Sources:
Bigelow Family Genealogy Volume. I page.363-364;
History of Oakland County, Michigan;
by Durant, pg 282- ; photo,
etc
Nolton Bigelow: The person whose life and labors are here
briefly treated upon was born in Whiteston, Oneida county, New York,
June 4, 1815. His parents were Eleazer and Lydia Bigelow. When Mr.
Bigelow was a mere lad, seven or eight years of age, he began work in a
cotton factory, and eventually became a thorough master of that branch
of manufacturing, and followed it for a livelihood many years. When
quite young he had made such progress in the business that was enabled
to assume charge of the carding, spinning, and weaving departments, and
was thus employed in a number of mills. In 1837 he was foremanof the
"Ida mills", at Troy, NY, which closed that season, owing to the
dullness of trade and hard times. In the fall of that year he came to
Michigan, in company with a younger brother, Spencer
Bigelow, arriving in Springfield township some time during
the month of October. Immediatly afterwards they built a log cabin,
"shanty", seven by nine feet in dimensions, and in it enjoyed bachelor
life until the spring of 1838, when two larger cabins were built, one
for their parents and the other for the family of their elder brother, George
Bigelow, to whom the land belonged.
Nolton Bigelow lived with his parents until
the fall of 1840, clearing and improving the land during the summer and
teaching school in the winter. In 1840, being in somewhat straitened
circumstances, he returned to New York, and sought employment at his
old trade. He was given work in a cotton factory at Hartsville,
Dutchess county, and remained at that place until June, 1846, when he
returned to Springfield on a visit. His brother George finally
persuaded him into purchasing the farm they had settled, and after so
doing he became a permanent resident of the township, and a successful
farmer. More land was added to the place and greater improvements
introduced, and up to the year 1864, when his fine barns were swept
away by fire, his was one of the best arranged farms in Springfield
township.
Mr. Bigelow's early advantages for obtaining
an education were very limited, yet, by dint of making good use of what
he had, he made a mark in the path he chose to follow through life
which reflects great credit upon his energy and perseverance and
strength of character. He became a prominent citizen of Springfield,
and in 1849 was elected to her chief executive office, -- that of
supervisor, -- the duties of which he discharged for one year.
On the 16th of March, 1852, he was married to
Miss Letitia Parker, who was a sister of the wife of Mr. Fred. Foster,
now living in Springfield. Two children were born to them, -- a
daughter, Lydia E. Bigelow, January 16, 1854, and a son Charles Nolton
Bigelow, April 22, 1862. Both are now living.
Mrs. Bigelow was a native of Leicestershire,
England, where she was born February 14, 1822. In 1832, when ten years
of age, she accompanied her father William Parker, to the United
States. Mr. Parker settled in Erie county, NY, and made his home there
until his death, although for four years previous to his decease, he
had been most of the time with his children in Michigan.
Nolton Bigelow died October 16, 1874, aged
over fifty-nine years. His wife had preceded him through the "dark
valley of the shadow of death", her demise occurring April 30, 1874,
when in her fifty-third year. In Mr. Bigelow's decease, his children
were deprived of a loving father, and the community of an upright
citizen and worthy representative of the type of people which were
molded from the pioneers of the land. His loss was a greater blow to
his children because his beloved partner -- their fond mother -- had
been taken so short a time before.
Mr. Bigelow's life in the wilds of Michigan,
and that of his wife in New York, are replete with incident and
overflowing with memories of severe trials, which find counterparts in
the lives of nearly every man and woman who ventured to the frontier of
every State in the Union. The life of the early settlers were accepted
beforehand with all its privations, and all honor be to those who
shrank not back from the ordeal, but boldly strode forth, and with
their axes literally cut themselves homes amid the haunts of the savage
and their lairs of the wild beasts. Their labors are generally
finished, and, with Mr. and Mrs. Bigelow, many have gone to their
eternal rest; yet posterity is grateful for the work they performed in
laying the foundation wheron is built so broad and prosperous a
country, -- for the people make the country, -- and with a tear to
mingle with the dust of the departed, the thanks due them are also
expressed, while their memory is fondly cherished by those who are left
to mourn for them.
rodbigelow@netzero.net 
