Thomas J. Bigley
Edward C. Bigley BIRTH abt 1834 Ohio He later died at sea after failing to
make his fortune in the California gold rush, going there in the Autum of 1852
and had a supply store for the gold miners. He wrote that he was coming home
by way of the water route , but was never heard from again.
married 20 Jun 1850 Marshall, Indiana Amelia "aunt Millie"Fisher BIRTH 18 JUL
1827 DEATH 5 APR 1917 Union Township, Marshall county Indiana burial
Washiinigton cemetery Union Township, Marshall county Indiana married
2nd October 1861 William C. Smith d. 1863 Civil War Helena Missouri daughter of
Daniel Fisher and Susanna Reeves
FOund on Ancestry -
Amelia's son, Thomas, 10 years old, dropped corn for their neighbor
Dinsmore who plowed for them.
Times were hard after the war.
Amelia and Thomas attended National Grange meetings.
One by one her good neighbors: the Jones, Finney, Hawkins, Squire Owens
all lost their little farms homes to Eli Parker who has a general store
at Maxinkuckee. One day he said to Amelia, "Millie" you'd better sell your
farm to me". She vowed to herself she'd work her fingers to the bone before
he'd get her home!
Thomas always paid the real estate taxes with crop money from the land. Amelia
would never loan him a cent. She loaned money to several of her nephews,
sometimes losing it.
When the 40 acres (across from Forest Curtis) was for sale, Thomas wanted her
to loan him the money to buy it. She would not loan it to him, but went and
purchased it herself. So he paid the taxes and improves what he could, for his
mother. All was in her name as long as she lived.
Thomas cleared the land built the house and barn where they lived by sawing down
and hauling the timber. Grandpa Bendict had the saw mill in Maxinkuckee
"Aunt Mille", (Amelia), had a strong personality, and helped the neighbors when they
were sick. She used many herbs to make tea and poulices.
Instead of telling fairy tales to her grandchildren, she told western pioneer
tales and real Indiana legends of her age. She lived a life of self sacrifice and
courage.
Their only child was:
Thomas Jefferson BIGLEY
was the third generation to live on the family farm. He was born April 1, 1851 Dec 20, 1925
burial Washington Cemetery Union Twp., Marshall county , Indiana
married October 13, 1875. Sarah Jane BENEDICT She was born February 4, 1851, died Dec. 15, 1935
burial Washington Cemetery Union Twp., Marshall county , Indiana
1928 - May 23 Sarah J. Bigley WD to Chester G. Bigley 75 1/2a W SW 23-31 $1.00
1928 - May 23 Sarah J. Bigley WD to Mary I Martin NE NE 24-32-1 $1.00
1928 - May 23 Sarah J. Bigley WD to Guy T. Bigley 79a W NW 26-32-1 $1.00
1935 Mrs. Sarah Jane BIGLEY, aged 84 years, a pioneer resident of Maxinkuckee, passed away
Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m., at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Elmer Martin, who resides
a mile south of Lake Maxinkuckee.
Death resulted from complications inherent with advanced years, following an illness of six
months duration.
Mrs. Bigley had been a resident of the Maxinkuckee community for practically all of her life
and had made a host of friends in that locality.
The deceased was born on a farm near Perrysburg, Indiana, on February 4th, 1851.
When still a young girl she removed to Maxinkuckee with her parents.
On October 13th, 1875 she was united in marriage to Thomas J. BIGLEY. Her husband preceded in
death December 20th, 1925.
Mrs. Bigley was a member of the Methodist Protestant church at Maxinkuckee.
She is survived by two sons Gus [BIGLEY] and Chester BIGLEY, of Maxinkuckee, a daughter, Mrs.
Elmer MARTIN, and two sisters Mrs. Augusta WERNER, of Culver, and Mrs. Vernie HOLMES, of Cames,
Washington.
Funeral services in charge of Rev. William HITZ, of Winona Lake, will be conducted Tuesday
afternoon at two o'clock at the Maxinkuckee M. P. church.
Interment will be made in the Washington cemetery, southeast of Lake Maxinkuckee. - Monday,
December 16, 1935 - Rochester Sentinel
the daughter of
Aaron BENEDICT
and Rose (WELKER) BENEDICT.
Her father, Aaron BENEDICT, lived in Maxinkuckee and operated a saw mill around
1863. He also owned considerable acreage north of the lake along Aubbeenaubee Bay, 83 acres along
the lake front and 200 acres thence north. He built a home approximately a half mile from the lake and
planted pine trees around it. He never lived there, but rented it to his daughter, Augusta, and husband
William WARNER and family. Later the house burned but the pine trees stand to this day; the site is
historically known as the Pine Tree House. His land holdings were later acquired by Henry H. Culver
for the Culver Military Academy.
Thomas and Sarah had three children: Mabel VANSCHOIACK
1 Guy Taylor Bigley
2 Chester Glyde Bigley born
21 Jun 1880 – 5 Jan 1942, m. Pearl Anne Creviston and Helen Zumbaugh
3 Mary Inez Bigley BIRTH 28 Nov 1889 Culver, Marshall County, Indiana DEATH 15 Dec 1958 South
Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana, BURIAL Washington Cemetery Union twp, Marshall County, Indiana, m.
28 May 1927 Pymouth, Marshall county Indiana. Elmer Clyde Martin BIRTH 25 Mar 1883 Vigo County,
Indiana DEATH 18 Apr 1962 Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio BURIAL Washington Cemetery Union twp,
Marshall County, Indiana son of Asa Martin nd his first wife, Matilda Ellen Hildum
Thomas Bigley would miss seeing his daughter Mary marry Elmer Clyde Martin on 28 May 1927 in
Culver, Marshall Co., Indiana. (The Argos Reflector – Thu 2 Jun 1927 p. 5) “Miss Mary Bigley
and Elmer Martin were quietly married at Plymouth Saturday morning. They have the best wishes
of a host of friends. Sunday noon Mrs. Jennie Bigley gave a dinner in honor of her daughter and
new son-in-law. Those who enjoyed the dinner and spent the afternoon with the newly weds were,
Mr. and Mrs. Chester Bigley, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Bigley, Mr. and Mrs. Steffan Rector, Misses Helen
Hawkins and Thelma Bigley and John and Thomas Bigley.”
Mary and Elmer had three children—Margaret Vinette (7 Mar 1928 - 1999, m. Stanley LeeRoy Seitz);
Hubert Lincoln (2 Feb 1930 – 7 May 2013); and Ernest Edison (28 Aug 1931 – 1 Jun 1993, m. L.
Ruth Lotz).
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