My Genealogy Hound

Joseph F. Biggerstaff, of Edina, is a native of Maryland, and was born October 26, 1826, his parents being Andrew and Sarah Biggerstaff. Our subject was reared to manhood in Ohio, serving an apprenticeship at the saddlers’ trade, and also followed mercantile pursuits early in life. His education was acquired in the public and high schools. In 1850 he came west to Edina, where he farmed and speculated in land. He was the first man to fire a gun in Knox County, and took the first prisoner in this county, during the late war. He served as first lieutenant, in the Union cause, in the Third Missouri Cavalry, but declined to accept the captaincy to which he was elected about 1861. He established his first mercantile business in Edina, and has been thus engaged more or less ever since, on a large scale, owning not only a large store in Edina, but a large business in Greensburg, Kas. He first married Miss V. K. Guille, a lady of French descent, whose father was a surgeon under Napoleon, in the French Army. This lady died leaving five children now living: Arthur, Mary (wife of Dr. William Rodman), Milton G., Clarence and Virginia (wife of N. M. Powell). Mr. Biggerstaff’s present wife is Ella McDowell Slaughter, a native of Culpeper County, Va., by whom he has had one child— Alice M. Mr. Biggerstaff has always been a Republican, and has served two terms as county treasurer of Knox County. He is a member of the G. A. R., and is one of Knox County’s most successful business men and citizens.