Samuel Bigstaff
Birth: 1 Dec 1845 Sharpsburg, Bath County, Kentucky, USA
Death: 18 Aug 1912 (aged 66) Fort Thomas, Campbell County, Kentucky, USA
Burial: Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate, Campbell County, Kentucky, USA
Plot: Section17, Lot 79
Memorial #: 76041571
Bio: Samuel Bigstaff
Samuel Bigstaff was a prisoner when he arrived in Northern Kentucky at the age of 17. When he died some 50 years later, Bigstaff was one of the most respected men in Northern Kentucky. Among the projects Bigstaff had a hand in were the Ft. Thomas military post, The Central and Shortway bridges and the expansion of the streetcar lines. He also was involved in resort hotels and new home construction in Ft. Thomas, the development of the Cote Brilliant are in Newport and construction of the first gold course.
Bigstaff was born December 1, 1845 in Sharpsburg, Bath County, Kentucky and his ancestors were from Scotland. One of them, Jacob Staffe, had a son named Bicker and it was from the son that the family name Bickerstaff was derived, modified to Bigstaff. The Bigstaffs settled in Culpepper County, Va. then moved to Kentucky. Samuel's father Odd Samuel Bigstaff was born in Madison County in 1802.
When the Civil War began, Samuel ran away from home and joined the 2nd Kentucky Confederate Cavalry in 1861, under the command of Gen. Basil Duke. At age 17, after having been captured and escaping back to Morgan's Raiders, he fell into enemy hands again after being shot out of the saddle at the battle of Snow Hill and left on a Tennessee battlefield with a bullet in his left leg. He was sent to a Union prison camp in Nashville, then transferred to a camp in Louisville. In 1863 he was moved to the Newport Barracks, where his outgoing ways and winning personality so ingratiated him to the garrison's officers that they extended him privileges at their mess.
Bigstaff's interest in escaping waned after he met Mary Alice Webster, born Apr 1848, oldest daughter of F M Webster, a New York native and prominent Newport lawyer and Unionist, and Anna E. He married her after his release and settled in her city; after a stint in the iron business, he became a lawyer. His war experiences presaged a real-estate career, in which he never allowed setbacks to continue for long without turning them to his advantage.
Bigstaff died August 18, 1912 at his home in Ft. Thomas. An Episcopal service was held at his home on August 20 and he was buried in a family plot at Evergreen Cemetery.
Family Members
Parents
Dr Odd Samuel Bigstaff 1804-1871
Fenton Watkins Bean Bigstaff 1803-1896
Spouse
Mary Alice Webster Bigstaff 1845-1937
Siblings
William Bean Arnold 1822-1863
Vernetta Arnold Young 1822-1901
Sarah Fenton Bigstaff Hinde 1836-1916
Richard Bigstaff 1837-1920
Rev Benjamin Beane "Ben" Bigstaff 1840-1905
James D. Morrison Bigstaff 1842-1912
Children
Nazzie Webster Bigstaff 1867-1953
Frank Bigstaff 1869-1945
Maintained by: ❤Family of 𝓐𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓵𝓼 (46983123)
Originally Created by: Bev (47588577)
Added: 2011-09-05T15:34:16.000Z
URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76041571/samuel_bigstaff
Citation: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76041571/samuel-bigstaff: accessed August 3, 2024), memorial page for Samuel Bigstaff (1 Dec 1845–18 Aug 1912), Find a Grave Memorial ID 76041571, citing Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate, Campbell County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by ❤Family of 𝓐𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓵𝓼 (contributor 46983123).
