Bigelow, A.J. 1831-1887

BIGELOW, MARR

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 1/28/2011 at 15:41:00

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Feb. 18, 1887

OBITUARY.

BIGELOW.--Died, in Grinnell, Feb. 12, at 6 o'clock P.M., A.J. Bigelow, aged 55 years and 7 months.

The funeral services were held at the Congregational church in Grinnell, Monday, at 1:30 o'clock, and were conducted by Rev. Sharply, of Chester Center. The remains were interred in the Grinnell cemetery.

Mr. Bigelow was born in Bloomfield, Somerset county, Maine, July 12, 1831. He was the eldest of ten children, of whom seven are yet living to comfort their aged parents. He remained at home until the age of 22 years, then went to Lowell, Mass., to work in a cotton factory as watchman, where he remained two years. He then went to California in the spring of 1854, to seek his fortune in gold-mining, taking the steamer at New York City and sailing by way of the Isthmus of Panama. In the spring of 1858, he returned home by the same way in which he went. July 17, 1858 he was married to Miss Emma Marr, of China, Me., by Rev. Edward White. He bought a farm in Norridgewock, Me., where he farmed until the spring of 1862. He then decided to go west, came to Iowa, choosing his home in Chester, where he has since resided. About twelve years ago he made a public profession of his faith in Christ, and died in the blessed hope of a Christian. He was a man to be relied upon, as to integrity, fidelity, promptness, and the conscientious discharge of duties and trusts laid upon him. He leaves a wife and six children, three sons and three daughters, all of whom were present. His affliction was of many years standing and his intense suffering served to strengthen his desire to be at rest.