Baldwin County GaArchives History .....History of Baldwin County - Joshua Bigham Biography 1925 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 7, 2004, 12:40 am p. 280-282 BIGHAM Joshua Bigham was one of three brothers who came from Great Britain to the American colonies, settling in Pennsylvania. From there they moved to the Carolinas, though Joshua did not remain there long. He came to Georgia, settling on a farm near Milledgeville, at Midway. His home, a large farm house set in shrubs and flowers, flanked by long rows of negro cabins, occupied the spot where Oglethorpe University afterward stood. The home of its President was built where formally was his gin house and cotton press. He was married to Mrs. Dorothy Rutherford Wiggins, a sister of John Rutherford, who with his wife, Eliza Boykin Rutherford, are buried at the old home near Midway. She was an aunt to Prof. Williams Rutherford, for many years an honored teacher of the State University, Athens, Ga. The daughter of Mrs. Bigham, by a former marriage, Mrs. Wiley Jones, at one time owned the blind negro who was a musical genius, and became known all over the United States as "Blind Tom." After some years spent at Midway, Joshua Big-ham and his family went to another farm in Crawford County. He was a master mechanic, as well as farmer, and built the first steel bridge over the Flint river. He was of great assistance to the agent of the Indian reservation, and was much loved by the Indians. Years afterward his grave was made by the side of that of an Indian Chief, near the Flint river. It seems that the family retained warm feelings for their Midway association, as some of the grandchildren graduated at Oglethorpe University. A few years after Mr. Bigham's death, his widow married Mr. Francis Jeter. She died, aged seventy-six, at the residence of her son, Judge R. H. Bigham, of LaGrange, Ga. who had married Mary J. Harris, of Sparta, Georgia. He was a successful and honored lawyer. Another of her sons' Howell, died in early manhood, while still another Robert Williams, became a minister in the Methodist Church, and at one time was a missionary in California. He returned to Georgia for his marriage to Charlotte Eliza Davies, of Milledge-ville. He and his bride left at once for California, taking passage on shipboard at Charleston, S. C., in January of 1858. This son,* like his mother, died at the age of seventy-six, having spent a long and useful life. He was twice married, his second wife being a sister of his first wife. She was Sarah Jane Davies. A number of children lived to revere the memory of their father, and the two mothers. Robert, himself a graceful, fine writer, the Author of several books, was the father of sons and daughters who in measure inherited his talent. Madge A. Bigham, one of his daughters, is well known in the kindergarten world, being not only a teacher, but the author, of quite a number of books bearing on kindergarten work. There were three daughters born to Joshua and Dorothy Bigham; Margaret Eugenia, Georgia, and and Adelaide. The latter died in early womanhood, soon after receiving her diploma, one of the first ever granted by LaGrange Female College. Margaret Eugenia was married to James Cantey Whitaker, at Columbus, Ga., in 1840. They spent their early married life on his farm, between Towne and Gum Creeks, in Baldwin County, near Milledgeville. From there they moved to Midway, near the first home of Margaret's parents, to better educate their children. Georgia Bigham married John Williams, going with him to South Georgia, where they reared a family of noble sons and daughters. Written by EUGENIA BIGHAM Additional Comments: From: Part V HISTORY of BALDWIN COUNTY GEORGIA BY MRS. ANNA MARIA GREEN COOK ILLUSTRATED ANDERSON. S. C. Keys-Hearn Printing Co. -1925— File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/baldwin/history/other/gms260historyo.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 4.3 Kb