John Bigger Beers History of Warren County, Ohio

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The History of Warren County, Ohio

John Bigger

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Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 29 January 2005

Sources:
The History of Warren County Ohio
Part III. The History of Warren County by Josiah Morrow
Chapter VIII. The Distinguished Dead
(Chicago, IL: W. H. Beers Co, 1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, IN: Windmill Publications, 1992)
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This prominent legislator was a native of Pennsylvania and an early pioneer in the Miami Purchase. He contracted with Judge Symmes for the purchase of lands in the fourth range, northwest of the present site of Lebanon, and settled thereon, His purchase falling outside of the tract patented to Symmes, he was unable to obtain a deed for his lands until the passage of an act of Congress for the relief of persons who had made written contracts with Symmes, and whose lands were not comprehended in his patent. In 1802, he was elected a member of the Territorial Legislature, but the Legislature to which he was elected never assembled, on account of the formation of a State Government. He was more frequently elected to represent Warren County in the Legislature than any other citizen of the county in its whole history. He was a Representative in the first State Legislature, and from 1803 to 1833, he was twenty times elected either a Representative or Senator in that body. In the session of 1821-22, he was Speaker of the House. He was a member of the first Board of Trustees of Miami University. In 1825, he was elected by the Legislature a member of the first State Board of Equalization, and became the President of that body. In 1824, he was elected a Presidential Elector on the Clay Electoral ticket, and in 1826, he was one of three unsuccessful candidates for Governor against Allen Trimble.

Col. Bigger possessed powers of mind which enabled him to discharge the duties of the offices to which he was chosen with credit to himself and the entire satisfaction of the community. He was known to be an honest man. He was esteemed for his integrity and uprightness of character, as well as his stability and sound judgment. He was an influential and useful member of the Dick's Creek Presbyterian Church, and served as Ruling Elder in that church from its organization until his death. An obituary notice of Col. Bigger says that "if any trait was exhibited more conspicuously than another, it was that which, in a very eminent degree, entitled him to the character of a peace-

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maker." He was the father of Gov. Samuel Bigger, of Indiana. After an illness of about ten days, he died on his farm north of Union Village, June 18, 1840.

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This page created 29 January 2005 and last updated 15 March, 2005
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