Evening journal., 1893-12-18
He IS AWAITING the END
Ex-Governor B. T. Biggs Slowly
Passing Away at His Home.
SKETCH OF ELS IvEETFUL LIFE
Served Two Terms in Congress Delegate
20 the constitutional Convention.
Il iected Governor BY AN Unusually
Large MpJority Father Of Ex-Attor-
ney- General John Bigrs.

Il iected Governor BY AN Unusually
Large MaJority Father Of Ex-Attor-
ney- General John Riggs.
The Hfeof ex Governor Benz amin T.
Biggs is slowly ebbug away
at bis home in Middletown He
spent a quiet day yesterday. but there
was a preceptibe change for the worse
during the night, and to-day he is so ex
tremely weak that his death Is hourly ex
pected
Dr. William r. Bulock, Of this city,
visited him yesterday and was Ia consul
tatlon with the family physician He
gave the anxious family but little en-
coursgement
Rev Edward Stevens. a notable Phil
adelphia preacher and close personal
friend Of the ex governor. spent some time
at the bedside One Of the Expressions
made by Mr. Blggs was 'lf IL is the
will of the great Father am perfectly
willing and ready to die and l patiently
await The end. -
sketch ofan Active Life.
Benjamin Thomas Bggs is the eldest
son of John Biggs, a farmer Of Peucader
hundred New Castle county He was
born October /. 1921 In bis youth he
attended the schools in his neighborhood,
| studying tne branches sf instruction
usually given IN the private schools OF
that time When 10 years old he went
as a student to Pennington Seminary,
New Jersey. an Institution under the
care of the New Jersey NJ p Conference
After two years of study there, he
taught a private school two years and
then entered the Wesleyan University at
aiddletown, Conn.
Returning home from this institution
he enga ed in farming, a pursuit which
was particularly agreeable to his taste,
and cultivated, on his fathers farm,
cereals aud peaches for twenty years
Although agricultural pursuits were his
chief delg at and occupation, his natural
ind acquired capacity for public respon
sibilities brought him, by sort Of
affinity, into the areDa Of public life
His tact aud ability. both literary and
forensic, have made him conspicuous in
the di-oussiou Of questions OF public
interest. he has been prominent figure
! in the assemblies of the people In ! is46
he was commissioned by Governor VIII
liam Temple. major Of the Delaware reg
, iment. which was intended for service in
4 Mexico, iu event of war with that country.
In 1862 he was elected member OF the
n convention which was called to amend
the state constitution.
Coasing about that time Co be a Wing,
because the party had about fulfilled its
q mission. aud declining TO unite with tbs
\ Know Nothing party because be deemed
10 too pr0seriptive, he began, IN 1854, tC
. affiliate with the Democratic party, and
has since been identified with it both as
a voter aud public champion of its prin-
ciples
ia 1860 he was candidate Of that
y par y for Congress but wes defeated BY
r Hon George p Fisher, by 2iI votes IN
q 1867 he was elected a director Of the
u Queen Annes aud Kent County Railroad
y and IN 1874 was made president Of thl
e company and has remained la that posi-
y tion up 10 the present time
Il iu 1868 be was again nominated loi
i Congress aud was elected by a majority
of 300 Two years afterwards be wa.
renomiuated and again elected by ., 52'
msj0rity
Ia 1877 he removed from his farm
b. which had been partly inherited bu
20 chiefly purchased from the co-heirs o
his fathers estate, 10 Middletown, anG
resided in the handsome residence he ha,
. built there
e After his service in Congress and re-
turn TO his favorte pursuits on tLl
u farm, he gave particular attention TO thI
= culture Of peaches and had eminon
. success.
n To the Gubernatorial Chair.
3. In 1856 he was selected by bis party q
" their candidate for governor Of the state
After an exciting and vigorously con
Quoted contest, both before and la th
D." convention that nominated him, he wa
rs chosen as the candidate by vote Of 10
10 out of 1s0 ballots cast. The peopl
y confirmed this choice by a majority o
sr G,1l0 over James Hoflecker, the nomine
B. Of the Temperance Reform psTty.
m TX Governor Bggs was married oi
May lS. 1858, to Miss Mary S Baokman
Of Grlggstown. n J. Three ont OF thei
Y five children survive. John, a gradual
Of Princeton who studied law wit
Is Victor DUPONT. Of this city. was admitte
TO the bar in November, 1879 He was
II. in 1883, appointed attorney general O
o. the state. having been previously deput
A under Attorney General John n Payntel
b. Of Georgetown; Jennie. graduate Of th
IN Wesleyan College, Wilmington; and Wi
% lard who is a graduate Of Fort EdwarC
n n Y. who lives in Middletown an
T. gives his attention TO peach culture an
manages the real estate IN Mary land.
e- Mr.. Biggs Is a director OF the Citizen
or National Bank of Mddletown, havin
10 been elected to that position in 1869, an
he Is a member Of the Methodist Episcop
] Church there.
cnn,r,vhat rsatter To-dav