Sarah Elizabeth (Moore) Bigelow (1836-1910)

MOORE, BIGELOW, HAMILTON, JEFFRIES

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/7/2026 at 14:58:45

From Ames Times October 13, 1910 (page 1)

SARAH E. BIGELOW

The funeral of S. E. Bigelow was held in the Baptist church at three o'clock Sunday, October 9th an was largely attended by the old friends and acquaintances of former years, the W. R. C., G. A. R. and P. E. O. attending in a body. The remains were brought back from Seattle to lay beside the husband, arriving on Saturday night accompanied by her three daughters and her son.

Sarah Elizabeth Moore was born in Luzerne county, Pa., in 1836, moving to Kewanee, Ill., when a child, where she spent her youth, and where she was married in 1868 to D. A. Bigelow. Soon after they came to Ames and located, assisting greatly in the upbuilding of the then new town. The family home was established in Ames, the children born and reared here and the entire family was an integral part of the best of the community. Her husband, D. A. Bigelow, passed away in 1890 after an honorable career as merchant, and having held many offices bestowed by the votes of his fellow citizens being at the time of his death a member of the school board. As a mark of the signal respect in which he was held it is recalled that the places of business all closed their doors at the time of his funeral.

Mrs. Bigelow was an energetic worker in the Baptist church which, after her home claimed her first allegiance and was also a charter member of the P. E. O. and a member of the W. R. C. and of the Eastern Star. In recording the life and death of such a woman as Mrs. Bigelow it is not so much that on such a day she was born or on this day she was married or t'was there that she died, but in a record of unfailing loyalty to the welfare of others and the lovely beauty of a sincere Christian spirit that she labored in the Master's vineyard. Her keen appreciation of the miracle of nature, the wonder of an unfolding flower or a delight in a plant heretofore unknown was hers to marked decree. Her illness dated from the second of July which a few days before she went from her own home in Seattle to that of her daughter in Payallup [sic] to visit. Her health had not seemed quite as good as usual before but she said that a rest was all she needed. However, an illness set in that was at first thought to be typhoid but which later proved to be a malignant growth in the vital organs and which terminated her life October 3rd. During her final illness she showed her usual good spirits and on Saturday before her death on Monday was planning Christmas.

The funeral in the church was conducted by Rev. W. I. Fowle and a quartette composed of Mesdames Maxwell, L. C. Tilden, Messrs. Clark and Wentworth sang, Mrs. Tilden also singing a solo "Face to Face." The remains were laid to rest in the Ames cemetery beside her husband. Those in attendance from away were her daughters Mrs. S. G. Hamilton and Miss Alida Bigelow of Seattle; Miss Tot Bigelow and Robert Bigelow of Puyallup, Washington; Mr. Robert Moore, only brother, from Kewanee, Illinois; Dr. Melvin Moore, Rock Island, Illinois and Miss Grace Jeffries, a niece from Kewanee. Other friends were Mrs. Mary Fellows Weaver of Cedar Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wight, Des Moines; Miss Ethel Hamilton, Des Moines; Mrs. Lydia Peckham, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Davis and Miss Dora Hamilton, Marshalltown and Mr. and Mrs. Oley Olson from Story City.

The Bigelow family very feelingly appreciate the kindness and attention shown them by their Ames friends and the respect shown their mother. They regret their short stay here, would not allow their giving more time to their friends.