Biggins Family

The home of James Biggins was built in 1880

This family line is for the John Biggins, Sr. and Catherine Biggins, and for John Biggins, Jr. and Margaret Biggins.

On April 24, 1820, John Biggins acquired land from the United States government with a deed signed by President James Polk. He cleared the land and also acquired other land that was later sold to his other sons, and now in 1975, has all been sold to other owners. John Biggins, Sr. land was later given or sold to his sons, John, Jr. and James.

James Biggins, Sr. and wife, Sarah, had these children: Margaret married Fred Box; Sadie married Gilbert Anglemyre; Ella who passed away at the age of eighteen; James, Jr. who married Etta Kurtz; George who married Emma Biggins; and Jessie married Thomas Reynolds; and Carl who married Minnie Henline. All of these are now deceased.

James Biggins, Jr. and wife, Etta, bought forty and nineteen acres from his folks, Mr. and Mrs. James Biggins, Sr. Their farm was made a Centennial farm in June, 1953, and they joined the Henry County Centennial Farm Association. On August 20, 1953, they were guests of the Henry County Fair and received a scroll that their farm had been in the Biggins family since 1845. At this time a picture was taken of the group. The Association had a picnic once a year for a number of years. Paul Fast of Napoleon was the originator of the Centennial farms.

James and Etta Biggins had four children: Howard, Leona, Marie, and Dorothy. Howard married Reva Studer; Leona married Orville Lang (deceased); Marie married George Hefinger (deceased); and Dorothy married a Huffman. James Biggins was a school bus driver for the Grand Rapids School for twenty-five years. He lived in the same house all his life and passed away September 1, 1959. His wife died January 28, 1972.

This photo was taken in 1916. Back row: George, Carl, James Jr. Biggins; front row: Margaret Biggins Box, Jessie Biggins Reynolds, James Biggins, Sr., wife, Sarah, Sadie Biggins Anglemyre

Daughters Leona Lang and Dorothy Huffman acquired the farm when their mother passed away. The farm of 20 acres owned by Leona and Dorothy has been in the Biggins family over 125 years. It was the line that divides their land from Lahey farm owned by Gerald Westoven that was the last place where the Indians were before driven from our territory. Flints and stones were found on the land when first tilled by father, James Biggins, Jr. This 20 acres and the 40 acres owned by these sisters has been in the family since 1825 and was one of the first farms entered into Centennial farms. Their folks home, James and Etta Biggins, was built in 1910, a log cabin was torn down and there was an apple orchard all around when the home was built. The farm is located in Washington Township of Henry County.

All the children attended country school in the district named "Ireland." This school was later made into a home.

The neighborhood families were the Biggins, the Johnstons, the Laheys, the Bishers and the Minnicks.

Submitted by: Leona Biggins Lang and Dorothy Biggins Huffman

The Biggins family homestead picture was taken in the summer of 1915. Fifteen have passed away by 1975 - nine are living. Back row: Jessie Biggins Reynolds, Emma Biggins, Saddie Biggins Anglemyre, (baby) James Box and mother Margaret Biggins Box, Etta Biggins, Herbert Box; second row: Bernard Box, Thomas Reynolds, George Biggins, Gilbert Anglemyre, Fred Box, James Biggins, Jr., James Anglemyre, Howard Biggins; front row: Vein Reynolds, Cecilia Biggins, Lawrence Biggins, James Biggins, Sr., Cleo Box, Sarah Biggins, Dorothy, Marie, and Leona Biggins; sitting in front: Carl Biggins.