Ella A. Bigelow

Ella A. Bigelow
"A Woman of the Century"
"A Woman of the Century"
BornElla Augusta Fisher
May 21, 1849
Malden, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedOctober 23, 1917 (1917-10-24) (aged 68)
Marlborough, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation
  • author
  • historian
  • clubwoman
LanguageEnglish
Notable worksHistorical Reminiscences of the Early Times in Marlborough, Massachusetts
Spouse
Edward Lambert Bigelow
​
​
(m. 1877; died 1915)​

Ella A. Bigelow (May 21, 1849 – October 23, 1917) was an American author, historian, and clubwoman. Among her publications were Prize Quotations (Marlboro, 1887), Venice (Marlboro, 1890), Old Masters of Art (Buffalo, 1888), and Letters upon Greece (Marlboro, 1891). [1] Containing 124 watercolors commissioned by Bigelow, her Historical Reminiscences of the Early Times in Marlborough, Massachusetts (1910), is described in The Boston Globe (1999) as "the best source we have for Marlborough history before 1910".[2]

Early life and education

Ella Augusta Fisher was born in Malden, Massachusetts, May 21, 1849.[3] Her father, Lewis Fisher, and mother, Ruth Benchley, were both of English descent. For many years, her home was in the town of Milford, Massachusetts.[1]

Her parents being in financially good circumstances, she received a good education. Developing a taste for music, she was placed with teachers in Boston. As a church singer, she was well known in Fitchburg, Massachusetts and various other cities, singing at intervals with such artists as Carlyle Petersilea and Julius Eichberg with his "Germania Orchestra." In 1873, she went to Germany, residing chiefly in Berlin. There she studied with Ferdinand Sieber, court professor of music, and Fraulein Kess, both of whom gave her strong encouragement to choose a musical career.[1]

Career

(1910)

Becoming acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. George Bancroft, he being U.S. Ambassador to Germany at that time, the opportunity was given her, through their kindness, of meeting many celebrities and making many friends. Before returning to the U.S., she traveled through Europe.[1]

Bigelow published Prize Quotations (Marlboro, 1887), Venice (Marlboro, 1890), Old Masters of Art (Buffalo, 1888), Letters upon Greece (Marlboro, 1891), Entertaining and instructive prize game; one hundred and fifty questions on the old masters (Buffalo, 1889), and Historical Reminiscences of the Early Times in Marlborough, Massachusetts (1910).[1][4][5] She served as editor of Mizpah, the organ of the Order of the Eastern Star.[6]

For years, she contributed articles to various papers.[1]

Bigelow served as president of numerous literary and musical clubs.[1] She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.[7]

Personal life

On January 10, 1877, at Milford, she married Edward Lambert Bigelow ((1839–1915)),[3] of Marlboro, Massachusetts and thereafter resided in an old Colonial house, full of antiques and souvenirs of travel.[1]

Ella Augusta Fisher Bigelow died in Marlborough, Massachusetts, October 23, 1917.[3]

Selected works

Historical Reminiscences of the Early Times in Marlborough, Massachusetts
  • Prize Quotations (1887)
  • Old Masters of Art (1888)
  • Venice (1890)
  • Letters upon Greece (1891)
  • Historical Reminiscences of the Early Times in Marlborough, Massachusetts (1910) (Text)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Willard, Frances Elizabeth; Livermore, Mary Ashton Rice (1893). "BIGELOW, Mrs. Ella Augusta". A Woman of the Century: Fourteen Hundred-seventy Biographical Sketches Accompanied by Portraits of Leading American Women in All Walks of Life. Charles Wells Moulton. p. 83. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ Carlock, Marty (6 June 1999). "These old Marlborough houses". The Boston Globe. p. 5. Retrieved 16 July 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c "Ellen Augusta Fisher 1849–1917 • KC93-MW9". ident.familysearch.org. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  4. ^ California State Library (1898). Supplementary Catalogue of the California State Library, General Department: Authors. Caxton Printing Company. p. 72. Retrieved 16 July 2022. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ Bigelow, Ella A. (1910). Historical Reminiscences of the Early Times in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and Prominent Events from 1860 to 1910: Including Brief Allusions to Many Individuals, and an Account of the Celebration of the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town. Times Publishing Company. Retrieved 16 July 2022. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ "Eastern Star Notes". Herald and News. Randolph, Vermont. 15 May 1902. p. 7. Retrieved 16 July 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. ^ Brockett, Hattie Nourse; Hatcher, Georgia Stockton (1898). Directory of the Chapters, Officers and Members. Washington, D.C.: Daughters of the American Revolution. p. 214. Retrieved 16 July 2022. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.