Bigelow, H. A. 1830 – 1904

BIGELOW, GIFFORD, CONOVER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:44

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Nov. 8, 1904, FP, C7

Murder at Decorah.
H. A. Bigelow lies dead at Decorah at the hands of T. J. Gifford, a professor in the Yalder Business College of that city. The murder was the culmination of a dispute in regard to a boundary line between their lots. No one saw the blow struck but they had some words and Bigelow was heard to tell Gifford “Better be a little careful” and then the blow was heard. The weapon used was a heavy hoe with curved tines used for digging potatoes and the blow crushed in Biglow’s skull. The deed was committed at about noon Saturday and the victim never regained consciousness and died at about 9:30 that evening. Gifford was put under arrest and is now in jail under bonds of $10,000 to face a charge of murder.
Gifford is about 33 years of age, said to be popular in the school and never known to be of a violent temper or quarelsome. He is the superintendent of the M. E. Sunday school. Bigelow is an old man 74 years of age and had recently moved to Decorah from his farm.

Transcriber’s Note: Phelps Cemetery show this was Henry and was born 1830.

Added by Joy Moore August 1, 2019

Source: Decorah Republican Nov. 10, 1904 Page 3

H. A. BIGELOW IS KILLED
By T. I. Gifford in a Dispute over a Piece of Property.
On Saturday last at about the noon hour, Prof T. I. Gifford struck H. A Bigelow on the head with a potato digger and at nine o’clock Saturday evening Mr, Bigelow was dead.
View the affair from any standpoint and but two conclusions can be readied. It was either the most cold blooded murder ever perpetrated in Decorah or the act of an insane man. Mr. Gifford was at work on his lots—the west half of the Willett property between Maple avenue and River street—while Mr. Bigelow was engaged in moving some of his goods to the north half of the property which he purchased a year ago, and which he was just occupying. At about 11:30 they become involved in a controversy over the lot line. It soon led to harsh words and intense anger. Two witnesses saw Mr. Gifford raise a club in a threatening manner and heard Mr. Bigelow say “Take care! Take care!” A few words followed and then they separated, each going to his work.
There was no direct witness to the blow which Gifford dealt to Bigelow but from little scraps of evidence which have been pieced together, it appears that both warned each other to keep away from the other's property; that about the noon hour Bigelow went to a lean-to of his barn, which Gifford claimed was on his land; that Gifford walked over to where he was and deliberately struck the blow which made him a murderer. He then dragged Mr. Bigelow’s body to the lot line and called Mr. James who was unloading some wood there, telling him that he had hit Bigelow and that he had hurt him some. James asked Gifford to help him carry Bigelow into the house and he refused, saying that Bigelow had ordered him to keep away from his ground. J. C. Beard, living next to Mr. Bigelow, had returned home but a few moments before and had held a short conversation with Bigelow and was putting out his horse when James called for his assistance. Beard repeated the request for assistance and Gifford again refused. Beard and James carried Mr. Bigelow into the house.
Drs. P. M. and Dana Jewell and G. M. Stevens were called and spent nearly the entire afternoon working upon Mr. Bigelow. Portions of the skull were removed and the remainder propped up in the hope that the life might be saved, but at shortly after 8:30 o’clock in the evening death resulted. Sunday morning a post mortem examination was held which revealed the fact that beside crashing the left part of the skull the frontal and basal bones were cracked and the injuries were of such a nature that recovery had been simply impossible.
Immediately after the affair of Saturday noon Gifford was arrested and taken before Justice Gibson on the charge of assault with the intent to commit murder. While admitting that he struck the blow, he declared that if given a hearing he would be able to justify his action. He was released upon bail of $1,000. Sunday morning at 11:00 o’clock he was rearrested upon a charge of murder in the first degree and at a preliminary hearing in the afternoon he was committed to jail and bail fixed at $10,000. His hearing will he held to-dav at one o’clock. Gifford has retained E. R. Acres as his attorney and he appeared with him as his advisor at the preliminarv hearing Sunday afternoon.
No effort has been made to shield Mr. Gifford nor minimize the gravitv of his crime. Immediately after the occurrence had become public the almost general expression was, “The man must have been insane;” and developments of the past few days tend to confirm that view. Gifford's family record is one of insanity; his grandfather, father and uncle having been victims; also a nephew and an oldest daughter, a resident of New York state. If he had murder in his heart then its development has been sudden and marvelous to his friends for in his home relations and in his dealings with the public he has always stood high and is generally spoken of as a man of a most even and quiet temperament. No one can feel anything but sympathy for those to whom the affliction is one that is almost too much to bear.
From some source the report was made that Mr. Gifford attended church Sunday and assumed his usual position as superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school, but this is a mistake.
To Mrs. Bigelow and Mrs. Conover of Frankville, wife and sister of the late deceased, a world of sympathy goes out. Especially is this true of the wife who is left alone to bear her grief. No children brighten the Bigelow home and now that the husband of her younger years has been taken in such a tragic manner she is left with an awful sadness but few can realize.
The crime was an inexcusable one in any way. Though keen in his mentality at 74 years, Mr. Bigelow’s strength was fast ebbing away and if occasion had risen or any rough handling it would have required little effort and no injury to him who now sleeps in the grave. The funeral of Mr. Bigelow was held yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the house. Rev. Willett officiating, and was largely attended by old acquaintances and neighbors who gathered to pay a last tribute to one who had been their jovial, whole-souled and sincere friend.

Phelps Cemetery
 

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