PG 761

Columbus C. Biggs, tax collector and farmer, was born in McCracken County, Ky., in 1835, the son of Elijah and Mary (Brown) Biggs. The father, born in Kentucky about 1800, of English stock, married in his native State and moved to Shelby County, Ill., where he became a soldier of the Black Hawk war. About 1834, he returned to Kentucky, and in 1837 came to Franklin County, Ill., in 1842 to Williamson County, and in 1848 to Johnson County, where he died in 1850. The mother, born in Virginia, died in 1880 at the age of seventy-two. Six of their ten children are living. Our subject, the fourth, was but a boy when they came to Franklin County, and was educated in the Liberty schools. When sixteen he lived with J. W. McCreery until he became of age. In 1856 he married Mary J. Jackson, a native of Franklin County, born in 1837. Their children are Aravada, (wife of J. L. Stephens) and James J. His wife died in March, 1871, and in October he married Loneta Barrett, born in Franklin County. Their children are William M., George H., Mary E., Bertha L. and Annie. December 2, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Thirtieth Illinois Infantry, his company being the cavalry of the regiment. Their duty was chiefly raiding, and they were in severe skirmishes and at Fort Donelson. In January, 1865, he was discharged at Helena, Ark., one of the fortunate who were neither wounded nor captured. He has lived in Section 23, Cane [Cave] Township, since he was sixteen, on the principle that "a rolling stone gathers no moss." He is a Republican but first voted for Buchanan. Since 1868 he has served sixteen years as constable, besides three years as tax collector, during this time he was appointed in 1885, and elected again in 1886. In 1878 he was a member of the county court for a year.

pg 762

He is a Master Mason and a member of the F. M. B. A. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.