Milford chronicle., 1893-12-29
Benjamin T. Biggs Dead.

Ex-Governor Benjamin T Biggs died very
peacefully Christmas afternoon at 4 50 o'clocl
in his home surrounded by the members o
his family, the immediate cause of his deatl
being catarrhal pneumonia He had been
in very bad health for over year. during
the past two months he became much worse
growing gradually weaker.
A week $50 he was for several days in
very low condition and his death momeutarily
expected, but with vitality quite character
istic of him he took turn for the better anC
considerable hope of his recovery was enter
taiped. But to the relapse which set in Sun
day he.hn 'i1y succambed, and Middletowi
loses its foremost citizen.
Benjamin Thomas Biggs, ex-governor o
Delaware, was the eldest son Of John Biggs,
farmer of Peucader hundred, New Castle
county He was born October I, 1921 It
his youth ne attended the schools in his
neighborhood, Studying the branches of in
structiou usually giveu in the private school:
Of that time When I9 years of age he went
as a student to Pennington Seminary, New
Jersey, au institution under the charge o.
the New Jersey NJ. T. Conference. After
two years OF study there he taught a pri-
vate school for two years and then entered
the Wesleyan University of Middletowu,
Conn.
Returning home from the institution he
engaged in farmiug-a pursuit which was
particularly agreeable Is his taste-and cul
tivated on his father's lands cereals and
peaches for twenty years. Agricultural pur-
suits were his chief delight and occupation,
but his natural and acquired capacities fol
public responsibilities brought him, by a
sort of natural affinity. into the arena of pub.
lie life. His taste and ability, both literary
and forensic, made him conspicuous in the
discussion of public interest.
10 I846 he was commissioned by Governor
Temple major of the Delaware regiment
which was intended for service III Mexico in
event of war with that country. In 1852 he
was elected member Of the convention
that was called to amend the state consti-
tuition. About this time he ceased TO be a
Wing because that party seemed TO haYe
fulfilled its mission, and he declined to
unite with the Know Nothing party because
he deemed it prospective. In 1854 he
became identified with the Democratic party
and was from that time member Of it,
both as voter and public champion of its
principles,
In 1860 he was candidate for Congress
Of that party, but was defeated by the Hon.
George P. Fisher by 247 votes. In 1867 he
was elected a director of the Queen Anne
and Kent County railroad, and in 1874 he
was made president and retained that posi-
ton until the time of his death. In 1868 he
was again nominated for Congress and
elected by a majority of $500. Two years
afterward he was renominated and again
elected by 2535 majority. In 1877 he re-
moved from his farm, which had partly been
inherited, but chiefly purchased from the CO.
heirs of his fathers estate, and removed 10
Middletown, where he died.
After his service in Congress and after he
had returned to his favorite pursuits on the
farm he gave particular attention to the cul-
ture of peaches and had eminent success.
He had large peach orchards, not only in
Delaware, but in Queen Anne and Kent
counties Nd
In 1886 he was selected by his party as a
candidate for governor of the state. After an
exciting and vigorously conducted contest
both before aud in the convention that nom
mated him he was chosen as a candidate by
a vote of Io2 out of ISo ballots cast. His
opponents, who until the final ballot had
voted for four competitors, massed their
suffrages upon one candidate with the re-
suit just stated. At the election Mr.. Biggs
was successful by a majority of OILS over
James Hoffecker, the nominee of the
Prohibition party, The Republicans had no
candidate for governor in the field, although
a few votes were cast for Joseph Pyle
Mr.. Biegs was married Nav IS, 1883, to
Miss Mary S Beckman Of Bridgeton, n J.
Three of their five children survive. They
are ex-Attorney General John Biggs, Will
ard B. Biggs and Miss Jennie Biggs. The
ex-governor was member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church Of Middletown.
Mr. Biggs was also for many years and at
the time of his death a member OF the
Board of Trustees of Delaware College and
in the vigorous and often acrimonious dis
cussions which took place in this body his
voice was always heard. He stood as cham
pion of co education in the institution, aud
had he lived to attend the next meeting he
would have made great fight TO bring
girls into the college course again.