Walter J. Bigelow

Walter 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]

While 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]

In 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]

Bigelow 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]

In 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]

• Walter J. Bigelow at Find a Grave