Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-08-18
WILLIAM BTGLER.
A DEMOCRAT or THE OLD SCHOOL AND
his STURDY PUBLIC SERVICES.

to manhood since the war, are less
familiar with the name OF William Big
Ter than those older. lIe has, howov.
or, occupied conspicuous position in
tho front rank of illustrions Pennsyl.
vanians for thirty years, having served
as Governor and United States Sena.
tor.
William Biglor was born at Sher.
mansburg, Cumberland county, Pa,
in December, 1918. His parents
Jacob Biglcr aud Susan Dock, sister
of Judge Dock, of Harrisburg, were
of German descent, aud were educa.
ted, like most children a their origin
in both the German and English
tongues. While very young his par
onts removed to Mercer county, hav.
ing purchased u large tract of wild
land, in the hope OF building up their
fortunes but the title proving defect
i've, they found themselves in n short
time beroit Of everything but small
farm. The children had severe
struggle with life, and William drifted
into printing Office From 1880 to
1888 he was employed by his brother
Johu, in the Office Of the Centre Demo.
crat, published ut BelIefonte. At the
end OF that period, influenced by the
abyice OF his friends, among whom
was Andrew q. Curtin, since Govern
or Of the Commonwealth, he decided,
though not without many misgivings,
to remove to Geariield and commence
the publication of a political paper.
Young Bigler had no money, but he
possessed about everything else requi.
site TO the publication Of paper.
With the aid of his friends ho secured
some ole type and secondhand
press then, as he used to say, he
"started an eight. by.ten Jackson pa.
per to oounteraot the influence of a
seven-by.nine Wing paper which had
preceded him into that mountainous
region" This paper was called the
Clearfeld Democrat. Bigler did near.
ly all the work, writing the editorials
setting the type and working the old
hand press. With all these drawbacks
the publication was u very spirited one,
but il was not n source of immediate
wealth. He was deep in politics, how.
ever, and soon acquired a reputation
for good Judgment and sincerely. His
uniform courtesy toward everybody
made him u general iavorite, and il is
said of him that he was real back
woodsman, Il good hunter and the best
marksman with rifle in all the coun.
try-accomplishments which in those
days by no means detracted from bis
influence as political leader.
In 1886, or shortly after Mr.. Bigler,
having married Il daughter Of Alexan-
der b. Reed, Of Clearfeld, disposed OF
his paper and entered into partnership
with his fathcr.in.law in mercantile
business. He engaged in his new pur.
suit with his usual industry and ener.
gy, and in brief period placed him.
self in the front rank Of the merchants
and dealers in lumber in that section,
From 1915 to 1850 he wgs by far the
largest producer of lumber or square
timber on tho west branch OF the Sus.
quehanna river. But his previous act.
i've participation in politics and bis
well-know views on public questions
kept hlm prominently before the peo.
Pile, He was an ardent advocate of a
convention to amend the State Con.
stitution and was presented from his
county as a delegate to that body, but
he declined to be a candidate.
In 1S4l he was nominated for the
State Senate, and though much to his
pecuniary disadvantage, he accepted
the nomination. The district was
composed ofthe counties of Armstrong,
Indiana, Cambria and Clearfield, and
he was elected by majority of over
5000 Though opposed by regular.
ly nominated candidate of tho Wing
party he received every vote in Clear.
field county save one, a result unpre.
cedented in the history Of politics.
The term of service Upon which he
now entered covered period of un-
usual difficulty in the management Of
the affairs of the State. He was elect.
ed Speaker Of the Senate in the Spring
of 1S43, was re elected at the opening
Of the session OF 1874, and in October
following was returned for second
term. Mr.. Bigler did not desire again
to be a candidate and so disinclined
was he to continuing in puplic life,
that he had instructed the delegates
from CNarfield to tho nominating con.
vontion to withdraw his name, which
they did but the delegates from the
other counties composing the district
conferred the nomination on him not.
withstanding, and he was elected by
vote much larger than the regular
party vote. In 1913 his name was
presented for Governor, and he re.
ceived a larger vote in the Democratic
Nominating Convention of that year
but the choice fell upon Morris Long
streth, then a Canal Commissioner
who was defeated by William f. John.
son. In 1S49 Mr.. Bigler was appoint
cd one OF the Revenue Commissioners,
whose duty il was to adjust the
amount 10 be raised by taxation in
the different sections and counties Of
the State
At the succeeding election for Gov.
ernor in 1851 Mr.. Bigler received the
Democratic nomination by reclamation
and was elected after warm contest,
in which Governor johnson was his
opponent. Not only were questions
of State concern involved, but discus
sion turned upon the fugitive slave law
and the question Of slavery in the
Territories. Mr. Bigler was at this
time but 3s years Of age, and it is
something of a coincidence that at the
time of his election as Governor OF
Pennsylvania his brother John was
chosen Governor Of California. Gov.
Bigler's administration was character
lied by the virtues of the old.time
Governors, especially maintaining rigid
economy and strict accountability in
the use of public moneys. He took a
firm stand against the practice Of put
ting good and bad legislation together
in single bill for the purpose of get
ting the bad measures through, and IL
was owing to his exertions that bill
was passed forbdding the passage of
any act which did not fully state in
its title the subiect.matter and which
contained moro than one subject, thus
breaking down forever this most per.
nicious system.
In March, 1854, he was again unani-
mously nominated for Governor and
entered upon another laborious cam
paign but his health failed and he
lay sick IN the northern part OF the
State during most of the canvass. He
was defeated by the Native American