B. F. BIGGS, farmer, P. O. Cobden, was born in Cobden Precinct January 28, 1839, to D. W. and Thisbe (Anderson) Biggs. D. W. was born in North Carolina November 21, 1805, and when five years of age he moved to Tennessee with his parents. He remained in Tennessee till 1825; then moved to this county and settled near his present home, and has resided here since. A short time before coming to this State, he was married, in Tennessee, to Thisbe Anderson. She was born in Tennessee in 1809, and died here October, 1856. By this wife he had seven children, our subject being the youngest — Mary (now dead), William J. (supposed to be dead), Nancy, J. J., Sarah, Mahala and B. F. He was married to his second wife in 1857, Mrs. Catherine Burkey. She was a native of Pennsylvania. His occupation has always been that of farmer. Our subject was educated in the district schools of the county, and his occupation has also been that of farmer and fruit-raiser. November 1, 1860, he was married to Elizabeth Parmly (see sketch A. J. Parmly). She died September 15, 1861, leaving a child which died in infancy. August 11, 1862, he enlisted in Company E. Eighty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged May 27, 1865, on account of disability. He remained with the regiment till May, 1864, rejoicing in its successes or suffering in its disasters. He was then so crippled by disease that he could no longer stay with the regiment, so was placed in the hospital at Memphis, where he remained till receiving his discharge. Most of the time he was clerking in the hospital office. Before leaving his company he was one of the Sergeants. He has been receiving a pension of $64 per year since his discharge. February 16, 1866, he was married to his second wife, Eliza J. Fegans. She was a native of Kentucky. Her parents moved to this State when she was young, and settled in Clark County, where her father died. In 1859, her mother moved to this county and died here. Mrs. Biggs died in February, 1877. By her he has three children — Letta E., Beatrice L. and Charles W. After his marriage in 1866, he settled on his present farm, and has been engaged in general farming and fruit raising since. May, 1877, he was married to his third wife, Nancy A. Davis. She was born in this county to James K. and Harriet Davis. He died in Johnson County in 1877. She is still living. Two children have been the result of this union — Benjamin F. and Elmer J. Mr. Biggs is Republican in politics, and was once nominated by his party as County Clerk, but was defeated by the Democratic candidate, and has since taken no active part in political life.
Extracted 30 Aug 2019 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, pages 119-120.
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