Cornelius ⁶ BIGELOW

15337.9      Cornelius ⁶ BIGELOW, son of Noah ⁵( Cornelius ⁴, Samuel ³, Samuel ², John¹) and his third wife Elizabeth (___) BIGELOW, was born 19 Feb 1810 in Cambridge, Washington county, NY. About 1815 the family moved to Schoharie county, NY. On his father's pension application Cornelius is listed as ten years of age.
     Cornelius married (1)16 July 1834 Susan Earl, of whom we have no information except that she was living in 1850, and presumably died soon after the birth of her sixth child circa 1851. They lived in Andes township, Delaware county for at least 15 years. Cornelius gave his age as 38 years in 1850; on no two documents does his age appear accurately or consistently.
     The family migrated to Montcalm county, MI circa 1853. There Cornelius married (2) on 6 Oct 1853 Cynthia Chaffin, daughter of Peter Chaffin. She was age 18 at the time of marriage, and Cornelius claimed to be 41. In 1860 Cornelius and family were ennumerated in Coe township, Isabella county, MI, with Cornelius now listed as 48 years of age. Four years later, in 1864, giving his age as 44 years, Cornelius enlisted in Co C, 2nd Michigan Infantry. He was discharged in 1865.
     About 1869 Cornelius and farnily--and brother William F. and family--moved to Maxville township, Buffalo county, WI, where the family was ennumerated on the 1870 and 1880 federal censuses, and the 1875 state census. Cornelius was 52 years of age on the 1870 census, but strangely not listed on the 1880 census (only the wife and children). The birth of their youngest child, Jessie M., was recorded as 26 Apr 1869, according to Buffalo county records.
     In 1884, disabled by age and illness, Cornelius Bigelow applied for a veterans' pension. On the application, we have his parents' names, his correct birthplace, and a birthdate of 19 Feb 1820, just ten years younger than he was. Pension was granted, and Cornelius died 5 Mar 1885, recorded as aged 65 years. He is buried in a small private cemetery in the community, and his headstone indicates "age 73 years 12 days."
     Cynthia, his widow next applied for a widow's pension for herself and youngest child, giving Jessie's birthdate as 1871, county records notwithstanding. It is thought that Cynthia returned to Michigan with the three youngest children, as scattered records of them appear in Van Buren and Kent counties.

Children of Cornelius Bigelow by his first wife Susan Earl, all born Delaware county, NY:

15337.91 Thomas, b ca 1836; served Co H, 5th Michagan Infantry; was wounded 31 May 1862, and died 3 July 1862 Fair Oaks, VA; buried New Haven, Gratiot co, MI; unm.

15337.92t Calvin D., b 12 Mar 1838; d 25 Feb 1910 Shepherd, Isabella co, MI; m 24 July 1867 (Gratiot co) Harriet Shaw. Served Co D, 23rd Michigan Infantry. 3 children.

15337.93 Sally M., b ca 1841, living 1850, but no further record.

15337.94t Zedic M., b 20 Nov 1845; d 14 Sep1914 Pine River, Gratiot co, MI; m 15 Feb 1866 Eliza Ann Fry. Served Co K, 21st Michigan Infantry. 9 children.

15337.95 Mary K, b ca 1849; living 1860 but no further record; she may be the unidentified "Mary" buried near Cornelius
Bigelow in Maxville, WI.

15337.96 Phebe, b ca 1851; no death date; m 7 Mar 1869 (Isabella co, MI) Henry Chadwick.

Children of Cornelius Bigelow by his second wife Cynthia Chaffin:

15337.97t Ella Eliza, b ca 1854 Coe twp, Isabella co, MI; died place unknown, but probably Buffalo co, WI 1882; m ca 1875 Oscar Hewitt of Buffalo co, WI. 2 children.

15337.98t James Henry, b 10 Sep 1856 Coe twp; d Mar 1918, place not given; m 16 Sep 1877 Irene Harrington. 2 children.

15337.99t Perry Dorrance, b 1 May 1862 Coe twp; d 1 Dec 1903, place not given; m (1)16 Sep 1877 (Buffalo co, WI) Mary Frank. After Perry's death, she m (2) 5 Apr 1905 (Kent co, MI) Alvin Brainard. 3 known children.

15337.9A Jessie M., b 26 Apr 1869 Misha Makwa, Buffalo co, WI; d 8 Feb 1940, place not stated; m, unknown dates, (1) Perry Yeeder, and (2) Elmer Van Ockel. Family unknown.

Sources:
Bigelow Society,The Bigelow Family Genealogy, Vol I, pg 244-245;
Censuses 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900 WI and MI;
WI state censuses 1875, 1885;
vital records of WI and MI;
cemetery search in Buffalo co, WI by Joy Reisinger of Sparta, WI;
Civil War Records in MI;
pension papers of Noah, Cornelius, and Zedic Bigelow;
correspondence with descendants.

Modified - 09/18/2002
(c) Copyright 2002 Bigelow Society, Inc. All rights reserved.
Rod Bigelow - Director
< rodbigelow@netzero.net >

Rod Bigelow (Roger Jon¹² BIGELOW)

P.O. Box 13
Dannemora, N.Y. 12929

< rodbigelow@netzero.net >

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