Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-12-20
Interesting Biographical Sketch Of
Hon. John Bigler, Deceased.

Hon. John Bigler, Deceased.
The Patriot contained u brief and
incomplete obituary of Hon. John
Bigler, who died in Sacramento at the
ago Of sixty-seven years. The Pitts
burg Post, with which the deceased
was connected a quarter of century
ago, contains an interesting sketch OF
his life, from it appears that he was
employed as journeyman printer in
this city in 1925 by Murray Il Came
ron, the latter of whom is now United
States Senator and still resides in
Harrisburg. While engaged in the
''art preservative" young Bigler dc.
voted his leisure hours in the study Of
law in the Office of Hon. David Krause,
for long time n resident of this city,
who died in Norristown year or two
ago. Our townsman, Samuel Bigler,
Esq, and DR.. George Dock, were
cousins of the deceased The follow.
ing is the obitury in the Post:
John Bigler was born in Cumbcr.
land county, Pennsylvania, on the Sth
of January, 1904, and was the Oldest
of twelve children ten of whom were
living some few years since. In the
year 1916, a short time after the close
of the war with England, in which
the father had taken an active part,
the family moved west of the ALE
gheny Mountains, to the county of
Mercer, then very sparsely populated,
and settled upon piece of wild land,
four miles distant from any ncighbor.
Tue family arrived at their destna.
ton in the month of June, and with
little delay erected q rude log cabin rs
a dwelling, and commenced improving
the homestead, where the aged mother
of the Governor still resided in 1853
The father died in fall of the year
1918, leaving his widow and twelve
children, most of the children too
young TO be of material assistance to
the older brothers, John and William,
afterwards governors of two great
States-Pennsylvania and California.
The whole burden rested on John and
his brother William, who not only la
bored diligently upon the farm at
home, but worked out by the day and
month to acquire means to maintain
and educate the younger members of
the household. In the year 1921 John
bound himself, with the consent of his
brother, an apprentice to the printing
business in the town of Mercer, where
he remained about one year and thon
left for tho city of Pittsburgh, whore
he closed his apprenticeship.
In the fall Of the year 1925 John
left Pittsburgh for Harrisburg, where
he was employed by Murray Il Came
ron as a journeyman printer. During
the time he was engaged in this office
he spent his nights and spare hours in
reading law, under the direction Of Mr.,
David Krause. In the summer Of 1925
at the earnest solicitation of his uncle,
Judge Dock, and General Philip Bar.
ner, leading Democrats, he was in.
duced to take charge of the Centre
County Democrat, which he continued
to publish until after tho first election
Of General Jackson. In this contest
he took an active and effective part,
and was chosen u member of the
Legislature. He married in the spring
of 1929, and soon after, in company
with his father.n.law, removed TO
Ohio, and served one year as Secretary
of the Canal Board After the re elec.
ton of General Jackson lac was ten.
dered position in the Postoilice
Department under Mr.. Kendall, which
he filled about one year, and then re-
} signed and returned TO Pittsburgh,
where he took an active part in pOlt
ical affairs. 1t is q circumstance
known to Pennsylvanians that Cover
nor Bigler was the first public man in
the State that took position in favor
Of the annexation Of Texas, and in
tho public meetings at Pittsburgh,
where the first resolutions in favor OF
annexation were offered and advo.
Gated by him, he stood almost alone.
After the election of President Polk
he took editorial charge of the Post,
in which he continued something over
year. In 1916 he was admitted to
the bar. In the fall Of that year ho
removed to Brown county, Illinois,
where no established a Democratic
paper, and was soon elected Commits
sioncr in Chancory. In the spring OF
1s40, after well authenticated state
monts had been received of the dis
covery of gold Governor Bigler de-
termed to remove with his family to
California lie left his home in Iii.
nois in the month Of April, lSi9,
crossed the Mississippi river at War
saw and reached ST. Joseph, on the
Missouri river, about the Isl Of May
On the 9th of May he passed the
Missouri river, driving four yoke OF
oxen, on his way for the land of gold.
Comparatively few families passed the
overland route in lS40, and all Of them
endured great fatigue and many pri.
vations. Ok driving was u new bust
ness to the Governor, which greatly
increased the labors of the journey,
and although he enjoyed good health,
such was his anxiety of mind and the
fatigue endured that he weighed thir.
ty.6ve pounds less when he arrived in
California than when he left Illinois.
During most Of the journey the
Governor at night lay on the ground
near the wagon, which contained his
family, well armed and prepared for
defense if attacked by the Indians.
After his arrival in Sacramento, where
he has just died, Mr.. Biglcr lived in a
, tent, where he lay four weeks with
. inhammatory rheumatism unable to
move. As soon as ho recovered he
removed to the noighborhood of the
} horse market, and being totally desti.
? tute performed labor OF every kind
that offered, SO as to obtain means for
tho support of his family. Fora time
he was engaged in hauling wood to
a the city and selling il hc then assist
3 cd his wife and daughter in making
9 bed spreads for Colonel Henry. AT
4 4