Fairfield's First Band - early 1860s

BIGELOW, ATCHISON, MCCRACKEN, SHAFFER, WOODS, WILLIAMS, WRIGHT, HOPKINS, JORDAL, JORDAN, SPIELMAN, HARRIS

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 3/3/2011 at 20:43:13

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Tuesday, September 24, 1946
Section D, Page 3

SAM BIGELOW FORMED FIRST BAND IN CITY.

Fairfield's first band was organized by Samuel BIGELOW, Jr., who came to Fairfield in 1859. A shoemaker by trade, he was an amateur musician and organized a band a few years after setting up his business here.

BIGELOW was born in Sutton, Mass., and spent some time in Marietta, Ohio, before coming to Fairfield with his wife and daughter Kate. A second daughter, Cynthia, was born in 1852. BIGELOW was accompanied to Fairfield by his father and together they erected the building on North Court St. now occupied by Robinson's Plumbing Shop. The structure is the oldest business block now standing in the city.

BIGELOW manufactured handmade boots and leather goods, and served as city clerk at one time. He learned how to play the violin as a hobby and soon acquired a collection of instruments, learning to play them all. This led to the organization of a Fairfield band and the group practiced in BIGELOW's shop and kept their instruments there.

BIGELOW arranged all of his own music and composed a few selections. His band of 1874 included Dave ATCHISON, Dave McCRACKEN, Dr. J. M. SHAFFER, Dr. P. N. WOODS, and Amos WILLIAMS. Later BIGELOW organized an orchestra, playing second violin in the group. Other members were Jules C. WRIGHT, first violin, Arch HOPKINS, clarinet; Hal JORDAL (sic - JORDAN?), bass viol; Fred SPIELMAN, cornet, and Will HARRIS, piccolo.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.