Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-04-11
Death of Reed Bigler,, Esq.

Death of Reed Bigler,, Esq.
REED BIGLER, son Of Ex-Governor
Biglor, Of this place. died at Lock
Haven, on the I'd instant, at the house
of Mr. John Watson, friend and rel
ative of his mother, in the 29th year
Nofhis age. The circumstances attend
ing his death were of character pc
culiarly distressing to his relatives and
Friends. He had been i'll for some
Ndays, but his disease was net regarded
as dangerous, although at times he
Showed symptoms Of alteration OF
mind. On the morning of his death
he had concluded to send some clothes
to the wash-woman, and whilst in the
act Of getting them out Of his carpet
sack he had occasion to remove q
small selfsetting pistol from pair of
drawers in which he had kept it wrap
ped in doing which he uuwittngly
discharged one Of the barrels, the con
& tents of which passing through his
mouth, lodged in the back part Of his
4 head, causing death IN about one hour
This is the account of the sad affair
as given to us by Mr.. Thomas Watson,
who was the only person near the de-
ceased at the time. Mr.. Biglcr had
resided in the State of California since
1857, during which time he had fol.
lowed his profession of Civil Engineer,
Excepting three years of the time,
which he served in the United States
Mint, at San Francisco, in very re-
sponsible department. In February
last, accompanied by his Father and
Mother, who had been visiting friends
In California he returned on Il visit to
his native State and county, intending
to return to the Pacific Coast during
the Summer or Fall, but alas he has
"gone to that bourn from whence no
traveller returns" After an absence
of nine years he was permitted, but
for brief period to enjoy the society
of his relatives and friends Reed was
modest. kind hearted and generous !;
most beloved by those who knew hlm
best. His deeply distressed Parents
and relatives have the sympathy of
our community. Wecopy the follow
ing notice of him from the Philahel-
hia Age:
"In 1856, Immediately after leaving
school, Mr. Bigler entered upon the
profession of civil engineering, on the
Sunbury and Erie Railroad, position
which he filed to the entire satisiac-
ton of the company. Upon the expi-
ration of his engagement with that
corporation, Mr.. Bigler went to Cali
fornia, and was Immediately associa-
ted with Mr. Kirk, an eminent engin-
eer, in surveying the overland route
from San Francisco to Salt Lake City,
in Utah. At subsequent period Mr..
Bigler was appointed to responsible
post in the Coiner's Department Of the
Mint at San Francisco, where he re-
mained for two years, discharging the
duties in such a manner as to secure
the unlimited confidence of the drec-
tor of that institution. In 1889, tho
Democrats of San Francisco nomina.
ted Mr.. BigIer as candidate for the
position of City and County Surveyor.
He failed Of an election, though run
ming far ahead of his associates, and
again resumed his profession as a civ
il engineer and surveyor, ia which
capacity he acted as one of the cxplo-
ring and locating engineers Of the Pa
cifie Railroad from Sacramento to
Placeryille While employed by this
company he run three exploring lines
over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, an
undertaking which was attended with
dangers and difficulties of no ordinary
character. The Wellington road from
Walker river to Reese river, was also
located by Alr. Bigler. In 1864 he was
elected Chief Surveyor of Douglass
county, an Office which he declined
owing to desire to return to his ma
tive State; and in 1866 he came back
to Pennsylvania, whore, in the prime
Of manhood, he has found a grave
Reed Bigler was frank, honest anC
upright man, respected and beloved
by all who knew him, and by bis death
the community will lose valuable
member, and his family a son and
brother whom they dearly loved, and
whose memory they will fondly cherish
B6r Both the Secretary ofthc Treas