Biography of Amiron E Bidgood Calhoun and Kalamazoo Counties, Michigan Copyright © 1997 by Candy Grubb. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. _____________________________________________________________________ >From "History of North Washington" Published 1904 Transcribed by: Candy Grubb (candyg@theofficenet.com) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMIRON E. BIDGOOD Amiron E. Bidgood, postmaster of Springdale, Stevens county, is a veteran soldier with a war record second, probably, to no other man in the state. He is a native of New York, born July 13, 1848, the son of George W. and Lucinda (Shepard) Bidgood, born and reared in Vermont. Soon after their marriage they removed to Michigan, where they lived in Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties. The father was a cooper, which trade he followed throughout his life. His patriotism was of a sterling description, and in 1862 he enlisted, but was not accepted on account of his advanced age. He is of English descent, his ancestors coming over in the Mayflower. The grandfather of Mrs. Bidgood was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and, also, in the War of 1812. They were the parents of five children, three of whom are still living, viz: Helen, wife of Alonzo Shirley, a veteran of the Civil War; Matilda and Amiron, the subject of this sketch. Until the age of sixteen, the latter attended the public schools of his neighborhood, and then, inheriting a patriotic disposition, he enlisted in the First Michigan Volunteer Cavalry, July 13, 1863, under Captain Clipperton. From Detroit he went to Camp Remount, near Alexandria, Virginia, and from there he joined his regiment in the field. he participated in the battles of Trevallian Station, Culpeper, and various skirmishes in the Shenandoah Valley, under General George A. Custer, the victim of the Little Big Horn massacre in 1876. He was mustered out of the volunteer service at Camp Douglas, Salt Lake, March 10, 1866. Returning to Illinois he worked on a farm until january 23, 1867, and then enlisted in the regular Army, and was assigned to Company F., Thirty-sixth United States Infantry. In 1878 he served on the plains against the Indians, and was stationed at Fort Bridger and Fort Steel. Discharged January 23, 1870, he re-enlisted in the regular service, again enlisted in 1876 and was finally mustered out at Fort Spokane in 1881. Mr. Bidgood then located a homestead in Stevens county where he has lived ever since. Politically he is a Republican, but the first opportunity afforded him to vote was after he had left the army, when he cast his first vote for President Harrison. He has one daughter, Elvira, residing in Stevens county. Fraternally he is a member of the G.A.R., the Order of Washington, and the K.O.T.M. He was appointed postmaster of Springdale April 1, 1901, which position he still holds.