When lived1870-1955
How related to Kieran
Great-great grandfather (father of Abner Bignell) (picture shows James' immediate family; James is first row, far right)
Parents
George Bignell Jr. and Delcina (Place) Bignell
Birth
Born June 25, 1870, in Sunnybrook, near Arkansaw, Wis.
Employment
Farmed and hauled cream for the Arkansaw creamery. Farmed in Big Coulee for about 5 years then moved back to Sunnybrook, where he lived the rest of his life.
Marriage
Married Bertha Hill (daughter of Thomas Hill Jr. and Anna Place) on Oct. 12, 1892, in Arkansaw
Children
g Didama Bignell (b. Feb. 2, 1894, Wisconsin; d. Oct. 26, 1976, Michigan)
g Inez Orletha Bignell (b. July 19, 1896, d. Aug. 22, 1898; buried in Round Hill Cemetery)
g Orleatha Bignell (b. July 5, 1898, d. March 16, 1900)
g Edison Ray Bignell (b. April 11, 1900, Arkansaw; buried in Round Hill Cemetery)
g Mary Bignell (b. Aug. 5, 1901, Arkansaw; d. ?)
g Ray Bignell (b. March 7, 1904, d. April 15, 1904)
g Fred Bignell (b. July 11, 1905, Arkansaw; d.1965)
g Georgina Bignell (b. March 3, 1908, Arkansaw; d. Jan. 24, 1963, in Goodhue, Minn.; her name sometimes appears in record as Georgiana)
g Andrew Bignell (b. July 6, 1911, Arkansaw; d. Oct. 7, 1959)
g Abner Bignell (b. July 5, 1912, at home near Arkansaw; d. Jan. 12, 1963, Durand)
g Blanche Bignell (b. May 8, 1913, Waterville Township, Pepin Co., Wis; m. Alvin Ray Bishop; d. May 31, 2000, Durand, Wis.)
g Sherman Bignell (b. July 14, 1914, Sunnybrook, d. May 2, 1970)
g James Bignell II (b. Oct. 5, 1915; m. Genevieve Kralewski, daughter of Thomas Kralewski; their children include: Charlotte Bignell, James Bignell III, Florence Bignell, Carl Bignell, Harvey Bignell, Royal Bignell, Frank Bignell, Gloria Bignell who m. Richard Hoyt, Eli Bignell, Lorraine Bignell who was b. Sept. 26, 1940 and d. April 10, 1989; James Bignell II d. Nov. 11, 1976)
g Baby boy (b./d. Oct. 5, 1916, Arkansaw)
g Royal (b. Feb. 2, 1918; d. March 9, 1919; buried in Round Hill Cemetery)
g Boy & girl (twins)? (b. Feb. 3, 1918, Arkansaw; d. same day, according to legend)
g Bert Bignell (b. Mar. 24, 1922; d. Nov. 30, 1970)
Interesting facts
g James never wore shoes, or at least that’s what people say, so he got nicknamed an Indian. This has created a myth in the family that we have Indian blood. There is no proof of any direct line descendant marrying a person of other than English/Northern European descent, however.
g The 1920 U.S. Census lists James (census lists his birth date as 1871) and Bertha Bignell as residing in Pepin County with their children Mary (census lists her birth date as 1902), Fred (census lists his birth date as 1905) , Georgiana (note spelling difference; census lists her birth date as 1909), Andrew (census lists his birth date as 1912), Abner (census lists his birth date as 1913), Blanche (census lists her birth date as 1914), Sherman (census lists his birth date as 1915) and James (census lists his birth date as 1916).
g Additional photo of James
Died
Died Dec. 5, 1955; buried in the Porcupine Cemetery, Pepin County, Wis.
