Sixteenth Generation

247. Orson James ROOT was born on 28 October 1881 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{81,135,141,154,202,232} He told one of his nieces, Marita Root, that as a young boy he was afraid when the family made trip to the village of Tomah. There was an Indian Council area along the road between his home and Tomah, and he was afraid to go near it while the Indians were meeting.

Later in his life, he was known as the "Little Red Fox" because of his red hair. He appeared in the census in 1885 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁴⁴ He appeared in the census in 1895 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. Orson appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷¹ He was living with his parents. He appeared in the census in 1905 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁸ He was living with his parents and was Single, age 24, occupation "Laborer." He appeared in the census in 1910 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.^78,233 His farm was in Section 1. Orson appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷⁹ He was living on the farm believed to be previously owned by his father. He lived at his home in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI in September 1923.⁸⁹ He appeared in the census in 1930 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁹² Orson appeared in the census in 1940 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²²¹ His household was at 802 Kilbourn Avenue. He registered for the Military Draft in 1942 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. ²³⁴ He died on 27 January 1960 at the age of 78 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^135,141,154 He was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^158,232 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Orson James ROOT and Lulu May BIGELOW were married on 28 June 1905 in Monroe County, WI.^93,111 Lulu May BIGELOW, daughter of Levi L. BIGELOW and Margaret MCMULLEN, was born on 27 October 1884 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^93,141,168 She appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷¹ She was living with her parents. She appeared in the census in 1910 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷⁸ Lulu appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷⁹ She appeared in the census in 1930 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁹² She appeared in the census in 1940 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²²¹ Lulu died on 24 January 1953 at the age of 68 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^93,141

Obituary Notes: "Funeral services for Mrs. Orson Root were held on Tuesday, January 27, at the Ninneman Funeral Parlors, with Rev. Lawrence Janssen, Warrens, officiating. Burial was in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Mrs. Root passed away at the Tomah Memorial Hospital, as the result of a heart attack. She had been in ill health for more than five years, during which she had sought help both at the Wisconsin General Hospital and the Mayo Clinic, in addition to local hospitals. Death came to bring relief from physical suffering, as well as peace for her troubled mind.

She was born Lulu Bigelow, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Bigelow, in the town of LaGrange, October 27, 1884. During her girlhood she lived with her parents on the farm, and became a teacher in the public schools of the area.

In June 1905 she was married to Orson Root, and together they lived on their farm between Tomah and Tunnel City. She gave herself diligently to the tasks of homemaking. One son, Gail, was born to this union. In 1934 they left the farm to live in Tomah, where they were living at the time of Mrs. Root's death.

In addition to her husband and son and his family, she leaves one brother, Neil, of Washington, D.C. Two brothers preceded her in death."

(Her obituary is undated, but she is known to have died in the early-1950's. The only years in the '50's that had a Tuesday, January 27th, were 1953 and 1959.) She was buried on 27 January 1953 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^93,158 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Orson James ROOT and Lulu May BIGELOW had the following children: