Hardin 6 BIGELOW
Hardin Bigelow, born VT, lived NY & MI; first mayor of
Sacramento,
CA.
16A43.2 Hardin 6 BIGELOW, son of Stephen Moses
5(
Moses
4
, Ebenezer
3,
Joshua2,
John1),
and Phoebe (WING) BIGELOW, was born circa 1801 in Vermont.
As a young child
he moved to New York state, where land deeds exist in St. Lawrence
county
showing that he owned land there; on the transfer of title his wife's
name
is given as Cynthia. By the 1840's he was in business in Marengo,
Calhoun
county, Michigan, but failed financially. Cemetery inscriptions for two
young daughters who died at Marengo, state they were daughters of
"Hardin
and Thirza". His obituary mentions that "in the explosion of the
Moselle
and the Wilmington" Hardin suffered severe losses, and barely escaped
with
his life. He served in the Black Hawk War in Illinois. He was over two
years in the West Indies, New Grenada, Peru, Chile, and Central
America,
during which time he acquired a knowledge of prospecting for minerals
and
became a practical engineer. He reached California on the first steamer
to arrive at San Francisco, and spent some time in the mines on the
Mokelumne.
He then moved to the Sacramento, and was involved in a project for
building
a railroad from Sacramento to the heart of the gold mines. During an
early
flood that threatened to wipe out the community of Sacramento, he
organized
its inhabitants into sand-bagging the rising river, and later into
building
levees against the annual floods. He was instrumental in helping
putdown
a Squatters' Riot during his mayorship of Sacramento. During the riot
he
was shot and severely wounded, which led to the amputation of his
thumb,
then when infection set in, he went to San Francisco to have his arm
amputated,
but developed cholera and died 27 Nov 1850. He is buried in Helvetia
cemetery,
Sacramento. 
He left at least one son, whom we are now able to trace.
Known family of Hardin Bigelow:
16A43.21 Lydia E., b ca 1827 NY; d ____ ; in
1850 was married to Solomon Franklin; resided Wheatland, Monroe co, NY;
her 2 brothers lived with them;
16A43.22 Anson
Hardin
7, b 12 Aug 1833 Rochester, NY; d 26 Nov 1914
Omaha, NE; m (1) Mary BRAZEIL; (2)
Nellie ___ .
16A43.23 Myron, b ca 1835 NY; d ____ ; in
1850
he and Anson lived with sister Lydia; by 1860 Myro and wife Sarah lived
Rochester, Monroe co, NY;
16A43.24 Annette, b ca 1838; d 1 Mar 1842,
ae
3 yrs; bur Sampson cemetery, Marengo, MI.
16A43.25 Almira, b ca 1842; d 24 Feb 1843,
ae
8 mos; bur Sampson cemetery, Marengo, MI.
Sources:
Bigelow Family Genealogy Volume. I page.351;
Howe, Bigelow Family of America;
news items Marshall (MI) Statesman;
land deeds St. Lawrence co, NY and Calhoun co, MI;
obituary Hardin Bigelow;
funeral notices, various papers, including NY Times;
history Sacramento county;
city council notes, Sacramento, CA, during period of Hardin Bigelow's
mayorship;
l940-44 news stories from Sacramento Bee and Sacramento Union,
concerning rediscovery of Hardin's grave.
Inquiry from John Cumming, Clarke Memorial Library, Mt. Pleasant, MI
48859.
Check Library at Marshall, Calhoun co., MI.
(hardin6.jpg)
Modified - 02/07/2015
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reserved.
Rod Bigelow - Director
< rodbigelow@netzero.net >
Rod Bigelow (Roger Jon12 BIGELOW)
Box 13 Chazy Lake
Dannemora, N.Y. 12929
<
rodbigelow@netzero.net
> 
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He left at least one son, whom we are now able to trace.