Guy T. Bigley

Guy Taylor Bigley born July 31, 1876 died SEPTEMBER 7, 1955 Union twp., Marshall, Indiana

Guy T. Bigley, age 79, died suddenly of a heart attack at his home on the east side Of Lake Maxinkuckee shortly afternoon Thursday. SEPTEMBER 7, 1955

They lived in Chicago in the winter months and at Lake Maxinkuckee in the summer. Although John was born in Chicago, he disliked living there and spent most of his youth on the farm with his grandparents. His grandfather was a farmer and stock buyer. He always had high spirited horses. He liked to race and when a neighbor came along and asked if he’d like to race, he was happy to comply. When they were ready, Grandfather would loosen the reins and that was the signal for the horses to "go". The other racer would invariably resort to the whip. Grandfather always won. He loved his horses and was kind to them. I, John, used to ride one to take the cows out to pasture and to bring them in. Aunt Mary also used it on the buggy. When Grandfather Tom sold his horses and bought a car, he said it was the saddest day of his life. He never drove the car. Finally their son, Chester, drove for them.

My father, Guy, was unable to do farm work due to a leg injury suffered in a bobsled accident when he was eight years old. After grade school he attended Valparaiso Business Institute and graduated as a public accountant.

He did accounting in Chicago and in the summer months operated a store at Maxinkuckee Landing. With their father’s help Guy and brother, Chester, built a two story brick building in 1907 on the northwest corner of the Landing and East Shore Road. Their father owned the one acre plot which extended to the lakeshore. They sold groceries, meats, gasoline, and kerosene, also had cream parlor. A large water wheel powered by an artesian well supplied water for the store and the upstairs living quarters.

A few years later Guy bought out Chester’s interest and his wife operated it. The telephone company occupied two of the upstairs rooms and two other rooms were rented out. The front part was their living quarters.

The store was a popular place for lake side residents and visitors coming by public launches to the Landing. They could partake of refreshments at the store and if staying overnight the Spangler Allegheny House was but a short distance up the road in Maxinkuckee, or Sarah Jane RECTORS house for meals and lodging.

My parents kept me busy soliciting orders and delivering groceries. - John Bigley.

He married October 1, 1904 married Mabel VANSCHOIACK October 1, 1904. She was born on the Louden T. VANSCHOIACK farm on the east shore of Lake Maxinkuckee. Her father was William VANSCHOIACK. Louden VANSCHOIACK owned half a mile of lake front and over 200 acres adjoining to the east.

John Fisher Bigley

History of Marshall County, Indiana 1836 - 1986 pg. 92-3 Copyright 1986 by Marshall County Historical Society, Inc. and other Bigley biographies concerning this family on pages 90-1 by John F. BIGLEY -
Year: 1910; Census Place: Chicago Ward 6, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_246; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 0342;

Guy T Bigley 33
Mabel A Bigley 26
John F Bigley 2

Year: 1920; Census Place: Chicago Ward 6, Cook (Chicago), Illinois; Roll: T625_310; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 335;

Guy Bigley 43
Mabel A Bigley 41
Mary E Farnan 48 Lodger
Lillian Burrett 33 Lodger
Herbert Burrett 34 Lodger
Floyd F Peckham 24 Lodger

Year: 1930; Census Place: Union, Marshall, Indiana; Roll: 617; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 17;
Grey T Bigley 53
Mable A Bigley 44
John F Bigley 22
Beatrice Bigley __ daughter-in-law
Year: 1940; Census Place: Union, Marshall, Indiana; Roll: T627_1077; Page: 17A; Enumeration District: 50-18.
G T Bigley 63
Mable A Bigley 54