The Golden / Bigelow Connection

Dianah (Bigelow) Golden

My grandpa Jesse Golden's mother was Dianah Bigelow. She was born in Auglaize, Ohio in October of 1864, daughter of  David Bigelow and Charlotte Harris. So far I have no documentation that the two had actually been married. No marriage record or census report showing they lived together. All records find them in separate homes in the area, only the children bare the name 'Bigelow' and Charlotte is in custody of the children under the surname of  Harris. So far, it is found that Dianah had 2 sisters (with mother Charlotte) named Julia Etta born 1862 and Dora born in 1871. In 1876 Charlotte married John Fisher and they had 2 daughters Anna Elizabeth born 1878 and Rosa Atadel born 1880.

Julia Etta Bigelow

In October of 1881 Dianah Bigelow married Lewis Golden in Auglaize Co. Ohio, together they had 13 children, among them my grandfather Jesse Lewis Golden born in 1902. In 1917 the family made the move north to Newfield, Oceana Co., Michigan. This is where Lewis and Dianah called home for the rest of their days. Dianah died in 1938 and Lewis died a year later. They are in the West Hesperia Cemetery in Oceana Co., Michigan.

More about Dianah's father David. He was born in Franklin, Ohio about November 1836 to John and Polly Bigelow. By 1860 the family relocated to Auglaize Co., Ohio.  It was told to me that it was possible that David was a Civil War soldier. In searching for this information I came across 2 from Auglaize Ohio that served in that war. Rank differed from one another and the age of each was not available until recently. David had a cousin with the same first name and was a couple years younger than himself. The David I was looking for enlisted at age 27 on Sept. 22, 1864. He went in a Corporal and served on Company D, Ohio 180th Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Sergeant on June 1, 1865 and mustered out on July 12, 1865 in Charlotte, NC. The fact that David wasn't around for Charlotte and Julia (about 3yrs.old) at the time that Dianah was to be born could have been a bit of a sore spot between the two. Dianah was born in October of 64' and David up and joined the damn army. Charlotte and Dave must have patched things up a bit because their daughter Dora was born in 1871. But not for long...by 1872 David split for Muncie, Indiana and in April of that year married Rebecca Redding who he remained married to until she died in 1890.They had 3 children named Elmer, Bertha, and Russel. Whether or not Dianah and her sisters knew about the were abouts of their father and his new family is unknown.  Muncie is where David stayed until his death in 1901.

close up of headstone from Beech Grove Cemetery in Muncie ,Indiana

This branch of the family goes back a long way. To my surprise there was a book written about the Bigelows in 1897 and it takes us back a long way. More later....

Jesse Golding (Golden) & Susannah Burke

Jesse Golden

Jesse Golding was born on September 19, 1804 in Faurquier, Virginia. He was the second born of nine children to Thornton and Margaret Elizabeth (Tharpe) Golding.
 Jesse married Susannah Burke in Warrenton, Faurquier, Virginia in October of 1826. Jesse's surname is spelled 'Golding' on the marriage bond.



Jesse and Margaret's marriage bond (click on image to enlarge)



  I have no documentation of the occupation of Jesse prior to his marriage to Susannah. I read in correspondence between distant cousins that Jesse was found on a tax record and his occupation was that of a plantation overseer. Shortly after Jesse and Susannah's marriage they left with the Burke family for Ohio territory. Not much is known about his path from Virginia, his first stop in Walnut Twp.,Fairfield Co., Ohio, and then to Allen Co. by 1833. In doing this they had become one of the early pioneers of Northwest Ohio. Having settled in what is now changed from Allen Co. to what is today Auglaize Co. before the removal of the natives from the forrest. And new information from distant cousins say that the family story is that even though he had bought the land from the U.S. government, Jesse also paid the natives 50 cents and acre for his land. They settled on a farm in Union Twp. where they spent the remainder of their days.


Ohio Migration Trails

 In later life Jesse was run over by a wagon loaded with corn, resulting in paralysis from the hips down. He died of his injuries shortly after on August 3, 1888. He is buried in Tam Cemetery in Auglaize Co. not far from the farm where he lived along with several other Golden family members. The inscription written on his headstone says "A precious one from us has gone. A voice we loved is stilled. A place is vacant in our home. Which can never be filled."       

Jesse Golden 1804-1888

Susannah Burke was born November 14, 1809 in Warrenton, Faurquier, Virginia. Her parents were George Burke and Sarah Elizabeth Shaw. As in any housewife of this period, not much is known about Sarah's life. She married Jesse at the age of 16 and gave birth to 9 children.

Susannah's obituary

She died October 4, 1897 and written on her stone: "Tis hard to part with one so dear, Perhaps we'll cry, a sigh, a tear. But in the bright glorious dawning, She waits to hear a glad "Good Morning". She is laid to rest in Tam Cemetery.




Susannah's headstone