The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-12-28
JOHN b|CEL0W.
FIRST CITIZEN"
Few Men In This Country Have
Equa|ed His Active Life.
STATESMAN and PUBL|CIST,

VIM 6OUl1O 0UO OO6tOyO Q
Wrote Many Books and Was a Power
In PoIitics-Authorized Bioerapher Of
Samuel J. Tiiden-Something of His
Career.
! John Bigelow, who died recently at
his home in New York, from his emf
nence of ninetyfour years looked back
upon almost that many years of active
life in a variety Of capacities equaled
by few if any. Lawyer, diplomat, pub
lie officer, journalist and interchangeable
author, he had worked with three gen
erations Of men at home and abroad
and continued working and taking
part in affairs until the last To many
ae was Americas first citizen, her
grand old man."
His opinion on political questions
was sought constantly and was given
always in virile pointed terms some
times none too welcome. He held
closely to the principles of the earlier
Democratic party. His one guiding
principle in all his political views was
his advocacy of free trade To the
doctrine of protection he laid nearly
all the ills of the nation, and this eco
nomic heresy, as he styled it, was as
abhorrent to him as any theological
heresy ever was to any one 'Iurn
your custom houses into hospitals and
make some social use of them," he
said. In religion Mr.. Bigelow was a
member of the Swedenborgian church,
to which he turned more than fifty
years ago.
|. John Bigelow was born at Maiden,
Ulster county. N. y. on Nov. IS, 1917.
the descendant of an English,nan who
settled in Watertown, Mass, in 1912.
He was graduated from Union college
In 1885 and three years later was adj
mitted to the bar.
His articles on constitutional reform,
published from 1S45-46, were reprinted
in pamphlet form and largely circu-
lated
In the campaign Of 1915, in the heat
Of the antislavery agitation, the tri-
umph of the Free Soil Democracy was
signalized by the nomination of Mar.
tin Van Buren, to the presidency. Mr..
Bigelow actively supported Van Blu.
ren's candidacy.
His Diplomatic Caresr.
In 1861 President Lincoln appointed
him consul to Paris. Upon the death
of the United States minister to Frsar7e
In 1864 Mr.. Bigelow became charge
d'affaires ut Paris and then envoy ex-
traordinary and minister p}enipoten-
tiary to the empire. His mission to
France closed in 1867.
After a brief interval at home he
went to Berlin to educate his children.
Upon his return to America Governor
Tilden appointed him in 1875 one of
the four commissioners to investigate
the management of the state canals,
resulting in the overthrow Of the canal
ring, and in the autumn of that year
he was nominated secretary of state Of
New York. He won over Frederick
W. Seward, the Republican candidate,
by 14,S1O votes
In the spring Of 1856 he Was desig
mated by the New York chamber of
commerce to inspect 50 much Of the
Panama canal as was then under con-
struction, and on the receipt Of his re-
port he was unanimously elected
honorary member of the chamber He
was also delegate Of the New York
chamber to meet representatives of all
commercial bodies of maritime Europe,
who met in Panama on invitation Of
Count de Lesseps.
The same year he received the hon
orary degree Of Ill. D. from Racine
college. Wisconsin, and from Union
college, his own alma mater: The
University of the City of New York
bestowed the same degree upon him in
1889. Grover Cleveland during his
6rst term Of Office as president ap-
pointed Mr.. Bigelow assistant United
States treasurer for the city of New
York, but MIR: Bigelow declined to
serve. as he had also declined the Of
fee of New York city chamberlain,
rendered to him by the mayor.
Trustee of Tilden Request.
BY Mr.. Tilden's will (August, 1856
Mr.. Bigelow was appointed trustee
Of several million dollars to be applied
to the, establishment and maintenance.
IF public library in New York city:
At the time Of his death he was presi-
dent Of the board Of trustees Of the
New York Public library, Astor. Lenox
and Tilden foundations. Mr.. Bigelow
also became by the terms Of the Til
den will the testator's authorized biog-
rapher and published the Life of
Samuel J. Tilden'' in 1895.
His later years had been spent lei
surely. lat he kept to the last keen
and highly informed concern in the
development Of the nations affairs,
and his advice was sought constantly
by those who were trying to better the