Chat
|
Daily Search
|
My GenForum
|
Community Standards
|
Terms of Service
|
|
|
This is taken from a paper I found among my grandmother's things. I have copied it word for word:
"The following story was written by Joseph Cumberland Biggs in the year 1909, and although the old gentleman was in his 80th year he did not require the use of glasses in the writing. The original domument is still in existence and is in the hands of the family. This copy was made in 1924 by Earl Biggs."
"THE HISTORY OF THE BIGGS FAMILY
A history of the Biggs family from the time they left England and settled in Faquire Co., Virginia--my father John and one brother William. William was captured by the Indians in the Blackhawk war, but made his escape and went back to England after which we knew but very little of him, but a few years ago we saw in England papers where a William Biggs (who was very old) died in England leaving an estate of five millions who answered the description of our uncle, but we could not produce sufficient evidence to identify him as our uncle. (He was a bachelor).
Mother's name was Sarah Ann Wright. To our parents (John and Sarah Biggs) was born eight children, four boys and four girls. The boys were James W., John H., William H. and Joseph C. The girls were Francis A., Fany A., Louisa A., and Mary A. Francis and Fany died when young. James died about fifty years of age, but in early life he joined the Old School Baptist church and engaged in the work of the ministery and continued in the work until his death. The year 1863 he married Miss Susan Stewart. To them were born six children, four girls and two boys. One of the boys joined the Baptist and is now in the work of the ministery and the rest of the children joined the Baptist.(I believe). The oldest girl married, but some time after died. I will go back a little as I have rather got ahead of my history.
My mother and father came from England soon after the Revolutionary War with three brothers and three sisters of my mother's, namely: Samuel, William and Lewis. The girls: Catharine, Susane, and Fany Wright. Our mother joined the Baptist when young. Sometime afterward our father joined the Baptist and in the year 1828 our father died and in April 1929 the unworthwrite was born. Never saw my father, neither one of my grandparents, and in the year 1834 my mother with her six children, three brothers and three sisters, and family named Steward in whose family my oldest brother had married, left Virginia for Ohio, and on the way our brother nine years old was run over by a stage coach, and was instantly killed. He was buried, then we continued on our journey and settled in the town of Alexander, Leebury Co., Ohio, but soon bought farms. My mother and her brothers and sisters being Baptist soon constituted a little church and Elder Beaver took the care of the church and in about the year 1841 my mother was married to Elder Christian Kaufman, then moved to Delaware Co., Ohio. Brother John remained in Licking Co., where he soon married a lady by the name of Rebecca Krigger. To this union was born ____children, ____boys and ____girls. All joined the Old School Baptist, one the Missionary Baptist, he is a preacher. One was an Old School Baptist preacher, but is dead. Brother John joined the Old School Baptist and engaged in the work of the ministery, traveled quite extensively, died at about the age of seventy-five.
Louisa married a man by the name of John Goodin (may not be spelled correct). To this union were born six girls and one boy. The boy died in infancy. One belonged to the Missionary Baptist, one to the Methodist, three to the Old School Baptist, and one I believe did not belong to any. Parents both dead, Louisa was 81 or 82 when she died, our mother died at about 85 years of age. Mary married a man by the name of Perry Selby. He died leaving no children. She joined the Freewill Baptist, then she married Jackson Hoskins, a Freewill Baptist Preacher. She is a widow, has had no children, she was 81 last March, lives alone. The writer was born in April 1829, left Virginia when five years old, moved to Delaware Co., Ohio (my mother remarried in 1841) When about 12 years of age, my mother remarried. I stayed with my step-father until I was 19 then I took a trip to the south part of the state to visit a sister. I traveled a foot, it was 120 mile, and I made the trip in three days---so you see I was a pretty good walker. When I got in the neighborhood of my sister's I put up for the night and when I got up the next morning there was one of the handsomest young ladies (as I thought) getting breakfast and I resolved in my mind to ask her to be my life companion, and she accepted the proposal to become my wife. This was in May 1848, in August we were married, and having none of this world's goods we comenced the battle of life and by hard labor have accumulated some of this world's goods. In the year fifty our first boy was born. In the year 1854 I sold what I had gathered up. I had bought 50 acres of land on time, paid some on it, but sold it clearing $500 on it then moved to Crawford Co., Illinois, bought 120 acres of land for $500, built on it, traded for some good oxen, broke it up---it being part prairie, and in the year 1859 our third boy was born. My wife and I joined the Old School Baptist forty-five years ago the coming October, and in a few year after our two oldest boys joined the Old School Baptist. Then in the year 1877 May 1st I lost my wife, was remarried in 1878 January. I was again married to a Baptist lady, the daughter of a Baptist minister, and forty-five year ago I engaged in the ministery. I have stood firm and unmovable opposing all the new inventions of men, but trying to follow the old land marks contending for the doctrine of the Savior and the Apostals preaching. After I married the second time my youngest son married and some time after he and his wife joined the Old School Baptist. He engaged in the ministery and is well liked as a minister where he is acquainted. My second wife died the 20th of July 1906. I have three sons, no daughters, 28 grand children, 35 great grandchildren, making a total of 66 children. I have gave a short history of the Biggs family from the time they left England as well as my memory serves me. I am now in my eightieth year since April 16th.
The publication of the forgoing story of Elder Joseph C. Biggs in this year of 1947 marks the 27th anniversary of the Annual Biggs Reunion. This yearly meeting of the Biggs Family members was inaugurated Sunday, September 16th, 1921 when the three sons of the Rev. J.C. Biggs and his wife Lovina met at Leaverton Park, Palestine, Illinois, with their families and their children's families. The annual meeting has been held each year since, and will continue to be held on the third (3rd) Sunday in August. Plan to be with us each year for these memorable occasions."
Note by Linda: The three sons who inaugurated the reunion were:
(my gggrandfather) William Henry Biggs, b. Mar 11, 1850 d. July 4, 1937;
John George Biggs, b. Jan 7, 1852 d. Mar 4, 1935;
Levi Martin Biggs, b. Dec 4, 1859 d. ? (after 1947)
Followups:
|
| http://genforum.genealogy.com/biggs/messages/1049.html | ||
 |
Agreement of Use Link to GenForum Add Forum |
|