By post is  Finis J. Bigham  b. abt. 1908 - ?,   My father, Claude Eron Johnson 1907 - 1974 son of Gracie  Coates.	Finis J. Bigham Grown	Mr & Mrs.George & Ethel Bigham Wilson Abt. 1915

Top Sarah Feliccia, J.D. Coates
Eva Beatrice Lawson Coates, husband James (Dan) Coates, Ethel Bigham
Claude E Johnson, Finice Bigham

Photo taken 1912, Elmo, Texas
Dan and Eva were married in 1911
(Large Picture)

From the Daily Ardmoreite published in Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma.

Jan. 26, 1912 Destitute Family Must Have Help

Neighbors of A. W. Bigham who resides on B Street Southwest reported to the Ardmoreite this morning that Mr. Bigham and his family are in dire need, very sick and is not expected to live. His wife died sometime ago. He has seven children, the oldest of whom is but 12 years of age, and the baby is seriously ill with pneumonia. Something must be done or the family will perish..

Later: the remains of A. W. Bigham were laid to rest in Rose Hill cemetery. Rev. C. Raymond Gray of the Broadway Methodist church conducted the services. The children were left without money, without home and without parents. Mrs. James H. Mathers took 3 of the children, Miss Pearl Moore cared for another. Suggested Cornish Orphans’ Home.

Later in March, Probation officer Mrs. Curtiss has placed the Bigham children in good homes and she is delighted with the manner in which are they being cared for. It had been hoped that the twins would get in the same home and not be separated, but such could not be done, however, the twins are in the same family and will be associated together. Mrs. Curtiss has written a history of the case, giving the age and name of each child and the person who has taken each child and placed this history in the care of each child so that in later years they may be able to locate one another.

Later September 29, 1912 Daily Ardmoreite

Reunion Dinner Bigham Children
The seven Bigham children whose parents died in this city last winter were given a reunion dinner Friday at the home of Mrs. Robinson on B Street SW. The occasion for the reunion was the going away of the eldest child who is 14 and the baby of the bunch.

J. D. Coats, an uncle of the children who lives at Elmo, Texas, only recently learned of his wife's brother, Mr. Bigham, was dead and his children were left orphans. He came here at once to see about them and wanted to take all seven of them home with him. The children had such good homes, however, with Carter County families that Mrs. Curtis objected to their being taken away, and Mr. Coats then offered to take the eldest child. Ethel refused to go unless the uncle would agree to take the baby... soon after the death of their father, the children were taken to the Baptist Church Orphanage in Oklahoma city.. visited by James H. Mathers soon after they were taken there and they expressed a desire to return to Carter County... the children were placed in homes and have been living very happily...

*Note  I have not proven complete birth dates for all of the seven children to find which ones were twins.

_______________________________________________________________

James D. (J.D.) and Sarah taken about 1929
Hiram, Kaufman Co. Texas
(Large Picture)

__________________________________________________________________

Home        Directory        Bigham Album     Bigham Mini Genealogy  

Bibles & Books         The Johnson Web Genealogy 

     Johnson & Kohl Genealogy Website 

Solomon Bigham

---

The Internet is a great tool for research but information should never be taken as fact until you've done your own research! You are welcome to the work here, but please do not take it as your own until you have satisfied yourself  for sources and documentation. Some information may not be correct. Photos and information on this web site may be saved for personal use only and may not be used on other web sites and/or for personal gain, without the express permission of the Owner/contributor (s).
Custom backgrounds and design are owned and copy written to Genealogy Homes.

(C) 1998-2006
Genealogy Homes.com
Webmaster