Marion Biggs

Marion Biggs (May 2, 1823 – August 2, 1910) was an American slave owner[1] and politician who served two terms as a United States representative from California from 1887 to 1891.

Marion Biggs
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891
Preceded byJames A. Louttit
Succeeded byAnthony Caminetti
Personal details
Born(1823-05-02)May 2, 1823
Pike County, Missouri, U.S.
DiedAugust 2, 1910(1910-08-02) (aged 87)
Gridley, California, U.S.
Resting placeSacramento Historic City Cemetery
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Ann Hawkins
​
(m. 1842)​
Children11

Early life

Marion Biggs was born on May 2, 1823, near Curryville, Pike County, Missouri.[2][3] He was of Welsh and Scottish descent.[3] Biggs was born one of twelve children to William Biggs and his wife. He attended schools in Missouri.[3]

Personal life

Biggs married Ann Hawkins of Kentucky in 1842. Together, they had eleven children.[3]

He was close friends with Thomas Hart Benton, a Missouri politician.[3]

Career

Biggs moved to California in 1850.[2][3] He engaged in the business of buying and selling mules and horses. He formed a business partnership with H. J. Glenn and S. E. Wilson.[3] Biggs returned to Missouri with his family. In 1844, Biggs attended the 1844 Whig National Convention as a Missouri delegate. He then served as the sheriff of Monroe County from 1852 through 1856.[2][3] He returned to California in 1864. In 1868, the firm of Biggs, Glenn and Wilson dissolved.[3]

Biggs was elected to the California State Assembly from Sacramento County in 1867 and from Butte County in 1869. He was elected to the State constitutional convention from the state at large in 1878. He was elected as a Democrat to the Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891). He was not a candidate for re-election in 1890. He was a commissioner to attend the centennial celebration of the inauguration of George Washington as President of the United States in 1889.[2][3]

Death

Biggs resided in Gridley, California. He died in Gridley on August 2, 1910. He was originally interred in New Helvetia Cemetery, Sacramento, California.[2][4] When that area was chosen to become Sutter Middle School, Biggs was re-interred in the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery.[5]

Legacy

The city of Biggs, California was named after Biggs, who founded it.[4]

References
  1. "Congress slaveowners", The Washington Post, January 27, 2022, retrieved January 31, 2022
  2. "Biggs, Marion". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  3. "Death Claims Marion Biggs". The Sacramento Bee. August 12, 1910. p. 7. Retrieved August 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. "Death of Marion Biggs". Sunshine Valley News. Biggs, CA. August 12, 1910. p. 4. Retrieved August 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. "Sacramento Historic City Cemetery Burial Index" (PDF). Old City Cemetery Committee. 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 5, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2011.


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