Alexander ⁷ BIGELOW

Subject: Alexander Bigelow
Source: History of Worcester and Its People
by Charles Nutt, A.B. 1919

Vol. 4  p.679

 

     Alexander Bigelow, woolen manufacturer, was born at Natick, Mass., Dec 12, 1814; died January 22, 1887 in this city, son of Col. Abraham Bigelow and his wife, Louisa Train. He had a common school education and went to work in a woolen mill at the age of fifteen.
     About 1850, in partnership with George Barber he started in business in this city in a mill on the site of the Whittall Carpet Mills at south Worcester. The firm of Bigelow & Barber manufactured woolen goods. 

     In 1853, the firm bought the mill and water privilege at Hopeville on Middle river below the present power station, building a new mill. Twice their mill was destroyed by fire, and rebuilt.  In 1870 Mr. Barber withdrew from the firm and Mr. Bigelow became associated with Edward D. Thayer in a stock company which continued the business under the present name - the Hopeville Manufacturing Company.  Mr. Thayer was president, Mr. Bigelow treasurer and Edward Gould third director of the corporation.

     After ten years Mr. Bigelow bought the other interests in the company and remained the sole owner until the time of his death.  He started in life without capital, built up a large business, acquired a very creditable competence and won high rank among the manufacturers
of the city and county.  He was prudent, thrifty, upright and industrious.  He was a member of the Church of Unity.  In politics he was a Republican. 

     Mr. Bigelow married (1) April 5, 1845, Adeline Stockwell who died in this city Dec 24, 1879, dau. of Cyrus Stockwell.  He m. (2) Oct 18, 1881, Sarah M. Goodwin. 
Children by his first wife: 

1. Elizabeth Bigelow born here, married David Manning, Jr.
2. George Alexander Bigelow

 

Mr. Bigelow was a descendant in the seventh generation from John Bigelow whose descendants have been very numerous and prominent in this town and city.  The line of ancestry is: Alexander Bigelow (7); Abraham Bigelow (6); William Bigelow (5) Lieut. Josiah Bigelow
(4); Thomas Bigelow (3); Samuel Bigelow (2); John Bigelow (1). The first five generations lived in Watertown (complete file transcribed from Bond's Watertown on request) and the towns formerly a part of Watertown. 

     William Bigelow (5) went to Natick in 1778; was a soldier in the Revolution.  Colonel Abraham Bigelow (6) held a commission for many years in the state militia. He was commander of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company 1827-1828.

 

     George Alexander Bigelow, President and treasurer of the Hopeville Manufacturing Company, was born in this city July 19, 1853 and was educated in the public schools here and Worcester High School, class of 1870.

      Beginning in 1871 he had a few years of experience in the banking business as clerk in
the Central National Bank. He engaged in the wool business in 1875 in partnership with
George W. Coombs of Worcester and Joseph Hyatt of Delaware, Ohio, under the firm name
of Hyatt, Coombs & Company.  The firm's place of business was at  184 Front Street. Mr.
Hyatt retired from the firm in 1879 and the name became Coombs & Bigelow. In 1883 the
business was moved to Boston and the office was on Federal Street.  Mr. Bigelow retired
from the wool business January 1, 1887 and since that time has been one of the principal
owners of the Hopeville Manufacturing Company of this city, serving since 1887 as presi-
dent and treasurer of the corporaton.  Mr. Bigelow is a director of the Hahnemann Hospital
and a member of the South Unitarian Memorial Church of which he was treasurer for ten years
and member of the standing committee.  He is a member of the Commonwealth Club, Worcester
Country Club, Economic Club, Worcester Chamber of Commerce, Worcester County Mechanics
Association and the Manufacturers Textile Association. 

George Alexander Bigelow married at Norwich, Connecticut, Oct 10, 1877, Dora L. Tucker
b. at Norwich, Sept 21, 1854, dau of James and Ellen (Walbridge) Tucker. Her father was
born in Griswold, CT Feb 29, 1828 and d. Jan 4, 1916. Her mother was born at Bennington,
VT Sept 7, 1832 and d. Nov 28, 1902.  Mrs. Bigelow is a member of the Col. Timothy
Bigelow Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.
                 Mr. & Mrs. Bigelow have four children:
1. Adelaide W. Bigelow b. July 27, 1878 m. 1905, Asa Merrick Parker. Children:
           1. Edward Harrrison Parker b. Feb 4, 1909.
           2. Ruth Bigelow Parker b. June 6, 1911; d. Mar 12, 1912.
           3. Paul R. Parker b. Oct 22, 1913.
           4. Frederick Parker a twin of Paul R., who died Oct. 24, 1913.
2. Helen Louise Bigelow b. Aug 5, 1880; m. in 1904, George D. Church. Children:
           1. Helen Elizabeth Church b. July 7, 1905.
           2. Adelaide Bigelow Church b. Feb 27, 1907; died July 25, 1910.
3. Edward Alexander Bigelow May 5, 1885.
4. Dorothy Elizabeth Bigelow b. Sept. 10, 1887.

 

     Edward Alexander Bigelow, manager of the Hopeville Manufacturing Co., a woolen manufacturer,
was born in this city May 5, 1885, son of George Alexander Bigelow & his wife, Dora L.
(Tucker) Bigelow.  He received his early education in the public schools of this city.
He attended Worcester Academy, and the Abbott School, Farmington, Maine.  After taking
the course in the Lowell Textile School, Lowell, Massachusetts, he became associated
in business with his father in the mills at Hopeville.  Since then he has been manager in the
Hopeville Manufacturing Company.  He is a member of the Commonwealth Club; the Economic
Club, Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), Heatherly Golf Club, No. Scituate, Mass.,
Worcester Country Club and the director of Associated Charities.  His home is at 9 Otsego
Road, Worcester.   He married Mary Abbott Ball, of Keene, New Hampshire on Nov. 10, 1909.
One daughter, Katharine Abbott Bigelow b. at Worcester, Dec 8, 1911. 

Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth