Sullivan-Lycoming County PA Archives Biographies.....BIGGER, George W. 1843 - 
  ************************************************
  Copyright.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
  ************************************************
  
  File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
  Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com August 6, 2005, 4:59 pm
  
  Author: Biographical Publishing Co.
  
  GENERAL GEORGE W. BIGGER,* blacksmith of Muncy Valley, Sullivan County, Pa.,
  deserves to be called a self-made man, and is held in high esteem by all who
  have business relations with him. He was born in Franklin township, Lycoming
  County, Pa., in 1843, and is a son of James and Catherine (Race) Bigger, and a
  grandson of William Bigger. The latter was reared by his uncle, James Bigger,
  and was in his early manhood engaged in teaching district schools for a living.
  Not being satisfied to devote his life to educational purposes alone, he learned
  the glass-blower's trade, moved to Eagle's Mere, Sullivan County, Pa., and
  worked at his trade for several years; again the desire for a change overpowered
  him, and having been economical and saved some money, he purchased a farm, now
  owned by Jacob Dubler. There he lived and died, leaving two children, Margaret
  Hester and James. To the latter he bequeathed his farm.
  
    James Bigger, father of our subject, was born in Yates County, N. Y., near
  Dundee. He, like his father, also, taught school when a young man, afterwards
  turning his attention to agricultural pursuits on the farm he inherited.
  Catherine Race, daughter of Abraham Race of Franklin township, became his wife;
  she pursuaded Mr. Bigger to sell the homestead, which he did, removing to
  Lycoming County. There he lived for a number of years, a highly esteemed and
  respected farmer, when he died while yet in the prime of life and in the vigor
  of his manhood, at the age of fifty-two years. He left his wife and ten children
  to mourn his demise. The children are, respectively: Robert, George W. (our
  subject), James, Lafayette, Garrett, Margaret, Marion, Henrietta, and Cynthia.
  Our subject's mother contracted a second matrimonial alliance with Mr. Henry
  Converse, and after his death, a third, with F. P. Meyers, also now deceased.
  She died August 23, 1897, aged eighty-two years, one month and twenty-eight days.
  
    G. W. Bigger spent the days of his boyhood attending both public and private
  schools, leading the life most genial to a lad full of youthful spirits. He
  started out in life for himself by working in a saw-mill where he learned the
  art of manufacturing lumber. He soon became a contractor. He and his brother
  took lumbering jobs in Columbia County for John Wygett, in Lycoming County for
  E. Lyons and others. Reared on a farm, the freedom of farm life had such a
  fascination for our subject that he quit the lumbering business and began
  farming, which occupation he followed uninterruptedly for twelve years; although
  he found farming profitable, he realized that more money could be made in the
  lumber business, so he erected a saw-mill of his own at Eagle's Mere where he
  carried on an extensive lumbering business for four years, and reaped handsome
  profits. Wishing to invest his earnings safely where he could net good returns
  without the labor connected with the saw-mill he removed to Muncy Valley, bought
  a comfortable home, formerly the D. C. Stephen's property, and became a dealer
  in agricultural implements. Soon after locating there he was offered the
  fore-manship of the blacksmith department of the Union Tannery Trust Company,
  which position he accepted and has retained for the past four years, a fitting
  compliment to his proficiency in filling it. Gen. Bigger finds this position not
  only lucrative but it interferes in no way with his former business, that of
  dealing in implements, which he still continues. He was united in marriage to
  Ida A. Worthing, the affable and accomplished daughter of Henry B. Worthing, of
  Lycoming County, Pa., which union was blessed with seven children: Nellie E.,
  who wedded T. J. Schug, of Muncy Valley, whose home is blessed with two bright
  children, Leon and Paul; Elinor, wife of David Kassinger, who occupies a
  position in a planing mill at Gaines, Tioga County, Pa.,—their home is also
  blessed with two bright-eyed little ones, Pearl and a baby; Edmond; Bradley;
  Hurley D.; Harold; and Ransom D., who are at the old home, where they assist
  their worthy parents in every possible way and add much to the joys of life.
  Gen. Bigger takes great interest in educational matters and has been school
  director for three years. He is a Republican, and is training his boys in the
  same political belief. Both he and his estimable wife are willing workers in the
  Methodist Church. Our subject has an honorable military record. In 1863 he
  enlisted in Company E, 43rd Regiment Pa. Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably
  discharged. He re-enlisted in 1864 in Company E, 209th Pa., being discharged at
  the close of the Civil War the following year. Thus we leave our subject, now
  scarcely past the prime of life.
  
  
  Additional Comments:
  * The information contained in this biography was supplied by the subject of
  this sketch. A type-set copy of the biography was sent to the subject to be
  proof-read, but the subject did not edit and return the copy, so this biography
  may contain typographical errors.
  
    Extracted from:
      
      Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District
      Published by 
      Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)
  
  
  This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/pafiles/
  
  File size: 5.6 Kb