Walter J. Bigelow (January 22, 1865 - May 2, 1935) was an American newspaper editor, author, and politician from Vermont. A Republican, he was most notable for serving as mayor of Burlington from 1907 to 1909 and owning and publishing the St. Johnsbury Caledonian from 1913 to 1918.
Walter C. Bigelow | |
|---|---|
.jpg) From Volume II (1913) of New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial | |
| Mayor of Burlington, Vermont | |
| In office 1907–1909 | |
| Preceded by | James Edmund Burke |
| Succeeded by | James Edmund Burke |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 22, 1865 Stowe, Vermont |
| Died | May 2, 1935 (aged 70) Hartford, Connecticut |
| Resting place | West Branch Cemetery, Stowe, Vermont |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Florence E. Mooney (m. 1895-1935, his death) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of Vermont (attended) |
| Profession | Newspaper editor and publisher |
Early life
editWalter Josephus Bigelow was born in Stowe, Vermont on January 22, 1865, the son of Phineas N. Bigelow and Charlotte E. (Munn) Bigelow.[1] He was educated in the public schools of Stowe, and graduated from Montpelier Seminary in Montpelier in 1889.[1] He received his qualification as a teacher, and taught school for two years before beginning college studies.[1] He attended the University of Vermont in Burlington for three years as a member of the class of 1895, but left before graduating to begin a career in the newspaper business.[1]
Start of career
editWhile attending college, Bigelow worked on the night shift in the editorial room of The Burlington Free Press.[1] In 1894, he was appointed the newspaper's night editor.[1] He held this position he held until 1909.[1] Bigelow was also the Free Press journalist assigned to report on the 1897 session of the Vermont General Assembly.[2] A talented orator, Bigelow was frequently called upon to speak at public events including Memorial Day celebrations and rallies held in support of U.S. involvement in the Spanish–American War.[3][4]
A Republican, in 1898 Bigelow was appointed to the legislature's Vermont Commission on Double Taxation, a special panel that investigated state laws which subjected to state tax both mortgages used to purchase real estate and the real estate used to secure the mortgages.[5] In 1900, the commission submitted recommendations to address the issue, many of which were adopted in subsequent legislative sessions.[5]
Continued career
editIn March 1906, Bigelow was the Republican Party's unsuccessful nominee for mayor.[6] In June 1906, he served as chairman of the Vermont Republican Party's state convention.[7] In 1907, he again received the Republican nomination for mayor of Burlington.[8] He defeated incumbent James Edmund Burke and served one term, 1907 to 1909, the first two-year mayoral term created as the result of a change to the city charter.[9] He was a candidate for reelection in 1909 and lost to Burke by 18 votes, 1,658 to 1,640.[10]
After leaving office, Bigelow purchased the St. Johnsbury Caledonian newspaper in 1909.[5] In 1910 he purchased the Ranlet Press, a St. Johnsbury publishing business.[5] Bigelow operated both ventures until 1918.[5] During World War I, Bigelow was a member of Vermont's Public Safety Committee.[5]
Bigelow was an author, and his published works included Vermont: Its Government, an annual publication of the early 1900s to mid-1950s for which Bigelow was responsible from 1919 to 1933.[5] He was also the author of a work about his hometown, 1934's History of Stowe, Vermont.[5] In 1919, Bigelow left St. Johnsbury and accepted an editorial position with the Brattleboro Reformer newspaper in Brattleboro.[5]
Death and burial
editBigelow remained with the Reformer until 1933, when he moved to Hartford, Connecticut.[5] In December 1934 he was struck by a car while crossing the street and his injuries included a broken hip.[5] He died in Hartford on May 2, 1935.[5] Bigelow was buried at West Branch Cemetery in Stowe.[5]
Family
editIn 1895, Bigelow married Florence E. Mooney (1868-1956) of Mansonville, Quebec, Canada.[1] They were the parents of a daughter, Ruth Barr (1899-1959), who was the wife of Clarence C. Mooney (d. 1956).[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i Cutter, William Richard, ed. (1913). New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial. Vol. III. New York, NY: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 1504 – via HathiTrust.
- ^ "The New State Officials". St. Albans Daily Messenger. St. Albans, VT. December 6, 1898. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Library Dedicated". Southern Vermont Mirror. Danby, VT. March 26, 1908 – via Mt. Tabor-Danby Historical Society.
- ^ "With Flowers and Flags". The Earth. Burlington, VT. June 3, 1899. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Former Mayor of Burlington Dead". St. Albans Daily Messenger. St. Albans, VT. May 3, 1935. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Burlington's Mayoralty Contest". St. Albans Daily Messenger. St. Albans, VT. March 1, 1906. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Good for "Big"". St. Albans Daily Messenger. St. Albans, VT. June 28, 1906. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The New Mayor". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. March 6, 1907. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Two Cities Change from "Wet" to "Dry"". Rutland Herald. Rutland, VT. March 4, 1908. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Burke in Again". Barre Daily Times. Barre, VT. March 3, 1909. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.