desire to aid his country, and as a result enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteers in 1862, serving until the close of the war. He was acting quartermaster for some time, but retired from the service with the rank of first lieutenant. He was aid-de-camp of Gen. Geddes, and was known by his comrades as a brave and gallant soldier. In August, 1868, he came to the new town of Ames, but in November of the same year returned to Kewanee, Where he was married by the Rev. K. W. Benton to Miss Sara E. Moore, a native of Pennsylvania, and the daughter of John R. and Sarah (Bodle) Moore. Four children were the fruits of this union: Margaret M., Robert E., C. Pearl and Alida. From the time of his first residence here Mr. Bigelow did all in his power to promote the welfare of the town and community in every way, and the civic organization to which he belonged knew him as a faithful and efficient worker. As a member of the school board his liberal views and constant interest added greatly to the efficiency of the public schools, and as a business man his career was both upright and honorable. For quite a number of years he was vice-president of the Union National Bank of Ames, and was engaged in merchandising in that city from 1868 to the time of his death. This sad event occurred March 9, 1890, and was the occasion of universal sorrow, for all felt the loss which would be sustained by the departure of such a man. He gave to Story County the best energies of his life, and to the community and all among whom he lived the example of a life well and usefully spent. He was a worthy member of the Baptist Church, and gave much of his time to church and Sabbath-school work, taking a leading part in all religious matters. He was a good man in the fullest sense of the word, a kind father, loving husband and true friend. He was a sincere, active and consistent Christian. He was buried with Masonic and G. A. R. honors. Mr. Bigelow was a delegate to the Republican National Convention held in Chicago in 1888, and was chairman of the State Central Committee at the time of his death. He was a natural orator, and was a brilliant extemporaneous speaker on any occasion. He was the son of Daniel E. and Margaret (Baker) Bigelow, the father a native of Massachusetts. The mother was left an orphan in her youth, and was an adopted child of the Rev. John Grant, who was a prominent Scotch minister. The parents moved to Illinois in 1856, located in Henry County, and there both received their final summons. They had four children—three sons and one daughter, all deceased with the exception of one, Andrew.
Homer C. Boardman belongs to the firm of Boardman Bros., dealers in butter, eggs and poultry at Nevada, Iowa. This firm is one of the most progressive in the town, and since opening their establishment in 1879 they have added eminently to the strength of the produce interests in this section. Homer C. Boardman is a native of Troy, Vt., where he first saw the light of day on February 22, 1851, being the eldest of three surviving children born to his parents. In early boyhood he was brought by them to Iowa and was reared at Lyons, in Clinton County, the rudiments of his education being received in the public schools of that place. Later he took a commercial course in the University of Notre Dame, at South Bend, Ind., after which he returned to Lyons, and for some time clerked in a dry goods store. He next went to Milwaukee, Wis., and for five years was in the employ of the firm of Hand & Seymour, acting in the capacity of a traveling salesman. He then returned to Lyons and for three subsequent years was in the dry-goods business. From there he came to Nevada in 1879, and,