LaFayette 8 BIGELOW


15196.251         LaFayette 8 BIGELOW, son of Lafayette 7 ( Hon. Levi 6 , William 5 , Jotham 4, John 3, Samuel 2, John 1) and Lucinda (FORD) BIGELOW, was born at McGregor, Clayton, IA on 09 October 1850. He married Estelle Townsend on 31 October 1882 at Waukon, IA. Estelle was the daughter of John and Ruth Ann (Huestis) Townsend and born 27 July 1863 at Waukon, Allamakee, IA. Both LaFayette and Estelle died at Waukon. He died on 31 October 1925 and she on 04 December of the same year. He was a railroad conductor. In his early years Lafayette lived on a farm with his parents near Giard in Clayton County, IA.  In 1864, the family moved to Chicago and his mother died that same year.  He was in college at South Bend, IN, for two years.  He then joined his father in Tioga County, PA, where his father was now living caring for his parents. In August 1867 he came to Elkader in Clayton County, IA where his father became a successful hotel owner.  The family moved to McGregor once again ion 1874 when his father purchased a hotel there.  Lafayette came to Waukon in 1877 with the advent of the railroad and became the railroad conductor of what for years was the only train on this branch.  He served in that capacity for nearly 25 years.

Children of LaFayette and Estelle (Townsend) Bigelow, all born in Waukon:
 
15196.2511     Ruth Huestis, b 03 Nov 1883; d 28 Jan 1958 Waukon; unmarried.

15196.2512t    Elton LaFayette, b 24 May 1885; d 24 July 1963 Minneapolis, MN; m 25 May 1911 Genevieve Flynn; 3 children. (see below)

15196.2513t    Herbert Townsend, b 21 Aug 1887; d 02 Dec 1939 Stoughton, WI; m 30 Aug 1922 Hazel Patterson; 2 children.
 
15196.2514     Estella Sears, b 10 Nov 1889; d 14 Nov 1889.
 
15196.2515     Keith Edwin, b 17 April 1891; d 09 March 1893.
 
15196.2516     Ralph Eddy, b 08 June 1893; d 12 Jan 1912 Waukon; unm.

Sources:
Bigelow Family Genealogy Vol II , p 331;
Howe, Bigelow Family of America; p 308 child;
correspondence between Bigelow Society genealogists and descendants.
Descendant note:
I am Kay (Bigelow) Mentzer Sewick. My roots are: John (1), Samuel (2), John (3), Jotham (4), William (5), Levi (6), Lafayette, sr. (7), Lafayette (8), Elton (9), Keith (10), Kay (11).  I told her that I had a lot of family history information that has been passed down in the family that could add information to what is on your web site, especially about Lafayette, sr. and after. I also find inaccurate information on your web site under the Surnames section and I can verify the correct information.
Kay (Bigelow) Mentzer Sewick     E-mail: kems@salamander.com 

The following Obituary was referred from Marge Clemens to Jean Bigelow, who sent it to me. I think her husband Thomas Lafayette Bigelow was the son of Elton Lafayette Bigelow (15196.2512).........ROD 2008

     Marjorie Bigelow, 92, of Waukon, IA, died Thursday, February 28, 2008 at Thornton Manor in Lansing, IA. Funeral services will be held Monday, March 3rd at 11:00 am at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Daniel Knipper officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 3:00 to 7:00 pm Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a scripture service at 3:00 pm and a VFW Auxiliary memorial service at 4:30 pm.
     Marjorie Cleta Guider Bigelow was born on October 14, 1915 on the Allamakee County, rural Lansing, IA farm of her parents, Matthew and Margaret (Thornton) Guider. She was baptized and confirmed at Immaculate Conception Wexford Church. Marge graduated from Lansing High School in 1933 after taking the Normal Training curriculum and began a long teaching career, first in rural schools in the Lansing/Waukon area and later at East Elementary in Waukon. On October 4, 1937 she married Thomas Lafayette Bigelow at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing. In spite of her already busy schedule as a mother and teacher, she found time over the years to continue her education at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA, until graduating from there in 1971.
     Marge was an active lady all of her life. Her memberships included the VFW Auxiliary, Veterans Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Upper Iowa University Alumni Association, St. Patrick’s Ladies Group, New Century Club and the Waukon Golf and Country Club. She loved children, making her career in teaching a perfect fit, and she was very fond of visiting or hearing from her former students. Marge also enjoyed keeping up with what was going on in the lives of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Faith was important to her and she considered herself lucky to be able to attend Mass almost every day. Playing golf several times a week, getting together with friends for coffee and cards, challenging herself with crossword puzzles and TV game shows and doing crafts were other favorite pastimes for her. She also enjoyed going for rides through the countryside where she grew up.
    Survivors include her 4 children, Tom (Yolanda) of Mountain Grove, MO, Bert (Carolyn) of Grasonville, MD, Ann (Bob) White of Iowa Falls, IA and Bea (Terry) Strope of Appleton, WI; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Drs. Robert/Kristin White, Allison & Alex of Mason City, Barbara/Joseph Blake, Leah & Brady of Indianola, David White of Urbandale, Michael/Anne White, Sidney Jane of Chelsea, MI, Andrew/Jenny Stelow, Lauren and Cindy/Rick Nadke, Josh, Jordan & Jacob, all of Appleton, WI, Lori/Len Bacon, Nick & Brianna of Oregon City, OR and Stacie/Barry Cain, Madison & Dalton of Edgewater, MD; a sister, Genevieve Wild of Lansing, IA; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bill Thomson and Jeanette Bigelow, both of Waukon; and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Tom, who died in 1982; a son, Kenneth; 3 grandchildren, Nancy & Matthew White and Sam Strope; and 3 sisters, Lucille Brazell, Catherine Betthauser and Ann Thomson.
     Honorary casketbearers are John & Lorna Kerndt, LeRoy & Marcella McCabe, Jan & Lorraine Sweeney, Rupert & Martha Caballero, Wilbur & Shirley Rose, Cod & Betty Brandt, Walter & Gloria Larson, Genevieve Wild, Harriet Duggan, Bill Thomson and Jeanette Bigelow. Casketbearers are her grandchildren.


Marjorie Bigelow (1915-2008)


Modified - 03/09/2008
(c) Copyright 2008 Bigelow Society, Inc. All rights reserved.
Rod  Bigelow - Director
  rodbigelow@netzero.net

Rod Bigelow (Roger Jon12 BIGELOW)
Box 13  Chazy Lake
Dannemora, N.Y. 12929
rodbigelow@netzero.net
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