My Genealogy Hound

William Matthews Bigham, M. D., a merchant and druggist, of Marion, Ark., is one of its most prominent business men. He is of Irish descent and was born in Shelby County, Tenn., in 1859, being the only survivor of a family of three children born to William M. and Mary F. (Winston) Bigham. The paternal grandparents were born in Ireland and came to America about the time of their son’s (William M.) birth, which occurred in 1816. William M. Bigham was reared in North Carolina and moved to Mississippi and from there to Tennessee in 1850. In Mississippi he was engaged in farming and milling, and while here he met and married a Mrs. Matthews in Tennessee. The wife accompanied her parents to that State in 1832, when she was nine years of age. Here she attained her womanhood and was married to M. S. Matthews, a native of North Carolina, who died in Shelby County, Tenn., nine years after his marriage, leaving a wife and four children, two of whom are still living: Adolphus and Virginia. After Mr. Bigham was married to this lady he sold out his business in Mississippi and moved to Shelby County, Tenn., where he remained for one year, and in January of 1860 moved across the river into Crittenden County, Ark., living here until his death which occurred two years later. Mr. Bigham was a member of the Presbyterian Church and his wife of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Bigham is now sixty-six years of age and resides with her son William M. In 1865 the family returned to Tennessee, where William M. Bigham reached his majority. He had but poor advantage for an early education, and with the desire for a complete literary knowledge he commenced the study of medicine with his half-brother, B. A. Matthews, who was a physician and graduate of the Old University of Nashville. Dr. Bigham remained here till he was nineteen years old, when he entered the Vanderbilt University of Nashville, and one year later went to St. Louis, where he graduated in March, 1881. After his graduation he returned to Shelby County, Tenn., where he practiced his profession for two years, then moving to Arkansas; he has since lived here and practiced medicine, being engaged also in merchandising and the drug business. The Doctor married Mary E. Brown, who was born in this county, a daughter of James and Katie Brown, also among the native residents of Crittenden. Mrs. Bigham is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and is an estimable lady in every respect. Dr. Bigham is a Democrat politically and a member of the Baptist Church. He is an honest, upright and worthy citizen, having by his short time in business placed himself in a worthy position in the hearts of his fellow-citizens.