Laura: This obit would appear to be that of your Martha Biggs, despite a discrepancy between the names Ellen "Nellie" and Elizabeth for Martha's daughter, and between Martha's age (43 in 1870) and date of birth (May 1830; May 5, 1828). ===================================== http://www.rootsweb.com/~mojasper/obits/obitsB.htm Carthage Press [Carthage, Jasper County, Missouri] Oct. 14, 1912 Mrs. Martha Ellen Judd Biggs, 84 yrs. old, died at 9:20 o'clock last night at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Nellie Rhoads, residing at 301 Garrison Avenue. A complication of dropsy and heart trouble was responsible for her death. Mrs. Biggs was born May 5, 1828, in Kentucky. From there she moved to Illinois where she married James Biggs, Sr. [Illinois Statewide Marriage Index shows marriage date of 28 Oct 1849 in Vermilion Co IL.] She was the mother of twelve children, five of whom are living. For over half a century she has been a resident of Missouri and has lived in Carthage for 25 years. She has been widowed for 45 years. Besides Mrs. Rhodes, the surviving children are John Biggs and Mrs. Rhoda Buriss of Breckenridge [Caldwell Co] MO, James Biggs Jr. of Kanopolis [Ellsworth Co], Kans., and William Biggs of Avilla [Jasper Co MO]. Funeral service will be held at 2 PM tomorrow afternoon from the Rhoads' home. Dr. Samuel Blair, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Biggs had been a member, will conduct the rites. Burial will be made in Park Cemetery. Submitted by: Bill Lloyd [See Mr. Lloyd's message of 3 Apr 2000 re this family at the Jasper Co MO message board.] ============================================= In 1912 daughter Rhoda "Buriss" lived in Caldwell Co MO, where your Martha's family was living in 1880. Your Martha's age was listed as 43 in 1870 [or born ca 1827]. ================================== 1900 CENSUS, CARTHAGE, JASPER CO MO E.D. 59, Sheet 2A JAMES BIGGS, head, Mar 1861, age 39, married 2 yrs, MO KY KY blacksmith Margery, wife, Sep 1861, 1 child, 1 living, MO OH MO Charles, son, Jan 1884, MO MO MO Condee, son, May 1886, MO MO MO John, son, Dec 1887, MO MO MO August, son, Feb 1891, MO MO MO Fannie MAGILL, stepdtr Martha E. BIGGS, mother, widow, May 1830, 70, KY X X (Mother of 8 children, 6 living) 1910 CENSUS, CARTHAGE, JASPER CO MO ELLEN M. RHOADS, 53 Iowa IL KY, head of household, in second marriage, mother of 1 child, 0 living, nurse in private family. Marsey E. BIGGS, mother, 79 KY KY KY, widow, mother of 11 ch, 7 living. Mollie BIGGS, cousin, 30 IL IL KY, single, dressmaker =================================== BIGGS HOUSEHOLDS (Not necessarily all) in the 1850 CENSUS, VERMILION CO IL: 315 NANCY BIGGS 16 TN, in the household of William WILSON 44 CT 322 THOMAS BIGGS 22 TN harness maker, $150 real estate, Nancy 22 TN. Married in the census year. 327 JOHN BIGGS 45 TN farmer, $1000 real estate, Mary BIGGS 43 NC, Patrick CANADAY 20 IN blacksmith, Jane CANADAY 15 IN, Jane BIGGS 14 IL, John N. BIGGS 10 IN, John B. BIGGS 3 IL, Sarah BIGGS 2 IL. (Next listing was for the family of William JUDD 55 KY, Asenath 24 OH, John 3 IL, Mary 1 IL, John 23 KY, Alexander 16 KY). 327 JOSEPH BIGGS 22 TN, Rosanna 23 KY 336 JAMES BIGGS 26 TN farmer $800 real estate, Martha E. 20 KY ====================================== Apparently Patrick and Jane Canaday in John and Mary's household are her children by a previous marriage, as John Biggs married "Polly" Canaday in Vermilion Co on 29 Jan 1846. See the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index for other Biggs marriages in Vermilion Co; the Rootsweb WorldConnect Project (Thomas Biggs and Nancy Cunningham); and the BIGGS Gen Forum http://genforum.genealogy.com/biggs/messages/855.html http://genforum.genealogy.com/biggs/messages/515.html . See also the submission on William Judd and Nancy Van Treese at Rootsweb's WorldConnect Project. Their son John Judd was born in KY, lived Vermillion Co IN [borders Vermilion Co IL], died Newton Co MO [borders Jasper Co.] These Biggses and Judds are not my people and I have no further info on them. Andy Anderson