The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1871-12-02
DEATH OF EX-GOVERNOR JOHN
BIGLER.

B1GlEh.
from the Sacramento Union, Nov 29th ]
John Bigler, whose history is iden-
titled with that of our State, expired
this morning, after a lingering i'll
ness, at half-past l o'clock, at the
advanced age of &c years. The i'm
mediate cause of his death was
dropsy.
Ex- Governor Bigler was born near
Carlisle, in the State of Pennsylvania,
of parents of German descent, on
the sth day of January, 1905, and
had therefore nearly completed his
sixty-seventh year. Few men who
knew him before his final sickness
would have placed his age above
sixty, so hale and hearty was his ap-
pearance He was born farmer S
boy and early Injured to toll, and be-
ing the oldest of the family was re
quired to help his father in his
struggles to support family. Dick
inson College being located at young
Bigler's birthplace, he entered that
institution, but did not graduate, his
father moving to Mercer county be
fore the sons education was COM
plete. Soon after the removal, John
Bigler went to learn the printing
business in Pittsburg, and In 1877
became the editor of a Democratic
paper at Bellefonte, Center county,
in which position he continued five
years. Afterwards he studied law
and was admitted to the bar in 1910,
practicing at Mt. Sterling till 1S49,
when, with his wife and only child,
he took up his march with other gold
hunters for the Pacific coast. 1t is
known to be fact that he drove an
OK team across the plains, and took
his turn at standing guard with the
rest of his companions. The long
and weary journey was ended on the
31st day of August, 1S49, when he
pitched his tent for final resting
place in Sacramento. Accustomed
to labor, he sought employment, and
obtained a situation in the store of
an auctioneer. Afterwards he cut
wood out of town and hauled it in
for sale, and still later assisted in
Unloading steamers as a common
hand, at two dollars an hour. In
the Fall of the year and but short
time after his arrival, he was elected
to the first Legislature of California
from this county. On the assembling
of the Legislature at San Jose, he
was elected Speaker pro tenn, and
before the session closed, on the re-
signation of DIR. White, he succeeded
as Speaker. Again elected to the
Legislature in 1850, he was reelected
Speaker. During this year the Asiatic
cholera visited Sacramento, and dur
ing the trying scenes John Bigler
nobly vindicated his claims as a.
friend to suffering humanity. InI
1851 he was elected Governor of the |
State over the Whig candidate, P. B.
Reading, and was reelected to the
same high position two years after.
Enjoying the full confidence of his
party, he was again candidate in
1855, but was defeated by J. Neely
johnson. Governor Bigler was
prominent as an advocate Of Jamesl
Buchanan for the presidency in the
State Convention, and was one of
the delegates sent from California
that assisted in the nomination. He
received as the reward for his friend
ship and unwavering Democracy,
the position of envoy and Minister
to Chile, which he held while Bu-
chanan was at the head of the Gov
Andrew johnson appoin-
ted him one of the Pacific Railroad
Commissioners, since which time he
has held no office. Governor Bigler
took part also as delegate from
California in the national conven-
tions of his party that nominated
and Seymour. When
Minister to Chile, and residing at
Santiago, Harry Meiggs presented
and asked the friendly as
sistance of Governor Bigler in pro-