(From HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1883, Page 850)

Roswell Bigelow came to Worth Co., Iowa, June 25, 1860, settling Northwood township on the place where he now resides. He was born in Essex Co., N. Y., June 30, 1814. In December, 1836, he was married to Emeline Stacy, born in Windham Co., Vt., Nov. 10, 1819. They had seven children, three of whom are living- Lucy A., born in Vermont, July 30, 1839, who died in Wisconsin, Dec. 24, 1856; Francis, born in Massachusetts, Sept. 4, 1841, enlisted in company C, 12th Iowa Infantry, and who died from disease and exposure in the army; Doctor C, born in New York, July 24, 1845, who enlisted in company B, 27th Iowa Infantry, serving until the war closed; Augustus, born, Aug. 15, 1848; Eleanor J., born Feb. 10, 1851, James N., born July 30, 1857; Eddie, born Oct. 8, 1859, and died March 9, 1862. Eddie was the first white child buried at Northwood. On Oct. 18, 1846, Mr. Bigelow removed to Milwaukee, then a village, and removed to Winnebago Co., Wis., in 1849. In 1852 he crossed the plains to California, going with ox-teams. On the other side of the Missouri he and his party were attacked by Indians, nine of whom they killed. In California he followed mining. Mr. Bigelow has been identified with the interests of Worth county for about twenty-two years.

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, March 27, 2008