31st Generation

293. Willard Lucious "Will" BIGELOW (~) was born on 23 July 1898 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^{80,127,154,214,322,344,380} Newspaper Article: "Geo. D. Bigelow and wife are very much gratified over the appearance of a nice boy at their house on Saturday last. George says he is a fighter and will name him Sampson Dewey."

The Monroe County Birth Registration record originally listed his name as "Frederic Raymond," but that name was crossed out, and it was changed to "Willard Lucious."

His middle name is spelled "Lucious" on his gravestone marker, and it is not known why it was not spelled the same as his mother's father, Lucius S. Griggs. It may have been an unintentional misspelling on the Birth Registration record. He appeared in the census in 1900 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²⁷ He lived in Warren County, TN about 1909.²²⁰ Will appeared in the census in 1910 in Midland, Midland County, TX.²¹¹ He was living with his father and step-mother and was listed as "William," age 11, born in Wisconsin. He lived in Burkburnett, Wichita County, TX about 1915.²²⁰ From a letter written by Willie "Bea" Gotcher, the wife of Robert Paul Bigelow, Sr., a son of Minnie's husband, Osmon, in his second marriage: "Grandpa (George) Bigelow, Osmon, Willard, who was then 17, Raymond, Flo Jean & Paul came to Burkburnett to work in oil fields." He appeared in the census in March 1920 in Wichita County, TX.²²⁴ He was living with his widowed father and his occupation was "Fireman, Texas Co." (His name was listed as "William D.") Will lived at his home in Hutchinson County, TX in June 1927.³⁵² He appeared in the census in April 1930 in Newport, Campbell County, KY.³⁵⁷ His household was on Orchard Street in the 5th Ward and consisted of Willard; his wife, Grace; their daughter Wilma, and his nephew Raymond, age 22, born in Tennessee. Raymond was the oldest son of Willard's deceased brother, Osmon. Willard's occupation was "Mechanic, Hardware."

Also living in his household was Gilford Groves, age 23, a "Boarder." He lived at his home in Newport, Campbell County, KY in September 1938.²³² Will appeared in the census in 1940 in Newport, Campbell County, KY.³⁸¹ His household was at 926 Orchard Street and his occupation was "Welder, Auto." His total wages in 1939 were $1,050. He appeared in the census in 1950 in Fort Thomas, Campbell County, KY.³⁸² He died on 6 February 1969 at the age of 70 in Fort Thomas, Campbell County, KY.^{80,154,214,383} (SS No. 270-01-2802) (He may have died in Coffee County, TN.) Will was buried in Coffee County, TN.^214,384 in the Hopewell Cemetery.

Willard Lucious "Will" BIGELOW (~) and Gracie Hall SISSOM were married on 10 July 1920 in Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, TN.^{214,232,245,357,384,385} Gracie Hall SISSOM, daughter of Thomas S. SISSOM and Sarah Ann CARRICK, was born on 16 July 1900 in Bergan, Cannon County, TN.^214,357,384 (She was the youngest of 13 children.) She appeared in the census in April 1930 in Newport, Campbell County, KY.³⁵⁷ She appeared in the census in 1940 in Newport, Campbell County, KY.³⁸¹ Gracie died on 11 December 1947 at the age of 47 in Newport, Campbell County, KY.^214,384 She was buried in Manchester, Coffee County, TN.^214,245,384 in the Hopewell Cemetery.

Willard Lucious "Will" BIGELOW (~) and Gracie Hall SISSOM had the following children:

Willard Lucious "Will" BIGELOW (~) and Leatha NEWKIRK were married after 1947 in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH.²¹⁴ Leatha NEWKIRK was born on 14 May 1902 in Kentucky.^214,382 (SS No. 270-07-6489) She died in July 1967 at the age of 65 in Fort Thomas, Campbell County, KY.²¹⁴ She was buried in Flour Creek, Pendleton County, KY.³⁸³ in the Butler Cemetery.