow, deceased, comes from an old and honored French Huguenot family.

He was born in West Boylsot, Mass., March 23, 1828, died February 19, 1918, at the age of 89 years 10 months 15 days at the Bigelow home in Osage. He was laid to rest in the Nora Springs cemetery.

In 1850 he was married to Abby Battles, of Ahtol, Mass.; the young wife being taken from him in 1853. In 1856 he married Mary Smith of Ahtol, Mass. who was called to her reward in 1894.

Mr. Bigelow was the father of five children, three sons and two daughters. Eugene, the first born, died in infancy, Clara and Minnie beautiful bright girls, were taken from his home at the same time in 1868, at the age of 8 and 10 years respectively. Lawson died in 1885 at the age of 31 years. William A., the youngest son, is the sole survivor of his family.

Mr. Bigelow's vocation was that of a mill-wright and machinist, which he followed till he was about 65 years of age.

He moved from Massachusetts to Iowa, locating at Nora Springs in 1993. Following the death of his wife in 1894, he joined the family of his only son, who was then living in Minnesota and in 1915 came with them to Osage.

Mr. Bigelow was blessed with a fine physique and almost perfect health and spent all the days of his long life at some honest useful toil. Being of a retiring disposition, he mingled very little in society, home ties and the duties of caring for his home and loved ones, held for him a peculiar charm; and though he was so often called upon to put away his loved ones, and his own home broken up, no one ever heard him complain.

Mr. Bigelow was Christian in faith and example having united with the Methodist church in early life, and was regular in attendance and faithful in duty until sight and hearing began to fail him.

He has taken great delight and pride in the growth and progress of his four grandchildren, and they own much of their success to the beauty and dignity of his character.

By Marilyn O'Connor, August 2005