30th Generation

251. Florence Emogene "Flora" GRIGGS (~) was born on 15 August 1856 in Barre Township, La Crosse County, WI.^44,103,145 She was referred to as "Flora" in a letter that her father wrote to his brother Roswell in December 1877.

Vermont Historical Society letters show that she kept in touch with her extended family from her home in Wisconsin and later in Tennessee. In her letters to her aunt Susan Griggs and to her first cousin Elton Griggs (the son of Stephen "Roswell" Griggs) in Missouri as well as to other family members, she writes mostly about her own family. She appeared in the census in 1860 in Barre Township, La Crosse County, WI.¹⁰⁹ She appeared in the census in 1870 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹⁰ Flora appeared in the census in 1875 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{113 206} Newspaper Article: "It will be remembered by all of our readers that several years since, Miss Florence, eldest daughter of L. S. Griggs, Esq., one of Tomah's most respected citizens, had the misfortune to severely injure her right limb by reason of stepping into a hole in a defective sidewalk, from which accident it was generally considered that the young lady must forever remain a cripple.

About four weeks ago, Dr. Sweet, of Harvard, Ill., who is widely known as the natural Bone Setter, being in this section on professional business, was taken by a neighbor to see Miss Griggs. Upon examination, the Doctor said a bone was misplaced, that he would replace it. He did so, the operation consuming but about five minutes time, and very painful, but it brought joy with it, from the fact that Miss Griggs is now able to walk without assistance, nearly or quite as readily and rapidly as ever.

We congratulate her upon her recovery, and can hardly refrain from bestowing great praise upon the Doctor for his successful operation." She appeared in the census in 1880 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹⁴ She was living with her father. ²⁰⁷ in the LaGrange Township news section: "Mrs. Florence Bigelow has been quite sick, but is now on the gain." ⁸⁷ LaGrange News: "Mrs. Florence Bigelow will start tomorrow for northwestern Missouri, in company with her aunt, Miss Susan Griggs, who expects to spend the winter with her brother (Stephen Roswell Griggs) at that place. Mrs. Bigelow expects to stay two weeks." She appeared in the census in 1895 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹⁹ Flora appeared in the census in 1900 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^103,127 She lived at her home in McMinnville, Warren County, TN after 1 September 1903.^208,209 An envelope for one of her letters listed her address as "R.F.D. Route No. 1, Box 63, McMinnville, Tenn. " According to an article in the Tomah Journal dated 19 June 1903, her husband had already moved there. She signed a will on 12 July 1909 in Warren County, TN.²¹⁰ Warren Co. TN Will Book, Vol. 1 Pg. 127-129, 12 Jul 1909. Will of Florence E. Biglow:

"First, I want to be decently buried. Second, I want my just debts be paid. Third, I will to my husband George D. Biglow my farm during his natural life or until he marries again. Fourth, after my death and after the termination of my husband’s estate in the farm, I will that my executor sell the farm and pay to my three children Osman N. Biglow, Henry Etter (Henrietta) L. Cummings, and Willard L. Biglow $1800.00 to be equally divided between them. Fifth, I will that my executor pay to my husband the balance of the money my farm brings. Sixth, I hereby authorize that my executor sell said land and make deed to same. Seventh, I appoint my friend A. H. Faulkner executor of this will.

Witnessed by A. J. Trail, MD and Eugene E. Northcutt, MD.

Codicil, 19 Aug 1909: "First, I desire that my daughter Henretta L. Cummings shall have no part of my estate and that my sons will get $900.00 each. Second, I want my executor to sell enough of my property for all my debts to be paid.

Witnessed by Eugene E. Northcutt, MD and Bettie C. Kirby." Flora died on 22 August 1909 at the age of 53 in McMinnville, Warren County, TN.^{70,103,209,211,212} Newspaper Article: "From the Southern Standard, published at McMinnville, Tenn., we learn of the death of Mrs. Bigelow, wife of George D. Bigelow. The family were formerly well-known residents of the town of LaGrange, removing from there to Tennessee a few years ago.

Following is the notice which appeared in the Standard. 'Mrs. Florence E. Bigelow, wife of Mr. G. D. Bigelow, died at their home a few miles West of town at 4 o'clock, Sunday afternoon, August 22nd, after a painful illness of several weeks.

Florence was born in La Crosse County, WI in 1856, and was married to Mr. Bigelow in September 1880. The family moved to this county in the fall of 1902 (actually 1903), and they have bound themselves in warm ties of friendship to many people here.

Through the work of a trained nurse, Mrs. Bigelow had particularly endeared herself to many families and her services were in almost constant demand. It was while nursing Mrs. Annable that she was stricken with the fever which finally resulted in her death.

With a strong devotion to all the duties of wife and mother to her own family, she was ever willing to respond to any call when she could minister to others in need of her capable services, and she sacrificed her own life in the discharge of these duties.

She will ever be held in loving remembrance by the scores of people who were acquainted with her noble work and character. Her husband and three children survive her, and the tenderest sympathies of the entire community are given to them in their great sorrow."

A codicil to her Will was dated 19 August 1909, just three days before she died.

A letter that she wrote to her cousin Elton Griggs on 13 June 1909 mentioned that her husband was in Midland, Texas, looking for work. Then, her husband and his second wife were listed in the Census conducted in Midland in April 1910. The Census indicates that they had been married for 1 year, indicating that George had re-married sometime in 1909, shortly after Florence's death. She was buried on 23 August 1909 in McMinnville, Warren County, TN.²¹³ in the Riverside Cemetery.

According to the records of High's Funeral Home, she was buried on 23 August 1909 in the Riverside Cemetery. Her funeral is listed as #1594 in their record book of the funerals that were conducted between 7 April 1907 and 19 January 1910. The cost of her funeral (including, it is presumed, the cost of casket "#246") was $43.00. The bill was paid on 11 October 1909 by J. Willis (relationship unknown). She is listed in the funeral book as "Mrs. G. D Biglowe."

A search of the written records of Riverside Cemetery, as well as a physical inspection of the cemetery by Gary Griggs on 10 May 2012, failed to locate her gravesite. It apparently is not marked.

Florence Emogene "Flora" GRIGGS (~) and George Dewey BIGELOW were married on 12 September 1880 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^{124,143,148,214,215,216} They were married in the Baptist church by Rev. B. K. Bowker and their witnesses were L.S. Griggs (her father), C.L. Griggs (her twin brother) and Carrie Griswold (her future sister-in-law).

Newspaper Article: "We learn that George Bigelow has put on the matrimonial harness. Well, Geo. is a good boy, and has a splendid wife; or at least, she was known as a fine girl, and ought to be a good wife."

A letter written by her father on 27 Dec 1881 mentions that "Florence married George Biglow and has lived on his Father's place this last year, but have now moved to Clark Loomer's house that the old folks used to live in." George Dewey BIGELOW, son of Isaac Newton BIGELOW and Adelaide Eliza LOOMER, was born on 18 March 1854 in Mequon, Ozaukee County, WI.^{109,114,127,217} He appeared in the census in 1860 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰⁹ He appeared in the census in 1870 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹⁰ George appeared in the census in 1880 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^101,114 He was living by himself and his occupation was listed as "farmer." His 80-acre farm was located in the southeast corner of Section 16. He appeared in the census in 1895 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹⁹ His household consisted of himself, 1 additional male (his son, Osmon), and two females (his wife, Florence) and their daughter, Retta. They lived next to the household of his parents. In 1897 he was a farmer in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^115,190,218 In 1895, a newspaper article mentioned that "George and John Bigelow closed the threshing season last week with 2,200 bushels of grain." ²¹⁹ Newspaper Article: "George D. Bigelow recently paid his parents a short visit at Welcome, Minn., finding them well and happy." George appeared in the census in 1900 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²⁷ Their household consisted of George, Florence, Osmon, Henrietta and Willard, as well as Hazel M. Smith, a "niece" born in Mar 1896 in Minnesota; the parents of Hazel are not known. His occupation was "Farming" on a farm that he owned. About June 1903 he was a horse raiser in McMinnville, Warren County, TN.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, Retta and Willard, who was probably about 5 at the time, brought some horses to Tennessee, and Raymond Bigelow, Osman's son. I don't know what kind of horses they raised or who they had sold them to in Tenn." ²²¹ Newspaper Article: "Geo. D. Bigleow started for Tennessee last Tuesday to look over the country, with a view of locating there if he likes it." ²²² Newspaper Article: "Mr. George D. Bigelow and his mother arrived from Tennessee on Wednesday, and Mrs. Bigelow goes from here to visit her daughter in Minnesota. Mr. Bigelow is in better health than when he went to Tennessee and he brings good reports from the other Monroe County people down there." ²²³ Lettter to the Editor: "In renewing his subscription for the JOURNAL, Mr. George D. Bigelow, formerly of La Grange but now of McMinnville, Tenn., writes some interesting facts about the country and people there. We quote from his letter: 'This has been a fine winter so far, just enough cold to remind us of what we have seen. The coldest was 10 above zero. All of the Monroe county people are well and happy as far as I know. John Musson has finished his fine new house and moved in and is ready to receive callers at any time.

The farmers here have formed a Truck Growers Association and many acres of cabbage, potatoes, onions, peanuts and cantaloupes will be grown and shipped north and east. The have taken up tobacco culture and about two hundred acres will be put out this spring with a prospect of a tobacco factory this fall.

There are many northern people coming this spring and we expect great things for this our new country and have no desire to return to the cold winters of the north, while we will never go back to our native state.'" He appeared in the census in 1910 in Midland, Midland County, TX.²¹¹ His household on Abilene Street consisted of George; his second wife, Mary; his son Willard (from his first marriage); 4 boarders; and two servants. George's occupation was listed as "Keeper, Boarding House" in a household that he rented. About 1915 George was in Burkburnett, Wichita County, TX.²²⁰ The following is from a family letter: "Grandpa (George) Bigelow, Osman, Willard, who was then 17, Raymond, Flo Jean & Paul came to Burkburnett to work in oil fields. Osman left Louise with a brother & sister-in-law of Myrtle's.

From Wisconsin & Tenn. to Burkburnette, how sad it must have been for children and everyone; they came on the train. The only place to rent was tents; they were floored, I think; the men all worked on rigs & took turns watching the children. Paul has said he slept many a night under the boiler where it was warm while his daddy was working.

How very sad the children must have been, in a horrible place, mother dead & the many aunts and uncles all around them in Tenn. The school burned down when Paul was in 6th grade and that was the last he went.

Grandpa Bigelow did most of cooking & water was so hard, Paul said he would keep adding water to Navy beans and they would eat the soup. Grandpa Bigelow died there & Paul's daddy when he was 42 of a ruptured appendix. He appeared in the census in 1920 in Wichita County, TX.²²⁴ His household was a rental property in Justice Precinct #2 and his sons Osmon and Willard were living with him. His occupation was "Fireman, Texas Co." He was a Widower, so his second wife must have died. He died on 23 January 1923 at the age of 68 in Burkburnett, Wichita County, TX.^{70,214,217,225,226} (The John Sissom and Sarah Molina research lists his death date as 23 January 1923, the MyHeritage.com website lists it as 26 February, 1923, and the Rod Bigelow research lists it as 14 July 1927. The latter date may have been meant to be the 14 June 1927 date of death of his son Osmon.) George was buried in Burkburnett, Wichita County, TX.^214,220,227 He is buried in Section 6, Lot 2, Space 8 in the Burkburnett Cemetery. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~usgenweb/wi/monroe/m-cem.htm

Florence Emogene "Flora" GRIGGS (~) and George Dewey BIGELOW had the following children: