The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-05-15
Death OF W n BIgelow.

W. IL. Bigelow, superintendent OF the
railway mail service for New England
was taken suddenly and seriously III In
wstersillc Saturday afternoon.
After psrtakiug of dinner with party
Of friends he strolled up to the college
grounds and visited Mr. G. II. Sturteyant,
one of the students, friend of his.
while seated In Mr. Sturteyanrs room he
suddenly complained OF n dizzy feeling
and said that he would step out in the
open AR. Mr.. Sturtcvant accompanied
him across the campus To the station
where Mr.. BigelOw Intended to take the
afternoon train for Clinton. He grew
rapidly worse and was placed in car
rage and driven To the Elmwood hotel
In addition to the feeling of dizziness
which he experienced he also began TO
lose the use OF his voice so In short
time he was nearly speechless. Upon Mr..
Bigelow's arrival Mt the hotel he was at
once placed In bed aud DIR. j. r. HUI
summoned. After an examination Dr.
llill pronounced the attack stroke of
paralysis affecting principally the larnyx
DIR. Boutelle was called In for consulta-
ton by DR.. Hill and word was sent to
DR.. Weeks OF Portland, who, unfortun-
ately, was found to be on his way to
w
Augusta. Mr.. Bigclow's family physician,
arrived Sunday afternoon. His opinion
conceded with that of the other physl-
clans.
Mr. Bigelow continued to gradually
grow worse and died Tuesday afternoon.
His wife. two sons and two daughters,
his entire family. were with him at the
time of his death also the attending ply
sicians, DR.. Geo. +. Brickett of Augusta
DIR. Freeman c. Jersey Of Salem, Mass,
and DIR. J. +. Hin Of Watervile.
William II. Bigelow was born In that
part OF Skowhegan formerly Bloomfield
October %, 1885, being the third child OF
George and Martha b. Blgelow. He early
manifested great desire for an educa.
ton, and in ls52 started for California
for the express purpose of obtaining
money to assist him In getting an educa-
tlop. He WAS fortunate In the mines
and In little less than year from the
time he left home returned with sutli-
Client sum, as he thought, to carry him
through college. After fitting at the old
Bloomfield Academy he entered Union
College at Schenectady, N. Y, where he
remained three years.
Returning to Skowhegan he entered
the law office OF Hon. James Bell and was
afterwards admitted to the Somerset Bar
in 1867. lie was teacher for many
years In early life he lived In New Jer-
sey. He entered the United States naval
service In 1863 He was under Admiral
Dahlgreu at Morris Island, Charleston.
Savannah, Fernandina and Hilton Head.
lie was a representative to the Maine
Legislature In 1865. 60 educational super
fA.n al
clerk on the Maine Central Railroad for
two years. special agent Of the United
States postal department for New Eng
land, January 1874. He was appointed
Superintendent Of the Railway Mail Ser
vice of New England under President
Arthur lu 1885 he was appointed Post
served until again reappoiuted Superin-
tendent of the Railway Mail Service OF
New England, in April, 1889.
Mr.. Bigelow was married October .,
1857, to Miss Elvira NJ. Howe OF Sk0w-
hogan. His family consists of four Chill
dren: Walter Wayland, Nellie Francis,
Julia May and Harry Morris, His daugh.
tiers and one son are married.
In connection with the intricate and ex-
acting duties of his position Mr. Bigelow
exhibited great administrative abilities.
He had worked up the high position he
occupied from the lowest round by the
display Of pluck, ability and good judg-
ment. He knew every one of the six
hundred men under his charge In New
England, and every one of them loved
and respected him.
No man ever occupied this important
post who possessed so thorough, pfacti-
cal and complete a knowledge of Its
workings as did Mr.. Bigelow. He made
the business a careful study, and intro
duced countless improvements into the
system, and his death is great loss to
the service. He was a lovable man in
his family and in private life and was
loved by every man In the mail service in
New England. lie had 600 men un, er
him and Postmaster General Wauamakt r
had Il high opinion Of his abilities.