California Biographies
Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
 
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
With Biographical Sketches
History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry
Illustrated, Complete In One Volume
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914


WILLIAM JAMES BIGGAR, SR.� A long line of sturdy ancestors, of 
whom many representatives figured conspicuously in the early political con- 
troversies in Ireland, has afforded the unusually thorough and sterling qual- 
ities of mind and body which- are possessed by William James Biggar, one 
of the earliest settlers and one of the most progressive citizens of Mendocino 
county, Cal. Originally the Biggar family were residents of Scotland, but 
later generations emigrated to the north of Ireland, where their home was 
made for many decades. In County Tyrone there is today an archway known 
as the Biggar arch, upon which there appears the motto "Giving and For- 
giving" which has been known as the Biggar crest or motto. During the 
time of the Irish Land Laws agitation, when Charles Stuart Parnell was 
active in Parliament, Joseph Gillis Biggar. was the member from the County 
of Tyrone in favor of more liberal land laws. This Joseph Gillis Biggar was 
the uncle of William James Biggar. 

Born August 7, 1837, in Cookstown, County Tyrone. Ireland, Mr. Biggar 
was the son of John and Anna (Gould) Biggar, both of whom were natives 
of Ireland. The mother belonged to a Scotch family who made their way 
from Scotland into the north of Ireland in early times because of religious 
persecution. Opportunities for a thorough educational training were denied 
William J. owing to the early death of his father, who left him the care of 
his mother and seven sisters when he was but twenty years of age. 
Mr. Biggar's stanch character and noble heart here became evident in his 
assumption of the duties of the head of the household. Born on a farm he 
grew up in this environment, acquainting himself with all the details of that 
life, and making agriculture his chief occupation. Save working in the woods, 
clearing brush and improving his property at Navarro, Mendocino county, 
he has worked at farming all his life and his present condition of prosperity 
is due alone to his own untiring effort and indefatigable will. 

Mr. Biggar came to California in January, 1870, by way of the Isthmus 
of Panama. Going by boat from New York to the Isthmus and thence by 
water to San Francisco, he made his way to Sonoma county, where he worked 
on a farm for about four years. Then going to Mendocino county he settled 
at Navarro, where he continued to live until about 1905, meanwhile engaging 
in farming and lumbering, but he is now making his home in Covelo. On the 
last call for volunteers which w-as made by President Lincoln Mr. Biggar en- 
listed in the New York Regiment and with them started to the front, but 
hostilities ceased before reaching the field and he did not see active service. 
His politics at this time were Republican and he since then has ever united 
his interests with that party until 1912, when he joined the Progressive party. 
His interest in the welfare of his community has prompted him to fill several 
minor appointive offices such as road overseer, school director, etc., but he 
has never sought nor desired any elective office. In religion he and his family 
are members of the Protestant Episcopal church, in which they are devout 
workers. 

Mr. Biggar's marriage occurred February 22, 1869, at Williamsburg, 
Ontario, Canada, to Mary Stuart, the daughter of William Stuart of Dickin- 
son's Landing, Ontario. Six children came to bless their union : Arthur 
Wilbur, a bridge contractor residing in Berkeley, married Effie Switzer; John 
Stuart, died in 1896; William James, Jr., an attorney of Bellingham, Wash., 
and a leading candidate for member of congress, married Sarah M. Vance; 
Charles Frederick died March 15, 1911; George Milton married Louella Cary; 
and Bryon Bowman died in 1881. 

A glance over the genealogy of Mrs. Biggar gives an unusually splendid 
family history which leads back to Mary Queen of Scots, and contains among 
its members many celebrated representatives. Mrs. Biggar is a sister of 
William Stuart of Westport, Minn., who was a son of William Stuart, land 
surveyor of Dickinsons Landing, Ontario. The latter's father, George Stuart, 
was a barrister, who held the commission of captain in the British army dur- 
ing the war of 1812, and his father, James Stuart, M. D., was surgeon in the 
King's Royal Regiment, serving the colonies during the Revolutionary war. 
Dr. James Stuart, whose name is mentioned in several books in the Congres- 
sional Library at Washington, D. C, was a native of Inverness. Scotland, and 
was descended from James Stuart, Earl of Moray, a natural son of King 
James V. of Scotland, and a half brother of Mary Queen of Scots. The Earl 
of Moray was Regent of Scotland from 1567 to 1570, and was leader of the 
Protestant party in Scotland during the Reformation. 

With her husband Mrs. Biggar enjoys the friendship of a host of friends 
in Mendocino county. They are particularly well known among the pioneers 
of this section who have shared with them the vicissitudes of early life in a 
new country and as well the joys of prosperity and good fellowship. Es- 
teemed by all his associates, honored and loved by his old time friends, he 
holds the deepest affection and respect of his family, to whom he has afforded 
all the advantages possible for a thorough education and every comfort and 
joy that it was his to give.