Bertha Hill (Bignell)

When lived
1876-1960

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great grandmother (in photo, second from left; her husband James is at far left)

Parents
Thomas Hill Jr. and Anna Place

Birth
Born Oct. 8, 1876 (gravestone says 1875)

Employment
Housewife

Marriage
Married James Byrd Bignell on Oct. 12, 1892

Children
g Didama Bignell (b. Feb. 2, 1894, Wisconsin; m. Will White; children include Bertha White, Ioma White; 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 Bignell (b. April 11, 1900, Arkansaw, Wis.; buried in Round Hill Cemetery)
g Mary Bignell (b. Aug. 5, 1901, Arkansaw; m. a Stewart; d. ?)
g Ray Bignell (b. March 7, 1904, d. April 15, 1904)
g Fred Bignell (b. July 11, 1905, Arkansaw, Wis.; 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, Wis.; d. Jan. 12, 1963, Durand)
g Blanche Bignell (b. May 8, 1913, Waterville Township, Pepin Co., Wis; died May 31, 2000, Hastings, Minn.)
g Sherman Bignell (b. July 14, 1914, Sunnybrook, d. May 2, 1970)
g James Bignell Jr. (b. Oct. 5, 1915; d. Nov. 11, 1976)
g Baby boy, b. Oct. 5, 1916, Arkansaw; d. Oct. 5, 1916)
g Royal Bignell (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 family legend)
g Bert Bignell (b. Mar. 24, 1922; d. Nov. 30, 1970)

Interesting facts
g Of her 18 children, eight died in childhood
g Family recipe for baked beans passed down via Bertha Hill:
3 lbs small navy beans
1.5 cups white sugar
1.5 cups brown sugar
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons dry mustard
0.5 cup molasses (mild)
2 onions chopped
9 cups water
0.5 pound bacon (cut into tiny pieces, raw)
Sort the beans/clean them/drain that water
Put clean water on and soak beans for 3 hours
Then put raw bacon in
Bake 5-6 hours in oven at 350 degrees

g Photos of and documents involving Bertha:


Died
Died Feb. 20, 1960, (age of 83) at her home after a short illness; funeral services were held on Feb. 23 at the Latter Day Saints church in Porcupine; the body was held in state at the Goodrich funeral home in Durand; Clive Metcalf officiated with a 2 p.m. rites and burial at Porcupine Cemetery; her obituary is in the Feb. 25, 1960, Durand Courier Wedge; it claimed she had 17 children, 58 grandchildren and 69 great-grandchildren.

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James Byrd Bignell

When lived
1870-1955

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.

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Sarah Bignell (Taylor)

When lived
1852-NA

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great aunt (sister of George Bignell Jr.)

Parents
George Bignell Sr. and Martha (Rands) Bignell

Birth
Born 1852 in England

Employment
NA (presumably housewife)

Marriage
Married Joe Taylor

Children
NA

Interesting facts
g Picture apparently shows Sarah, third from left, though she was referred to as "Susan" by the party that preserved the photo
g Another picture of Sarah

Died
NA

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Elizabeth Bignell

When lived
1850?-NA

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great aunt (sister of George Bignell Jr.) (in picture, Elizabeth is second from right; her siblings include, left to right, George Jr., Richard, Susan/Sarah and Robert)

Parents
George Bignell Sr. and Martha (Rands) Bignell

Birth
Born 1850? in Newport-Pagnell, Northamptonshire, England

Employment
Unknown (presumably housewife)

Marriage
Married Alfred Allen

Children
g Allen

Interesting facts
g Living at a Plainview, Minn., address in October 1930
g Another photo of Elizabeth

Died
NA

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Edmund Bignell (2)

When lived
1849-1915

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great uncle (brother of George Bignell Jr.)

Parents
George Bignell Sr. and Martha (Rands) Bignell

Birth
Born in Dec. 10, 1849, in Simpson, England, according to 1851 English census

Employment
Farmer in Waterville Township, Pepin County, Wis., at time of marriage to Elizabeth; farmer in Frankfort, Pepin Co., at time of marriage to Carrie Richee

Marriages
g Elizabeth Riches (daughter of George and Jane Riches) on Nov. 10, 1872, in Waterville, Pepin Co., by Justice of the Peace John H Blackford with George Riches and Elizabeth Riches as subscribing witnesses. Edmund’s name is spelled “Bignal” on the marriage registration form. Anna Jane Riches is Elizabeth's younger sister.
g Carrie Leotia Richee (b. Oct. 12, 1872, in Pepin Co., Wis., to Chester Richee and Elizabeth Askins (Richee), both of who are buried at Round Hill Cemetery, Pepin Co.; his second wife; her siblings are: Martha Jane Ritchie, b. Nov. 2, 1866, Eau Claire Co., Wis., d. Sept. 1890; Welcome Sylvester Richie, b. March 3, 1868, Frankfort, Pepin Co., d. 1940, Cayuga Co, N.Y.; and Cora B. Richie, b. March 21, 1878, Frankfort, Pepin Co., d. Aug. 2, 1892, Pepin Co.; after divorcing, Carrie m. William McKinley Manore on Nov. 19, 1893, in Arkansaw, Pepin Co.; their children include William McKinley Manore, b. Aug. 31, 1896, Pepin Co., Lee L. Manore, b. May 20, 1899, Pepin Co., Grace Etta Manore, b. Sept. 12, 1901, Pepin Co., Vaughn Odell Manore, b. Oct. 30, 1907, Pepin Co.; William Manore died Dec. 15, 1910; Carrie d. Dec. 7, 1910.; see Richie family tree for more) on April 12, 1887, in Waterville, Pepin Co., Wis., at the M.E. Church, W.S. York officiating with Chester C. Richee and Elizabeth (Askins) Richee as subscribing witnesses. The marriage was registered April 18, 1887.)

Children
With Elizabeth Riches:
g Mary (or May) (b. 1871 in Pepin Co., Wis.; d. 1921)
With Carrie Richee:
g Vernie Olie Bignell (b. March 13, 1888, Pepin Co.; d. Jan. 7, 1892)
g Nellie R. Bignell (b. Aug. 28, 1889, Pepin Co.)
g Franklin Bignell (b. 1890, Pepin Co.)
g William Bignell (b. 1893, Pepin Co.)

Interesting facts
g First name sometimes spelled Edmond on official records
g Immigrated to the U.S. in 1855, according to a declaration of citizenship filed in Pepin County, Wis.
g He moved to Washington state while his siblings remained in west-central Wisconsin; a reason why Edmond may have come to Washington state is he and Elizabeth Riches (his first wife) had a daughter, Mary, who married William Valentine Van Etten in Eau Claire Co., Wis., and died in Washington State. William and May had a family in Washington and live in Whatcom County, Wash., for a while. There seems to be a group that traveled to Washington state before the turn of the century (1900). Edmund is in a 1900 Federal Census for Washington state, Summit Precinct, Chehalis Co., with William Van Etten as head of household. William was a cook. May Van Etten and three children (William, Frankie, Satie), and Edmund Bignold (that's how it's spelled) born England and got citizenship in 1889, also a day laborer; & Frank Bignold, brother in law. In the 1910 Washington Census, William Van Etten, May, and four children are in Bellingham, Whatcom, Wash. There is no record of Carrie going with Edmund to Washington state; records show she married a William Manore. Edmond’s Died certificate lists him as divorced.

Died
July 3, 1915, in Whatcom County near Everson, Wash., and was buried in Bellingham, Wash. Cause of death on his birth certificate was listed as Mitral regurgitation, Mitral Infarct of the heart, secondary: Chronic nephritis.

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Robert Bignell

When lived
1847-1930

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great uncle (brother of George Bignell Jr.) (picture shows Robert and his immediate family)

Parents
George Bignell Sr. and Martha (Rands) Bignell

Birth
March 16, 1847, Newport-Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England (gravestone says 1846)

Employment
Farmer in Frankfort Township, Pepin Co., Wis.

Marriage
Married Didama (nickname "Diane") Place (b. 1859, daughter of Levi and Polly (Moorhouse) Place, d. 1931, buried in Round Hill Cemetery) on May 27, 1875, in Frankfort, Pepin County, Wis. James S. Lewis, a justice of the peace, gave the marriage vows with Joseph and Ann Hight (Robert’s older sister and her husband) as subscribing witnesses. Their marriage was registered on June 17, 1875.

Children
g Cora W. Bignell (m. Carlton Roberts; moved to Alma, Washington; d. before 1930
g Lottie E. Bignell (b. March 12, 1879; d. Feb. 1, 1898; buried in Round Hill Cemtery)
g Nathan Arthur Bignell (b. Jan. 31, 1876, in Pepin County; m. Sadie Vaughn; they had two daughters, Fay and Zetta; living in Index, Washington state, in 1930 census)
g Otis Bignell (b. May 22, 1881; m. Mary b. abt 1886; among their children is Orlin Bignell b. about abt 1905; his World War I draft registration card shows he registered in Pepin County; Otis and Orlin Otis farmed in the Sunnybrook valley, Waterville Township, Pepin County; Orlin and his wife Mabel were friends with Lyle and Stalla Dahlgren and lived about a quarter mile from the school in Porcupine; Otis d. July 29, 1953, at 2:45 p.m. in Plum City, Wis., suiffered cerebral thrombosis about a week before dying of generalized arteriosclerosis, suffered from senility, attended by Dr. E.E. Steiger; buried July 30, 1953, in Porcupine Cemetery with PW. Goodrich, Durand, Wis., as funeral director)
g Chester Bignell (b. Feb. 2, 1885, Wisconsin; m. Iva Ann Hill; living in Porcupine area in 1930d. Sept. 26, 1962, Wis.; buried in Porcupine Cemetery, Pepin County, Wis.)
g Leoma Bignell (b. Jan. 21, 1887; nickname Dona; m. Guy Hill; living in Porcupine area in 1930; d. April 28, 1954)
g Daisey Melena Bignell (b. Feb. 28, 1889; m. Matt Hei; living in Porcupine area in 1930)
g Pearl D. Bignell (b. 1892; living in Plum City, Wis., in 1930; d.1957)
g Orba Bignell (b. 1901; m. Clarence Lauer; their children include Vainerd N. Lauer, b. abt. 1923, and Catheirne M. Lauer, b. abt. 1925; living in Porcupine area in 1930; Orba died when a gas cook stove blew up: when her apron caught on fire at a gas stove, she ran outside to get help from her husband. Once outside, her clothes blazed on fire, and she died. Years later, this story saved the life of her niece Stella Fannie Bignell, whose clothing also caught fire on a gas stove. Stella had immediately thought of running outside to stop the flames inside the house, thinking of the water pump just outside our door. Fortunately, she thought of Orba and laid down on the floor to roll herself up in the sandy rugs by the door. She suffered some burns but survived. Clarence then married Ethel Claflin and had two children, Bernetta Lauer and Leonard Lauer, who d. in 2012)

Interesting facts
g He often told stories about crossing the Atlantic Ocean from England to Canada. Among them: Whent here were storms at sea, he and other small boys were tied to the sail masts to keep them steady.
g Filed a Declaration of Intent for citizenship in Pepin County at Durand. It states he was born in 1847, emigrated in 1857 through Detroit, Mich.
g Lost an arm in a threshing machine accident
g The 1880 U.S. Census lists the following living in Robert's Frankfort Township household: Robert Bignell, 34 years old; Didama Bignell, 22; Nathan Bignell, 4; Cora Bignell, 2; Lotta E. Bignell, 1
g The 1900 U.S. Census lists the following living in Robert's Frankfort Township household: Robert Bignal, 54 years old; Didama Bignal, 41; Otis Bignal, 19; Chester Bignal, 15; Leonia Bignal, 13, Daisy Bignal, 11, Pearl Bignal, 7
g In 1913, Robert and family gave up farming and moved to new home where he resided until his death
g The 1920 U.S. Census lists Robert, Didama, Orb (sic) as residing in Pepin County
g The 1930 U.S. Census lists Robert and Didama living with their daughter Orba and her husband, Clarence, 28 years old, who have two children, Vainerd N. Lauer, 7 years old, and Catherine M. Lauer, 5 years old, in Frankfort Township
g Another picture of Robert Bignell
g Picture of Robert Bignell with siblings

Died
Oct. 13, 1930, at his home in Wisconsin, of a paralytic stroke; daughter Pearl informed authorities of his death; funeral services were held Oct. 16, 1930,  at 2 p.m. with services conducted by Elder W.E. Shakespeare; buried in Round Hill Cemetery; his obituary ran in the Oct. 23, 1930 Durand Courier Wedge

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Richard A. Bignell Sr.

When lived
1843-1915


How related to Kieran
Great-great-great uncle (brother of George Bignell Jr.) (In picture, circa 1890, Richard is second to left in first standing row)


Parents
George Bignell Sr. and Martha Rands (Bignell)


Birth
Feb. 14, 1843, in Simpson, or Newport-Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England. Likely baptized on Feb. 22, 1843


Employment
Farmer


Marriage
Married Rhoda Ann Hoyt (b. Sept. 1847; daughter of a Gardner C. Hoyt and Delilah Baker (Hoyt); d. May 26, 1910; buried in Round Hill Cemetery (Pepin Co.), Wis.) on Jan. 1, 1872; Justice of the Peace James S. Lewis pronounced the marriage with Robert Bignal and Hans Morrison as witnesses

Children
g Richard A. Bignell Jr. (b. Feb. 22, 1876; d. Aug. 16, 1896; buried in Round Hill Cemetery)
g Ralph Gardner Bignell (m. Mary Hite; their children include Garry Bignell; Ralph played a musical instrument in public performances in Porcupine area)
g Roy A. Bignell (b. 1882; for several years operated a grist mill in Porcupine; d. 1947; buried in Round Hill Cemetery)
g Rhoda Bignell (m. Clarence Wakefield; their children include Samuel Richard "Dick" Wakefield; memories of the woman – Norma – Samuel later would marry are available online)
g Roxy Bignell (m. Cox)
g Rodney A. Bignell
g Rose Bignell
g Raymond Albert Bignell (b. Sept. 22, 1884)
g Randall Arthur Bignell (b. April 8, 1888; d. 1959; buried in Round Hill Cemetery)
g Russell Arthur Bignell (b. Nov. 23, 1889, Frankfort Township, Pepin County, Wis.; m. Anna Reinhardt, who was born about 1892; their children include: Dorothy Bignell, b. 1919, m. a Byrne and d. prior to mid-2009; Glenn Gordon Bignell, b. Jan. 28, 1921, in Porcupine, m. Estella Catura on Jan. 28, 1948, and d. Aug. 3, 2009, in La Crosse, Wis.; Ruth Bignell, who m. an Anderson and was living in Santa Barbara, Calif., in mid 2009; Kenneth Bignell, who d. prior to mid-2009; an article in the Durand, Wis., Courier Wedge dated Oct. 27, 1921 states that: "(Carl W.) Thies was arrested upon a complaint of Russell Bignell. Thies was charged with assault with attempt to do great bodily harm."; Russell and his family moved from Porcupine to Durand in 1926 and started RA Bignell and Sons Company; the business' name changed to Durand Mill for Farmers to Durand Feed Store to Case Machinery and Farmers Machinery Company; Russell d. Feb. 16, 1955, St. Benedicts Hospital, Durand)

Interesting facts
g Richard filed a declaration of intent for citizenship in Pepin County at Durand. It states he was born in 1843; emigrated 1856 at port of Detroit, Mich.
g Information about family history of Richard's wife, Rhoda; they are from Cayuga County, N.Y.
g Richard's last name is spelled "Bignal" on his marriage certificate
g Another photo of Richard

Died
March 14, 1915, in Wisconsin; buried in Round Hill Cemetery

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