The person whose life and labors are here briefly treated upon was born in Whitestown, Oneida county, New York, June 4, 1815. His parents were Eleazer and Lydia Bigelow. When Mr. Bigelow was a mere lad, seven or eight years of age, he began work in a cotton factory, and eventually became a thorough master of that branch of manufacturing, and followed it for a livelihood many years. When quite young he had made such progress in the business that he was enabled to assume charge of the carding, spinning, and weaving departments, and was thus employed in a number of mills. In 1837 he was foreman of the " Ida mills," at Troy, New York, which closed that season, owing to dullness of trade and hard times. In the fall of that year he came to Michigan, in company with a younger brother, Spencer Bigelow, arriving in Springfield township some time during the month of October. Immediately afterwards they built a log cabin, or " shanty," seven by nine feet in dimensions, and in it enjoyed bachelor life until the spring of 1838, when two larger cabins were built, one for their parents and the other for the family of their elder brother, George Bigelow, to whom the land belonged.

Nolton Bigelow lived with his parents until the fall of 1840, clearing and improving the land during the summer and teaching school in the winter. In 1840, being in somewhat straitened circumstances, he returned to the State of New York, and sought employment at his old trade. He was given work in a cotton factory at Hartsville, Dutchess county, and remained at that place until June, 1846, when he returned to Springfield on a visit. His brother George finally persuaded him into purchasing the farm they had settled, and after so doing he became a permanent resident of the township, and a successful farmer. More land was added to the place and greater improvements introduced, and up to the year 1864, when his fine barns were swept away by fire, his was one of the best arranged farms in Springfield township.

Mr. Bigelow's early advantages for obtaining an education were very limited, yet, by dint of making good use of what he had, he made a mark in the path he chose to follow through life which reflects great credit upon his energy and perse- verance and strength of character. He became a prominent citizen of Springfield, and in 1849 was elected to her chief executive office, that of supervisor, the duties of which he discharged for one year.

On the 16th of March, 1852, he was married to Miss Letitia Parker, who was a sister of the wife of Mr. Fred. Foster, now living in Springfield. Two children were born to them, a daughter, Lydia E. Bigelow, January 16, 1854, and a son, Charles Nolton Bigelow, April 22, 1862. Both are now living.

Mrs. Bigelow was a native .of Leicestershire, England, where she was born February 14, 1822. In 1832, when ten years of age, she accompanied her father, William Parker, to the United States. Mr. Parker settled in Erie county, New York, and made his home there until his death, although for four years previous to his decease he had been most of the time with his children in Michigan. Nolton Bigelow died October 16, 1874, aged over fifty-nine years. His wife had preceded him through the " dark valley of the shadow of death," her demise occurring April 30, 1874, when in her fifty-third year. In Mr. Bigelow's decease his children were deprived of a loving father, and the community of an upright citizen and worthy representative of the type of people which were moulded from the pioneers of the land. His loss was a greater blow to his children because his beloved partner—their fond mother—had been taken so short a time before.

Mr. Bigelow's life in the wilds of Michigan, and that of his wife in New York, are replete with incident and overflowing with memories of severe trials, which find counterparts in the lives of nearly every man and woman who ventured to the frontier of every State in the Union. The life of the early settlers was accepted beforehand with all its privations, and all honor be to those who shrank not back from the ordeal, but boldly strode forth, and with their axes literally cut themselves homes amid the haunts of the savage and the lairs of the wild beasts. Their labors are generally finished, and, with Mr. and Mrs. Bigelow, many have gone to their eternal rest; yet posterity is grateful for the work they performed in laying the foundation whereon is built so broad and prosperous a country, for the people make the country, and with a tear to mingle with the dust of the departed, the thanks due them are also expressed, while their memory is fondly cherished by those who are left to mourn for them.