Henry Bigler was the son of Jacob Bigler and Elizabeth Harvey. At age 19 he became a Mormon and in 1838 migrated with his family to Far West, Missouri and then fled with the group to Illinois during the bitter winter of 1838-1839. Henry first took a job there as a night watchman on a riverboat in Quincy and was affectionately nicknamed Picayune by the crew. In Aug 1839 he was called on a mission to preach in western Virginia. After he returned to Nauvoo, he worked as a stone cutter to help build the temple there. In Aug 1842 he went on another mission across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Virginia. Hearing of Joseph Smith's death, Henry returned to Nauvoo where he affiliated with Brigham Young's followers. On Feb 9, 1846 he was in the advance group that led the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo. Later, he was impressed into the Mormon Battalion by Brigham Young as part of the "Army of the West" sent to occupy Santa Fe during the Mexican American War. From Santa Fe, the Battalion traveled across southwestern New Mexico, Mexico, Arizona, and San Diego. After he was mustered out in "The City of Angels," Henry made his way up to Sutter's Fort in northern California where he found work helping James Marshall construct a sawmill for John Sutter on the American River. Historians used Henry's journal to document the date of Marshall's gold discovery there. After rejoining his family in Utah, he was sent back to California, as a "gold missionary", which ended in failure. He served two more missions to Hawaii between 1850-54 and 1855-58. At age 40 he married Cynthia Jane Whipple, aged 20. After her death, he married Eleanor Emett when he was 62.
Henry Bigler was the son of Jacob Bigler and Elizabeth Harvey. At age 19 he became a Mormon and in 1838 migrated with his family to Far West, Missouri and then fled with the group to Illinois during the bitter winter of 1838-1839. Henry first took a job there as a night watchman on a riverboat in Quincy and was affectionately nicknamed Picayune by the crew. In Aug 1839 he was called on a mission to preach in western Virginia. After he returned to Nauvoo, he worked as a stone cutter to help build the temple there. In Aug 1842 he went on another mission across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Virginia. Hearing of Joseph Smith's death, Henry returned to Nauvoo where he affiliated with Brigham Young's followers. On Feb 9, 1846 he was in the advance group that led the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo. Later, he was impressed into the Mormon Battalion by Brigham Young as part of the "Army of the West" sent to occupy Santa Fe during the Mexican American War. From Santa Fe, the Battalion traveled across southwestern New Mexico, Mexico, Arizona, and San Diego. After he was mustered out in "The City of Angels," Henry made his way up to Sutter's Fort in northern California where he found work helping James Marshall construct a sawmill for John Sutter on the American River. Historians used Henry's journal to document the date of Marshall's gold discovery there. After rejoining his family in Utah, he was sent back to California, as a "gold missionary", which ended in failure. He served two more missions to Hawaii between 1850-54 and 1855-58. At age 40 he married Cynthia Jane Whipple, aged 20. After her death, he married Eleanor Emett when he was 62.
Family Members
Siblings
Half Siblings
Children
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Elizabeth Jane Bigler Wickel
1856–1926
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Charles William Bigler
1859–1922
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Henry Eugene Bigler
1862–1927
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Jacob Edwin Bigler
1865–1921
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Emeline Alvira Bigler
1869–1869
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Maud Bigler
1879–1932
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Eleanor B Bigler Heppler
1880–1962
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Henry Bigler
1884–1920
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Adelbert Bigler
1887–1938
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Myrtle Bigler Branson
1889–1960
Flowers
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