BIGINGS, WILLIAM F.

BIGINGS, HINZ, KING, KONARSKA, YOUNG, STODDARD

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/24/2004 at 16:44:34

Biography reproduced from page 619 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

William F. Bigings is one of the well known and enterprising citizens of Luverne, where he fills the position of general manager of the elevator of the Kunz Grain Company, of Wesley, Iowa. He was born in Hoopeston, Illinois, December 26, 1884, and is a son of Carl and Minnie (Hinz) Bigings. The father is a native of Germany and celebrated his marriage in his native land. At an early date he emigrated to America, settling for a short time at Bloomington, Illinois, from which place he removed to Hoopeston. In 1887 he came to Kossuth county and located on a farm in Luverne township. He greatly improved that property and there he continued to live during the remaining years of his life, which closed in 1891. At the time of his death he left an estate consisting of two hundred and sixty-three acres of valuable Iowa farm land. He was a man highly respected by his friends and associates and esteemed as one of the representative citizens of Kossuth county. The mother, a native of Germany, emigrated with her husband to the United States and is now residing in Luverne, Iowa. They had eight children: August, deceased; Mattie, the wife of H. T. King, of Logansport, Indiana; Ida, the wife of C. L. Konarska, who is engaged in farming in Luverne township; Mrs. Lena Young, who is a widow and resides in Chicago; May, also residing in Chicago; Henry, deceased; William F., of this review; and one, who died in infancy.

William F. Bigings was reared at home and received his early education in the public schools of the district in which he lived, later becoming a student in the high school at Luverne. He then completed a full commercial course in the Capital City Commercial College of Des Moines, from which institution he was graduated in the class of 1905. Immediately following his graduation he engaged in carpenter work, in which he continued until 1905 and then took charge as manager of the elevator at Luverne for the Kunz Grain Company, of Wesley, Iowa, since which time he has continued to give his undivided attention to the interests of that business. He is still interested as one of the joint heirs in his father’s estate and is also the owner in his own right of valuable real estate in Luverne.

Mr. Bigings was married March 14, 1912, to Fern E. Stoddard, of Renwick, and they have a daughter, born November 23, 1912. He is affiliated with the republican party, of which he is a loyal adherent. He is a man of sterling integrity and highly respected by his associates and acquaintances.