Worcester daily spy., 1860-04-07
CITY AND COUNTY.


Our venerable and esteemed citizen, Hon. Abah
Bigelow died at his residence in this city on Thurs
day, 9Th inst, at the age of eghty-fve years. Dur
ing the last few days he had suffered from the pre-
vailing influenza, and his constitution already much
enfeebled by age could resist the attack of dis
ease. He fell into gradual decline about week
ago, and passed away with little apparent pain
Mr.. Bigelow was born in Westminster, December
9th, l775. When ten years of age he entered Leices
ter Academy and spent his winters there learning
the English and Latin languages until the spring of
lI9l. He was afterwards apupi in the Academy at
New Ipswich, n. H. and entered Dartmouth Col
lege in 1895, then in his sixteenth year Soon after
le&ving college he commenced reading law in
the Office of the late Sam'l Dana ESQ., of Boston, re-
naming there, with the exception of brief period,
for three years, when he admitted to the bar of
this county, of which he was at the time of his
death the Oldest member. He soon after commenc-
ed practice in the town of Leomnster. In March,
1903, he was chosen town clerk of Leominster, and
was annually re elected to that post, until March,
1909, during four years of that time being also one
of the selectmen of the town. In 1907 and for two
successive years, he chosen to represent that
town in the general court, when he declined re-
! election
In the fall of 1910 he was elected member of con-
gress from the old Worcester north district TO SUM-
| ply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of
Hon. VIM Stedman. These were violent party
times, and the district was decidedly federal, Mr.
Blgelow receiving 2l23 out ofthe 2945 votes cast He
was also elected to the two succeeding congresses
the last of which ended March 4, 1876 covering the
important period of the last with Great Britain
when such men as Daniel Webster, Henry Clay
John G. Calhoun, William Lowndes, Nathaniel
Macon, and jeremiah Morrow, all of whom are
now deceased, members of that BODY
On the 18th of March, 1917. he was appoint-
ed to the office Of clerk of the courts for this county
by the judges of the supreme court then in session
at Boston, and continued in this office till his resig
nation in July, 1893, period of over sixteen wears
discharging its duties like all his other trusts. with
singular fidelity. He then resumed the practice of
the law, in this city, in company with George Fol-
som, Esq.
The period of Mr.. Bgelow's residence in this city
dates from lolf when he assumed the duty of clerk
of the courts He elected trustee of Leicester
Academy November II, l8l9 and treasurer of that
institution August %, 1920 both of which offices he
resigned May H. 1853 Mr. Bigelow was commits
stoned by Gov. Gore june l6, 1903, Justice of the
peace, and by Gov. Strong in November, 1872,
justice the quorum which commissions he contin-
ued to hold by successive re-appointmens till his
death He always took great interest in political
questions, and was frequent contributor TO the
press on matters concerning the public welfare He
was chairman of the committee of our fellow citi.
zens who addressed Mr.. Webster in 1874, to ascer-
tain his views in relation to the annexation of Texas
and which elected from that distinguished states
man letter on that important subject stating his
opinions at length. He was also deeply interested in
moral and religious questions, and during his long
and useful life maintained reputation of unsulied
integrity. Il