Joseph Bigham was born in Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland, on January 27, 1804. His parents were Joseph Bigham, Sr., and Elizabeth (Embich) Bigham. Joseph was the oldest of eight children, four girls and four boys.

Per "Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois," published in 1892, Joseph's great grandfather, Bryan Bigham, was born in Ireland and came to America before the Revolutionary War, settling in the area near Lebanon, Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Hugh Bigham, was born in Pennsylvania. Joseph's father, Joseph Bigham, Sr., was born in Pennsylvania, which is where he married Joseph's mother, Elizabeth Embich, in the Lutheran church. Elizabeth was the daughter of Christopher Embich, Jr., who was of German descent and a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

Accounts from Joseph's descendants suggests that his father moved his family to the vicinity of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from either 1806 to 1810 or from 1810 to 1813 before returning to Hagerstown, Maryland. Joseph's obituaries suggest that his father moved the family from Maryland to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1812. One obituary states, "Mr. Bigham was in Pittsburg, Pa., when Commodore Perry brought his prisoners there, captured at the battle of Lake Erie, in 1812 [sic], and he remembered the incident distinctly." The other obituary states that Joseph "witnessed the scene of Comodore [sic] Perry bringing his British prisoners from Lake Erie" when living in Pittsburgh.

The Battle of Lake Erie wherein Captain Oliver Perry captured a large number of British combatants occurred in September 1813. If Joseph witnessed this event, he was likely living in or near Pittsburgh in late 1813 or was visiting the area at the time. Church birth and christening records from Saint John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hagerstown suggest that Joseph's sister Katherine was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, on February 23, 1812, and brother John on January 14, 1815. If these births occurred in Hagerstown, then Joseph could have been living in the Pittsburgh area between 1812 and 1815 when he witnessed the prisoners or was in the area for other reasons when that event occurred.

In about 1818, when Joseph was about 14 years old, Joseph's father taught him the shoemaker trade. His father had learned the trade from George Brendle of Hagerstown, Maryland. At about this time, Joseph professed the Christian religion. Joseph's schooling lasted about six months, although he continued to acquire knowledge while working.

On about May 31, 1830, Joseph married Mary Ann Kerschner in Washington County, Maryland, which is the date of the marriage license. At that time, the county did not require the Minister or the couple to submit a form confirming that the ceremony had subsequently occurred. Mary Ann was a native of Washington County. While living in Maryland, Joseph and Mary Ann would have the following children: Samuel Joseph, Mary Ann, and Emanuel Kerschner.

In about 1835, Joseph moved his family to Greene County, Ohio, perhaps moving with relatives, where couple added the following children to the family: James Henry, Charles Harrison, and Catherine Jane Elizabeth.

In 1845, Joseph moved his family to Montgomery County, Illinois, acquiring farming land from the government in East Fork township near Donnellson. Joseph and Mary Ann then had their seventh child, John William. Per the "Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois," referenced above, "[a]lthough the land was wild upon which [Joseph] settled, and the implements he used to cultivate his land crude and unhandy, the soil was rich, and as the work of clearing progressed and the crops were put in, it yielded a rich return." Joseph also employed his shoemaker trade, running a small cobbler's shop at his farm residence. Joseph was also noted as being a great hunter and expert marksman.

On September 6, 1846, Joseph's wife died. On about April 12, 1849, Joseph married Adelia ("Dilly" or "Delia") Paisley, the daughter of Robert Paisley and Elizabeth Sanford. The marriage license was issued in Greenville, Bond County, Illinois, and lists her name as "Delia." Adelia's name likely was derived from the name of her grandmother Deliverance (Paine) Paisley, the wife of William Paisley, Jr., of Guilford County, North Carolina. Adelia had come to Illinois in about 1816, settling in Elm Point, Bond County, Illinois, with her parents. Her father founded the Bear Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Donnellson, Illinois, and died in about 1837. Adelia lived with her mother until she married Joseph.

In February 1850 Joseph and Adelia had a daughter, Samira Maria, who joined her seven half-siblings on Joseph's farm outside Donnellson, Illinois. The 1850 federal census lists Joseph's real estate as valued at $1,400. The 1855 Illinois census lists Joseph living with his wife and seven children, with Joseph's oldest son, Samuel Joseph, having died in 1852. This census also lists Joseph owning livestock valued at $1,000.

By 1860 Joseph was living with Adelia and three of his children: Charles, John, and Samira. Sarah Tulford, a servant, was also living at the farm. Joseph's farm consisted of 200 acres of improved land and 120 acres of unimproved land. His real estate was valued at $4,200 (more than one hundred fifty thousand dollars adjusted to 2024 dollars) and personal property valued at $1,100. Joseph's farm is producing Irish potatoes (65 bushels), butter (150 pounds), hay (22 tons), wheat (33 bushels), Indian corn (100 bushels), oats (30 bushels). He also possesses slaughtered animals valued at $260, eight horses, six milk cows, 23 cattle, 23 swine, and livestock valued at $300. Joseph's son Emmanuel appears to be living at an adjacent household with his brother James and sister Catherine. The 1860 federal census does not list a value for the real estate of Emmanuel's farm, so it is conceivable that Emmanuel and his siblings are living in a separate dwelling on their father's farm. The 1865 Illinois census lists Joseph, now age 61, living with his three daughters and two of his sons, likely John and Charles.

By 1870 Joseph, age 65, continued to farm, living with his wife and son Emmanuel. By that time, children Charles, Catherine, John, and Samira were living in an adjacent household, likely on Joseph's farm. Joseph's farm was valued at $4,000, with personal property valued at $1,500.

The 1880 federal census lists Joseph, age 76, living with his son Charles and a servant named Sarah Compton, Joseph's wife Adelia having died in April 1880. Joseph's daughter Samira was living on a nearby farm with her husband, Harrison Shelby Hanner, and their two sons.

Per the "Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois," "[n]ow, when well along in years, this worthy gentleman has a good farm of two hundred acres all under cultivation, and eighty acres of timber, and can now sit down and enjoy the fruit of his labor. For many years he has been identified with the interests of Montgomery County and in him the community has a faithful and unswerving friend, ever alert to serve its best interest and generous in his contributions toward every movement tending to the general advancement." Joseph's "first Presidential vote was cast for Jackson, but he is now a staunch Republican."

"The Donnellson Presbyterian Church History, 1819-1937," and his obituaries indicate that Joseph lived with his son Emmanuel until his death. Joseph is noted as being a small man, weighing no more than 110 pounds, who made a living as a farmer and a shoe and boot cobbler. He was also a devoted member of the Bear Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church, perhaps joining after the marriage to his second wife, Adelia. He was known to enjoy writing about scripture.

Joseph died on February 22, 1898, near Donnellson, Illinois. His last request was that "my whole household may live truly religious."

The foregoing biography was last updated on February 20, 2024.