Silas BIGGERSTAFF
Sydney Boyer FIELDS
Jane VENABLE

Husband:  Silas BIGGERSTAFF
Birth:  8 Oct 1839, Hamilton Co., Illinois 
Death:  13 May 1915, McLeansboro, Hamilton Co., Illinois
Burial:  May 1915, Enfield Cemetery, Enfield, White Co., Illinois     (pic)
Father:  Alfred Billings BIGGERSTAFF
Mother:  Evaline GARRISON

Marriage-1:  19 Feb 1863, Hamilton Co., Illinois 

Wife-1:  Sydney Boyer FIELDS
Birth:   6 Jul 1841, White Co., Illinois
Death:   4 Oct 1893, Hamilton Co., Illinois 
Burial:  Oct 1893, Enfield Cemetery, Enfield, White Co., Illinois     (pic)
Father:  William FIELDS 
Mother:   Sallie BOYER

Marriage-2:  5 Jan 1897, Hamilton Co., Illinois 

Wife-2:  Jane VENABLE
Birth:   May 1853, Illinois
Death:  23 Jul 1922, Dahlgren Twp., Hamilton Co., Illinois  
Burial:  
Father:  
Mother:   

Children - Marriage-1:
1. John M. BIGGERSTAFF, b: 1864, Crook Twp., Hamilton Co., Illinois
                                             d: Bef 1880, Hamilton Co., Illinois
                                          bur:  Enfield Cemetery, Enfield, White Co., Illinois       (pic)
2. Parish R. BIGGERSTAFF, b: 1866, Crook Twp., Hamilton Co., Illinois
                                              d: Bef 1880, Hamilton Co., Illinois
3. William Alfred BIGGERSTAFF, b: 1 Jan 1868, Crook Twp., Hamilton Co., Illinois
4. Mary Elizabeth BIGGERSTAFF, b: 1875, Belle City, Hamilton Co., Illinois
5. Charles Sydney BIGGERSTAFF, b: 5 Jun 1878, Belle City, Hamilton Co., Illinois
6. Sallie Irene BIGGERSTAFF, b: 18 Oct 1880, Belle City, Hamilton Co., Illinois
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Notes:
Silas served with the Union forces during the Civil War.  He and Jane, his 2nd wife, received a pension for his efforts.  His service record shows:
  Name:  Silas Biggerstaff
  Residence:  Groveland, Illinois
  Enlistment Date:  4 March 1865 & 8 May 1865
  Unit Number:  3046
  Enlisted as a Sergeant 1st Class on 04 March 1865.
  Enlisted in Company K, 18th Infantry Regiment Illinois on 18 March 1865.
  Enlisted as a Lieutenant 2nd Class on 08 May 1865.
  Commission in Company K, 18th Infantry Regiment Illinois on 23 May 1865.
  Discharged Company K, 18th Infantry Regiment Illinois on 15 July 1865.

Pension records show:
  Name:  Silas Biggerstaff
  Widow:  Jane Biggerstaff
  Service:  K, 18, Ill, Inf
  Pension Type:               Invalid              Widow
  Application Date:    16 May 1882      10 Jun 1915
  Application #:             1,149,532            1,048,614
  Certificate #:                1,108,725               817,641

1870 Federal Census Data (M593_0225, Page 600A), Twp. 5 / Range 7E, Crook Twp., Hamilton Co., Illinois,
                                                                                                                       Enumeration Date: 20-Jul-1870, Family #160

1880 Federal Census Data (T9_0210, Page 505B), Crouch Precinct, Hamilton Co., Illinois,
                                                                                  Enumeration Dist: 25, Enumeration Date: 10-Jun-1880, Family #17

1900 Federal Census Data (T623_0304, Page 192B), Crouch Twp., Hamilton Co., Illinois,
                                                                                      Enumeration District: 49, Enumeration Date: 8-Jun-1900, Family #56

1910 Federal Census Data (T624_0291, Page 138A), McLeansboro Twp., Hamilton Co., Illinois,
                                                                                      Enumeration District: 44, Enumeration Date: 18-Apr-1910, Family #112

From The City of McLeansboro County Officers, 1900:
Silas Biggerstaff, whose face every man, woman and child in the county will recognize, is one of our substantial citizens, was born and reared here in Hamilton County, where he received his education in the schools of the period.  During the War of the Rebellion, he served as second lieutenant, Company K, Eighteenth Illinois volunteers, and at its close returned to agricultural pursuits.  He now resides on the farm known as the Judge Crouch place, consisting of more than 500 acres, and turns his attention chiefly to stock raising and taking an active part in any and everything that pertains to the welfare of the county.  He was selected a member of the State Board of Equalization from the Twentieth congressional district in 1890, and was re-elected in 1894, serving eight years.  He is now a member of the Haw Creek special drainage commission, which has in charge the work which is intended to drain the put in cultivation over 30,000 acres of rich bottom land lying on the north side of the county.  Should this work prove successful, the advantage derived by the county will be incalculable.  Mr. Biggerstaff is an honored member of the G.A.R., has a wife and four children--two girls and two boys.  W. A., the eldest son, was appointed a first lieutenant in Company I, Ninth Illinois volunteers, and served in Cuba during the Spanish-American war.  Upon his muster out and return home, he re-enlisted in Company L, Forty-second U.S.V. infantry, and Chas. S., the youngest and remaining son, enlisted in Company G, Thirteenth U.S.V. infantry, and both are now serving their country in the Philippines.  Thus is love of country and martial glory transmitted from father to sons.
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Sources:
1) Marriage:  Hamilton County Illinois Vital Statistics - Marriages, Book 2, #8177
2) Birth - Child #5:  Hamilton County Illinois Vital Statistics - Births, Book A, #251
3) Birth - Child #6:  Hamilton County Illinois Vital Statistics - Births, Book A, #1474
4) Death - Husband:  Hamilton County Illinois Vital Statistics - Births, Book B, #2518
5) Death - Wife-2:  Hamilton County Illinois Vital Statistics - Deaths, Book 2, #3247