Hon. Thomas James Bigham and Maria Louise Lewis
Husband Hon. Thomas James Bigham 1 2 3
Born: 12 Feb 1810 - Salem Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA 1 2 Christened: Died: 9 Nov 1884 4 Buried: - Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, PA
Father: Thomas Bigham (1784-1809) 2 3 Mother: Sarah Christy (1785-1811) 2 3
Marriage: 30 Dec 1846 5
• Document: Recollections.
To read some of his recollections of early Westmoreland County, click here.
Wife Maria Louise Lewis 3
AKA: Maria Louisa Lewis 5 Born: Christened: Died: 14 Oct 1888 4 Buried:
Father: Dr. Joel Lewis ( - ) 3 6 Mother: Mary Ann Kirkpatrick ( - ) 6
Children
1 M Joel L. Bigham, Esq. 3 4
Born: 6 Nov 1847 4 Christened: Died: 20 Jan 1892 4 Buried:Spouse: Sarah Davis ( - ) 4 Marr: 14 Nov 1872 4
2 M Kirk Q. Bigham 3 4
Born: 17 Mar 1851 4 Christened: Died: Buried:
3 F Mary A. Bigham 3 4
Born: 29 Mar 1854 4 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Melville L. Stout ( - ) 4 Marr: 7 Apr 1885 4
4 F Eliza A. Bigham 3 4
Born: 31 Jan 1857 4 Christened: Died: 23 Jun 1902 4 Buried:Spouse: Did Not Marry
General Notes: Husband - Hon. Thomas James Bigham
His father having died before his birth and his mother so soon thereafter, he was brought up by his maternal grandparents and went through the experiences common to farmers' boys at that period, without any educational advantages save the short term country district school in the winter, and the long term all day Sunday preaching which the Covenanters of that day so thoroughly appreciated. Naturally bright, ambitious, and possessed of an unusually retentive memory, he read everything that came within his reach, and what he read or heard never passed from his memory, so that he soon became locally noted for his fund of information and his ability in recital. His one great desire was a college education, and feeling himself qualified, he endeavored strenuously, for a number of years before reaching his majority, to induce his grandfather to use for this purpose a small sum of money left by his father, but without result, as the grandfather, a good, sensible man, considered the money would bear more tangible fruit if expended in setting him up at farming, and absolutely refused to squander it upon education. Upon coming of age, however, he took his little patrimony, which, added to what he was able to earn by working during vacations, tutoring, etc., proved sufficient to carry him through a full course at Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, where he graduated with honors in the class of 1834. During his course at college he distinguished himself by a readiness of speech, quickness of wit, power of repartee, earnestness of purpose, and fund of general information which led to his frequently being called upon to uphold the honors of the college debate, and in the course of events being dubbed "Thomas Jefferson Bigham," a sobriquet which stuck to him during life, and was supposed by a majority of his associates to have been his proper name. After graduation he taught school at Harrisburg for a year, during the winter delivering a course of lectures upon scientific subjects. The following year he came to Pittsburgh, where he continued to teach and lecture, and at the same time took up the study of law, was admitted to the Allegheny county bar, September 4, 1837, and became associated in practice with Judges Veach and Baird, old time lawyers of distinction, later with W. O. Leslie, as Bigham and Leslie, and about 1870 with his oldest son, Joel L. Bigham, as T. J. Bigham and Son. In the disastrous fire of April 10, 1845, both office and lodgings were destroyed, and he lost his entire office furnishings, library of law, scientific and general works, notes, papers, and memorandum, saving nothing but the clothes on his back, which, unfortunately, were not of the best. In 1849 he built a substantial residence on a wooded knoll on his wife's property, on Mt. Washington, south of the city, where the family resided thereafter.
Mr. Bigham was prominent in the political affairs of the state, even more than he was as a lawyer, and soon became one of the most widely-known citizens of Pittsburgh. He had too much taste and aptitude for public affairs to be content in the narrower walks of professional life. His strong voice and clear annunciation made him easily heard, and his well-stored mind, genius for statistics, power of repartee, ready wit, unfailing good humor and sunshiny disposition, added much to his popularity as an off-hand speaker, and brought him into constant demand at all public gatherings where his presence, his voice, and his utterances, combined to render him prominent among the men of his day, and made him a leader in political affairs. His wonderfully retentive memory enabled him to carry and recall the history of political, financial, and industrial affairs so readily that he earned the sobriquets, "Old Statistics," and the "Sage of Mt. Washington." Frequently he was compared to famous "Bill" Allen, of Ohio, on account of his vocal powers. For so many years he was called upon to read the returns election nights to the crowds around Republican headquarters, that he came to be regarded as one of the features of an election, and it was difficult for any one else to hold the stage. His announcements of returns were always accompanied by a running fire of comments and comparisons from memory with former figures which gave a very fair idea of the trend of results. So earnest and emotional did he become that his very appearance, as he came forward with each report, would indicate its nature before it was read, and the crowd would take the cue accordingly. In politics he was a Whig, Abolitionist, original Fremonter, and steadfast Republican. He became widely known as an Abolitionist at a time when that cause was not popular, and not only aided with his tongue and pen, but for years maintained at his home on Mt. Washington a place of refuge and rest for the footsore fugutive slaves escaping from their masters, called in the vernacular of those days a "Station of the Underground Railway." The nurse for his two oldest children, born in 1847 and 1851, was a black girl, Lucinda by name, who never went outside the house by daylight and always fled to the attic whenever a stranger was reported in sight.
In 1844 Mr. Bigham was elected to the house of representatives and served from 1845 to 1848, 1851 to 1854, 1862 to 1864, and in the senate from 1865 to 1869, serving upon the ways and means, railroads and canals, judiciary, and other important committees. He was always recognized as a sound, capable and judicious legislator, and was the author of some of Pennsylvania's most important laws, among them may be named the married woman's act of 1848, the general railroad law of 1867, and the acts extending the municipal powers of the city of Pittsburgh, known as the consolidated acts of 1867 and 1869. His attention was early directed to the financial and revenue system of the commonwealth, and he drafted and promoted the passage of many of the laws imposing taxation upon corporations to raise the needed revenue for the maintenance of the state government and the removal of the tax for state purposes upon land. He was a member of many commissions appointed under state authority at different times to investigate and report upon matters affecting the public interest and welfare. The appointment of commissioner of statistics of the state of Pennsylvania, which office he filled from 1873 to 1875, was tendered him by Governor Hartranft, not as a political reward, but as a recognition of his great ability and attainments especially directed toward the industrial, manufacturing, agricultural, mining and mercantile interests of this great state, and the reports made by him have always been considered of special value. Few citizens of the state showed more devotion to its interests than he. In 1851 he was elected to the board of managers of the Pennsylvania Reform school, to which for many years he had been a contributor, and continued to act in that capacity until disabled by the infirmities of age. He was the founder and chief supporter of Grace Episcopal church, Mt. Washington, which grew out of a mission Sunday school started by him and his wife in 1849, and was carried on almost wholly at their expense for many years, but later became a flourishing congregation. He was the proprietor for years of the Commercial Journal, and one of the founders of the Pittsburg Commercial, both later merged with the Pittsburg Gazette, and was identified with all the public enterprises of his day. From 1878 to 1882 he was a member of the councils of the city of Pittsburgh, where his industry and energy in looking after every measure introduced, that it might be strictly for the public good, made him a notable figure, and rendered many meetings of that body lively and interesting.
Mr. Bigham devoted much time to scientific and historical studies throughout his entire life. His favorite historical researches were connected with the annals of the state of Pennsylvania, and especially of the western settlements. Many valuable contributions from his pen were published, and were familiar to those who gave attention to the subjects treated. His work was characterized by large natural ability, patient industry in research in the field to which his tastes attracted him, and sound and discriminating judgment in all matters, particularly those of public concern. Socially he was frank and entertaining, and very instructive in conversation, but decided in his views, into the expression of which he carried the enthusiasm which attended thorough conviction and an earnest nature. Brusque in manner, with little regard for outward appearances, but of a generous nature and kindly disposition, with his wit and bright conversation, he was very companionable and always formed the center of an interested group. [HWC 1906 iii, 136]
1 George Dallas Albert, History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882), Pg 620.
2 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 136.
3 Blanche T. Hartman, Genealogy of the Nesbit, Ross, Porter, Taggart Families of Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, PA: Privately printed, 1929), Pg 62.
4 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 139.
5 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 137.
6
John W. Jordan, LL.D, A Century and a Half of Pittsburg and Her People, Vol. IV (New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1908), Pg 184.
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