Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-04-07
LIVING PIONEERS OF
WASHINGTON
By PROF. E. S. MEANY
in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Mrs. Ann Elizabeth White BigelOw

Mrs. Ann Elizabeth White Bigelow.
Mrs. Bigelow was born at Spring
field, ILL.,, on November 2, 1886. Her
father. William White, was a native
of Indiana. of French English parent
age. The mother, Margaret (Stewart)
White, was born in Ohio, of Scotch
Irish parents. The father was killed
on Eaton's prairie, on March 2, 1856,
during the Indian war. The mother
died in May, 1894.
The father came West in 1850 and
the next year the mother and chill
dren followed. They moved to Che
halls. Lewis county, in 1853 and later
in the same year moved on to Olym-
pia. In June, 1854, Miss White be-
came the wife Of Daniel Richardson
Bigelow. He was q marked man
among the pioneers. as he had re-
ceived an unusual education. He
was q graduate Of Union college, at
Schenectady. N. r. and also of Har-
ward law school. At the time of his
death he was the oldest living MEM
Der Of the Delta Epsilon fraternity.
When crossing the plains in 1851.
he gave q Fourth of July grafton to
the members Of his party. He came
to Puget Sound from Portland on the
schooner Exact. After landing the
Denny colony at Alki point on Mo-
vember Is, 1851, the Exact took Mr..
Bigelow and the other passengers on
to Olympia. On the Fourth Of July,
1852, he was again selected as orator
Of the day. That address lies among
the foundations Of the common
wealth. The agitation was on for
the creation Of "Columbia'' territory.
The first newspaper north of the Co.
lumbia river was published at Olym-
pia on September 26, 1852. It was
called the Columbian, to aid the
movement for new territory. Mr..
Bigelow's Grafton was SO good that it
was printed in full in that first paper
to favor the same cherished cause.
For a time Mr.. Bigelow practiced
law near Fort simcoe, but later re-
turned and took up a donation claim
adjoining Olympia. They we're liv-
ing there during the Indian war Of
1S55-1S56. Mrs. Bigelow says that
a party was attending church a mile
from the blockhouse, and as most Of
the horses and wagons had been
requisitioned for the volunteers the
church party went on foot. Her
father was guarding the main party
of women when he was overhauled
by lurking Indians and shot.
During the latter part Of the Indian
war a blockhouse was built on the
Bigelow claim. A man was kept on
watch there day and night. On one
occasion the family was alarmed by
the approach. near snightfall. Of IL
canoes filled with Indians. all heavily
armed. The Indians landed and
formed a line. when the chief began
Ia speech in loud piercing tones. AT
the end of the talk the Indians all
fired their guns and instead OF at
lacking the trembling settlers pro-
ceeded to stack their arms, to be
turned over to the territorial author.
tiles. It turned out to be the com
pany Of Indian scouts under CHIEF
Patkanim. who had been fighting fol
and not against the white men.
Mrs. Bigelow tells another Indiar
incident of later days. They hat
ihired an Indian laborer and his pa!
was to be white shirt. He surprised
them by bringing another Indian II
help. They had only one white shir
and that was given to the Indian Al
agreed. The other Indian clamoret
for equal pay. Mrs. Bigelow, at he
wits end, seized a flour sack. and
cutting out holes for the neck ant
arms. slipped 1t over the Indian. whit
strutted away perfectly satisfied ant
proud of his new raiment.
Mrs. Bigelow is the mother Of sew
en- children: Tirzah. the wife of Mil
Ter Royal; Evelyn. the wife of w.
Bonney. of Tacoma: Ruth, the wifi
of Albert D. Wright: Duncan Bige
low, Richardson Lee Bigelow. Marga
ret Bigelow and George r. Bigelow
She lives at Olympia among he1
relatives and hosts Of pioneer friends