Howard Cunningham Bigelow (1889 - 1969)

Born 21 Mar 1889 in Gardner, Johnson, Kansas, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Cornelia Margaret (Kindred) Bigelow — married 25 Dec 1919 in Bonner Springs, Johnson, Kansas, United States

Husband of Vivian Bruening — married 5 Dec 1945 in Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas, United States

Descendants

Died Feb 1969 at age 79 in Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri, United States

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Biography

Howard Cunningham Bigelow. Surname: Bigelow. Given Name: Howard Cunningham. A Given name was found in addition to a first name in the NAME tag.

Buried Gardner Cemetery, Johnson County, Ks.

Note: Howard and Charles Arthur Bigelow served together as Captains in the Kansas State Militia during WW1. 2 Howard and Vivian visited France in Aug 1954 upon the Queen Elizabeth. 2 From “Gardner Heritage” by Sadie McIntire Powell from early-mid 1990’s: Sponable’s prediction for Gardner was true. The town continued to prosper and the Farmer’s Bank which started with a capital stock of only $5,000.00, 25 depositors and $7,500.00 in total assets reported in 1986 proximantly 5,000 depositors and total assets of $24 million. About 1915 Howard C. Bigelow purchased the bank stock from Sponable. Howard was a truly great banker who held the assets together through the depression years. It was not easy and I am sure he had many worries through those hard years. He held a firm hand but had much compassion and would go to the limit to help his fellowman. At Howard’s death Homer Griffin made the statement that he hoped he would be asked to be a pallbearer, the reason being that Howard Bigelow had carried him through all of his bad years and he would like the honor of carrying Howard’s body to his final resting place. Robert and I had been farm renters all of our married life but in the late 40’s we decided we had enough laid by to make a down payment on our farm. So Howard was to work with us, to help us find a suitable place which we could afford. We had a herd of white faced Herefords and a bunch of Hampshire hogs that were to be sold. With the money from our animals and a loan for 4% we could manage the payments but when the plan was about to completion our income tax soared because of the sale of the stock and we were $1,000.00 short. Sadly we went to tell Howard our plan had not worked out. The loan we were to get could not be increased because of government regulations. But because Howard Bigelow was the banker he was, he said, “I am not going to let you give up now, I have $1,000.00 of my step-mother’s money. We don’t have to let the government know anything about this transaction. There can not be a promissory note but I know that isn’t necessary.” So we got our farm and you may be sure H.C. Bigelow got the return of his mother’s $1,000.00 before any other bills were paid. Howard was a familiar face in the bank for forty years. From 1915 to the mid fifties when he sold his holdings to the Lehmans he was there to be of help to those of us who needed him.

Sources

• Unsourced family tree handed down to John Sigler.