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SILAS S. BIGELOW
From the 1887 History
of Vernon County, Missouri, p. 621-622:
Silas S. Bigelow
(Of Robinson & Bigelow,
Dealers in Wagons, Buggies, Agricultural Implements and Farm Machinery,
Nevada).
Mr. Bigelow, a member of a firm that is
numbered among the more recent acquisitions to the business interests of
Nevada, was born August 7, 1838, in Ontario county, N. Y., a State of
which his parents, John B. and Maria (Stout) Bigelow, were also natives.
They had in their family nine children and of this number Silas S. was
the sixth child and third son, learning as he grew up in the vicinity of
his birthplace the iron moulder's trade and general smithing.
After serving his apprenticeship he worked for one year at his trade,
and then enlisted in the 15th New York cavalry, his military experience
extending through some of the most terrible battles of the war. He
was on Hunter's raid to Lynchburg and the battles of the Shenandoah
Valley in 1863 and 1864, and served for two years and eight months in
that regiment. In 1862 he went out with the 1st Ohio artillery,
Army of the Cumberland, and was among the first troops to land at
Nashville, in March, 1862. Afterward he helped to raise Co. C,
15th New York cavalry, being mustered in August 8, 1863, at Syracuse,
and on October 5, 1864, he was commissioned second lieutenant and on
November 23 following was made first lieutenant, commanding the company
during service in 1865. At the surrender at Appomattox he was in
advance of the column as body guard to Gen. Custer when the first flag
of truce was received. The 15th New York were in the 3d division
under Custer, Army of the Potomac, and under the command of Col. J. J.
Coppinger, James G. Blaine's son-in-law, now commander of the post at
Fort Hayes; he was promoted from captain and remained in command until
the surrender. After the review the regiment was consolidated with
the 6th New York cavalry and ordered to Texas under Gen. Custer,
arriving at Louisville July 5, 1865, where they remained until August
1st following, then returning to Elmira, where they were discharged from
service December 10, 1865. Mr. Bigelow now went to Ohio whither
his parents had removed during the war, and soon after he embarked in
the grocery business; later he traveled through Illinois and Iowa
selling goods at auction, then went to Chicago and remained there until
moving to Nevada, Mo., in the spring of 1871. At first and for six
years and two months he was in the employ of the M. K. & T. R. R. as
baggage master at this point, after leaving which position he engaged in
the transfer business, also serving as agent for the Consolidated Tank
Line Co. for three years. In July, 1886, in company with W. H.
Robinson, a partnership was formed under the firm name of Robinson &
Bigelow, in the agricultural implement and carriage business, a branch
of trade which supplies a long felt want in this place, and one that
under the management of such representative men is destined to be an
important factor in the business interests of Nevada. The stock
carried is full and complete and will compare favorably with that of
similar houses in larger cities. Politically Mr. Bigelow is a
stanch Republican, and at this time is chairman of the County Central
Committee. While president of the Blaine and Logan club he
received a beautiful saber as a present from the Republican citizens of
the county as a testimonial for his services in this capacity. As
a member of the G. A. R. he has held positions as quartermaster,
adjutant and commander, the latter an office he still fills. He
also belongs to the A. F. and A. M. October 5, 1859, Mr. Bigelow
was married to Miss Emma J. Manahan, of Norfolk, O. Her father is
Henry H. Manahan, a resident at this time of Nevada. |
