Bigalow, Cornelius

About 1815 the family moved to Schoharie county, NY. On his father's pension application Cornelius is listed as ten years of age.

Cornelius married his first wife, Susan Earl, on the 16th of July 1834. There is no information except that she was living in 1850, and presumably died soon after the birth of her sixth child circa 1851. They lived in Andes township, Delaware county for at least 15 years.

Of the union of Cornelius Bigelow and his first wife Susan Earl came the following Six children.

• Thomas, b ca 1836; served Co H, 5th Michagan Infantry; was wounded 31 May 1862, and died 3 July 1862 Fair Oaks, VA; buried New Haven, Gratiot co, MI; unm.

• Calvin D., b 12 Mar. 1838; d 25 Feb. 1910 Shepherd, Isabella co, MI; m 24 July 1867 (Gratiot co) Harriet Shaw. Served Co D, 23rd Michigan Infantry.

• Sally M., b ca 1841, living 1850, but no further record.

• Zedic M., b 20 Nov. 1845; d 14 Sep. 1914 Pine River, Gratiot co, MI; m 15 Feb 1866 Eliza Ann Fry. Served Co K, 21st Michigan Infantry.

• Mary K, b ca 1849; living 1860 but no further record; she may be the unidentified "Mary" buried near Cornelius Bigelow in Maxville, WI.

  Phebe, b ca 1851; no death date; m 7 Mar 1869 (Isabella co, MI) Henry Chadwick.

The family migrated to Montcalm county, MI circa 1853. There Cornelius married his second wife, Cynthia Chaffin, on the 6th October 1853. She was the daughter of Peter Chaffin. She was age 18 at the time of marriage, and Cornelius claimed to be 41.

Of the union of Cornelius Bigelow and his second wife Cynthia Chaffin came the following Four children.

• Ella Eliza, b ca 1854 Coe twp, Isabella co, Mich.; died place unknown, but probably Buffalo co, WI 1882; m ca 1875 Oscar Hewitt of Buffalo co, WI.

• James Henry, b 10 Sep. 1856 Coe twp; d Mar. 1918, place not given; m 16 Sep 1877 Irene Harrington.

• Perry Dorrance, b 1 May 1862 Coe twp; d 1 Dec 1903, place not given; m (1)16 Sep 1877 (Buffalo co, WI) Mary Frank. After Perry's death, she m (2) 5 Apr 1905 (Kent co, MI) Alvin Brainard.

• Jessie M., b 26 Apr 1869 Misha Makwa, Buffalo co, WI; d 8 Feb 1940, place not stated; m, unknown dates,

On the 25th of March 1864 in St Johns, giving his age as 44 years, Cornelius enlisted in Co. "C" of the 2nd Michigan Infantry. He indicated his home as being St Johns.

He was Mustered Out on the 28th of July 1865 at Delaney House DC.

About 1869 Cornelius and farnily--and brother William F. and family--moved to Maxville township, Buffalo county, WI, where the family was ennumerated on the 1870 and 1880 federal censuses, and the 1875 state census. Cornelius was 52 years of age on the 1870 census, but strangely not listed on the 1880 census (only the wife and children). The birth of their youngest child, Jessie M., was recorded as 26 Apr 1869, according to Buffalo county records.

In 1884, disabled by age and illness, Cornelius Bigelow applied for a veterans' pension. On the application, we have his parents' names, his correct birthplace, and a birthdate of 19 Feb 1820, just ten years younger than he was. Pension was granted.

Cornelius died on the 5th of March 1885, recorded as aged 65 years. He is buried in a small private cemetery in the community, and his headstone indicates "age 73 years 12 days.".

Cynthia, his widow, applied for a widow's pension for herself and youngest child, giving Jessie's birthdate as 1871, county records notwithstanding. It is thought that Cynthia returned to Michigan with the three youngest children, as scattered records of them appear in Van Buren and Kent counties.