Russel ⁷ BIGELOW

15923.23      Russel ⁷ BIGELOW, son of Russell ⁶ ( Isaac ⁵ , Isaac ⁴, Isaac ³, Samuel ², John ¹ ) and Lucy (SANGER) BIGELOW, was born at Chesterfield, Cheshire, NH on 24 February 1793. His parents later moved to northern VT, then to St. Armands, Quebec. Russel was a gifted child and read fluently at the age of six, having been taught by his mother. He was converted to the Methodist Church at the age of nine and while still in adolescence, he was instrumental in converting his own father to the Methodist faith. At the outbreak of the War of 1812, the entire family, including their grandmother Mary Bigelow, moved to Madison county, OH. Russel married on 29 May 1817 Margaret Irwin who was born at Burdon, KY 21 July 1797. Having been licensed to preach while very young, Russel found the frontier a rich field for his labors. He was soon known throughout OH for his revivals and camp meetmgs, upholding the firm stand of the Methodist Church against liquor. He held week long missions of preaching and hymn singing that left an influence remembered even into the 1900's. In the early 1830's, his health broke and he had to retire from his circuit riding, station preaching, missionary endeavors, presiding elder and delegate to the General Conference. In 1835, he was appointed Chaplain of Ohio Penitentiary. Again, his health failed and he died on Ol July 1835 in Columbus, of .'dysentary". His wife was by his side. He is buried in Greenlawn cemetery. His widow returned to the farm at Mansfield and refused to have the young family separated. Somehow she managed to feed, clothe and educate them all and she survived another thirty years, dying in Wadsworth, OH on 19 September 1867. (see below)

Children of Russel and Margaret (Irwin) Bigelow:

15923.231t     Lucy, b 31 July 1818; d 0l Jan 1892 Quinder, KS.; m 20 Feb 1838 John Armstrong; 6 children. Lucy and all her brothers and sisters were m in Richland co., OH.

15923.232t    Mary Jane, b 31 July 1821 Columbus, OH.; d 13 Aug 1874; m 23 Nov 1843 Rev. Thomas Pope; 4 sons.

15923.233      Jerusha, b 31 Dec 1823 Cincinnati, Hamilton, OH.; d 05 March 1866 N. Fairfield, OH.; m 18 June 1846 Dr. H. W. Owen.

15923.234     Martha, b 30 Jan 1826 Highland co., OH.; d 13 Sept 1867 Oskaloosa, IA.; m 25 Aug 1854 William Scott.

15923.235     Melissa, b 27 Mar 1828 Upper Sandusky, Sandusky, OH.; d 31 Oct 1871 Wadsworth, OH.; m 26 Dec 1850 Nathaniel Y. Mefford.
 
15923.236     Russel, b 0l Dec 1830 Mansfield; d 17 May 1841.

15923.237t    William Irwin, b 12 May 1833 Columbus; d 22 March 1900 Gardner, KS; m 24 Feb 1855 Jane Lytle; 7 sons.

Sources:
The Bigelow Family Genealogy  Vol. II Page 128;
Howe, Bigelow Family of America;
marriages of Union, Richl and and Madison counties, OH;
cemetery records OH; correspondence between descendants and Bigelow Society historian/genealogist;
The Descendants of Robert Armstrong, Indian Captive, by Ralph Armstrong, Jr.
Forge: The Bigelow Society Quarterly; vol 15 no 1; Jan 1986.pics above
Forge: The Bigelow Society Quarterly; Oct 1981.
Notes from Forge 1986:
     During the nineteenth century, when methodism was at its height in the United States, several Bigelows were occupied in the Methodist ministry, some with considerable local fame as preachers of great persuasion. Methodist revival week, held periodically in most communities, was a great opportunity for ministers to persuade sinners to reform, and provided a means of emotional outlet and social intercourse for the rural townships and small towns.
     At least two of the Bigelows who were ordained as Methodist ministers have been featured or alluded to in Forge. The Oct 1981 issue contained a story about Rev. Russel ⁷ BIGELOW ( Russell ⁶ , Isaac ⁵ , Isaac ⁴, Isaac ³, Samuel ², John ¹ ), whose activity throughout the state of Ohio has been recorded in the annals of both the civil state and the Methodist church.
     Through the kindness of his descendant Mrs. Beatrice Messer of Gardner, KS, we have the copies of portraits of Russel and his wife (above and on the cover of Jan 1986 Forge). From another descendant, Mary (Pope) Brunson, we have a extract or two from the book Cyclopedia of Methodism Embracing Sketches of its Rise, Progress, and Present Condition with Biographical Notices and Numerous Illustrations, revised edition of 1880:
"Russell Bigelow--one of the most distinguished and useful pioneer ministers of the M.E. Church. He was born in Chesterfield, NH in 1793 and died in Columbus, OH 1 July 1835 in the forty-third year of his age. He was converted in Vermont when nine years of age, and removed with his parents to Worthington, OH in 1812 and at nineteen years received license to exhort.

Another passage in the same book describes the career of Rev Noah ⁶  BIGELOW, son of  Simeon ⁵ ( John ⁴ , Joshua ³ , Joshua ², John ¹) Thanks to Mrs. Messer and Mrs. Brunson for sharing family items.

More 2: Repeats some of above:
!!15923.23  R10774, Russel Bigelow, s/o Russell (Isaac, Isaac, Isaac, Samuel, John) and Lucy (Sanger) Bigelow, was born at Chesterfield, Cheshire co., NY on 24 Feb 1793.  His parents later moved to northern VT, then to St.Armands, Quebec.  Russel was a gifted child and read fluently at the age of six, having been taught by his mother.  He was converted to the Methodist Church at the4 age of nine and while still in adolescence, he was instrumental in converting his own father to the Methodist faith.  At the outbreak of the War of 1812, the entire family, including their grandmother, Mary Bigelow, moved to Madison co., OH. Russell married on 29 May 1817 Margaret Irwin who was born at Burdon, KY 21 July 1797.  Having been licensed to preach while very young, Russel found the frontier a rich field for his labors.  He was soon known throughout OH for his revivals and camp meetings, upholding the firm stand of the Methodist church against liquor.  He held week long missions of preaching and hymn singing that left an influence remembered even into the 1900's.  In the early 1830's, his health broke and he had to retire from his circuit riding, station preaching, missionary endeavors, presiding elder and delegate to the General Conference.  In 1835, he was appointed chaplain of Ohio penitentiary.  Again, his health failed and he died on 1 July
1835 in Columbus, of "dysentary".  His wife was by his side.  He was buried in Greenlawn cemetery.  His widow returned to the farm at Mansfield and refused to have the young family separated.  Somehow she managed to feed, clothe and educate them all and she survived another 30 years, dying in Wadsworth, OH on 19 Sep 1967.
Sources: 
Howe, "Bigelow Family of America";
marriages of Union, Richland and Madison counties, OH;
cemetery records OH;
correspondence between descendants and Bigelow Society historian/genealogist [prior to 1995];
"The Descendants of Robert Armstrong Indian Captive" by Ralph Armstrong, Jr.
Mansfield, OH is a few counties NE of Bigelow Pioneer Cem.(see notes for his father, Russel Bigelow)--which lies in Brown twp. in Knox Co., OH.  There stood a slowly-decaying Methodist Church, named for Rev. Russel Bigelow, pioneer minister to much of early OH and Northern Kentucky. Bigelow Society has more inquiries about him than most any other family member--see article in "FORGE" Bigelow Society Quarterly.October FORGE 1979, Vol.8, #4, p.72 & 73.

Dannemora, NY 12929
 

   rodbigelow@netzero.net