rodbigelow@netzero.net 
Child of James and Nesta (Foster) Bigelow:
15146.1111 DeForest
Wellington, b 22 May
1854 IL; d 30 June 1918 Absarokee, Stillwater co, MT; m 1873
Caroline
Elizabeth "Carrie" Howe; (1856-1932); 11 children;
Sources:
Bigelow Society,The Bigelow Family Genealogy, Vol II, pg ;
Correspondence with descendants;
New info:
Article sent 16 Jun 1999 by Pauline Bigelow, 2114 Comstock St.,
Miles City, MT 59301-48903.
In Deforest's opinion, his father was born in western part of New
York State. By occupation, James R. was a steamboat captain
and pilot. first on the Colorado, remaining, however, only a short
period, going thence to California gulch, and afterward visiting
other places. Returning to Denver he engaged in placer
mining. In the spring of 1862 he went to East Bannock,
Montana with a pack train of which he was wagon master. The
same year Alder gulch was discovered by William Fairweather who
came to Bannock after supplies. His discovery he attempted
to keep a secret, but Mr. Bigelow discovered it, and, in company
with Mr. Fairweather, and his son, he started for Alder Gulch.
Mr. Bigelow secured a claim, #6, below Discovery and
Summit claims. At that time, our subject was too young to
file on a claim. They all remained there until 1864, going
thence to Last Chance gulch (now Helena). Then Mr. Bigelow
and his son divided their time between Alder and Last Chance
Gulch. Finally, Mr. Bigelow sold out his Summit claim for
more dust than his son could life. The father then left his
son at school in Alder Gulch. At that time subject was
thirteen years of age. His father, when loading the dust on
to an animal in two sacks asked the subject to hold one of the
sacks which he was unable to do, and he was a strong boy.
In 1865 Mr. Bigelow started for the Kootenai mines,
which had recently been discovered. He secured claim No. 3,
and this he soon disposed for another large load of "dust."
Then ensued a rush for Blackfoot City, and he was swept along with
the tide and took the claim where he was subsequently
murdered. It was supposed that he was killed bya man who had
served as foreman of his mine. At that period Captain
Williams, X. Beidler, Col. S. F. Sanders, Neil Howey and John
Featherstone were the principal leaders of the vigilantes. They
put forth every effort to discover the murderer and apprehend him,
and it was supposed afterward that the man who had killed Mr.
Bigelow had been subsequently murdered by Indians. At the time of
the killing of Mr. Bigelow a large number of the population of
Montana were "road agents. "Sanders made a thrilling speech, and
assured the people that unless something was done immediately all
the law abiding people would be killed.
The mother of our subject, Maria (Foster) Bigelow,
went to Denver with her husband where she died.
To Denver our subject went with his mother the year
following the arrival in that city of his father. He accompanied
the latter to Alder Gulch, and other mining camps and remained
with him until his father went to Kootenai. While he was in Nevada
City he witnessed the lynching by vigilantes of George Ives, the
first one executed by lynch law in Montana. Ives exhibited a
great deal of bravado, and so sure was he that he would not be
hanged that he came forth from his cabin smoking a cigar.
But the vigiulantes were in deadly earnest, and upon the
appearance of Ives each one drew a bead on the spectators and
sympathisers with Ives who were present, and thus held them
motionless until the hanging was over. Following the death
of his father, our subject was taken in charge by the vigilantes,
and wanted for nothing. They placed him in school and paid all
necessary expenses. the men foremost in caring for him were
X. Beidler, Capt. Williams and Neil Howey.
In 1860 our subject left school and joined the Salmon
River Stampede. The following fall he returned to Helena and
soon after other mining camps were discovered. In 1869 he
went to White Pine, Nevada, and here he joined the Pioche
Stampede, returning in 1876 to Helena where he remained until the
discovery of Penobscot, Wipporwill and Marysville mines. In
1880 Mr. Bigelow removed to a ranch in Prickly Pear Valley, where
he continued to live until 1883, returning thence to Helena.
After five years passed on Crow Creek, Montana he removed to Great
Falls and acted as foreman in the construction of the Great Falls
Smelter. He was manager of the smelter for awhile, and also
conducted the Cascade hotel. To Boulder, Montana he came in
1890, and the following year he went to the Yellowstone National
Park as overseer of work. He came to his present location in
1893, and October 25th of that year, secured a homestead where he
has since remained.
In 1873 Mr. Bigelow was married to Carrie E. Howe,
born at Ogden Utah. Her parents were Joseph and Caroline
(Jelly) Howe. She is the mother of nine children: Mrs. James
Dwyer; Mrs. Lawrence Lynch; Mrs. A. F. Ketchens; Mrs. C. B. Scott;
Lily a baby; James R., Edward, Harry and Daniel.
This was taken from "History of the Yellowstone
Valley, Montana and Published by Western Historical Publishing
Company, Spokane, Washington. The book is not dated but the last
date found is 1907.
rodbigelow@netzero.net 
