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Note: Mrs. Charles Bigelow. Ellen Van Slyke was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, on March 15, 1860. Her father was of the Knickerbocker stock as the name Van Slyke implies. Her mother was Scotch English. Her girlhood home had neither stove nor lamp though there was the forerunner of a lamp in oil dripped wicking and burner. The only education available then was education in pay school and academy.
Ellen Van Slyke moved to Chautauqua County when she was but a small girl. Chautauqua means big tied in the middle and refers to the shape of the now famous Chautauqua Lake. Ellen was a very happy child and smiled her way into the hearts of her family and associates and became a great favorite with those who knew her well.
One day when Ellen was coming home from school thru the rain, she and some friends stopped under the awning of a store for shelter from the rain and a new clerk with red hair came out and invited them into the store. He put chairs around the fire so that they might dry and warm themselves. On their way home Ellen turned to her pal, "Did you see that boy's gorgeous red hair? I'm going to set my cap for him." Several years after this remark was made she did marry the boy with the "gorgeous red hair", Charles Bigelow.
In the fall of 1886 Mrs. Bigelow with three children came to Rugby to live. Mr. Bigelow had come in May of the same year, and though he thought she should wait until the following spring, Mrs. Bigelow, with true pioneering spirit, thought she should be sharing her husband's labor, that they might build a home for their family in the fast developing west.
On the 10th of September 1886, Mrs. Bigelow reached Devils Lake, where she thought perhaps she should stay until she had advised her husband that the family was on the way. But the conductor said, "You had better go on today as there is another woman going west of Devils Lake. We do no often have women going west of Devils Lake." This remark decided her to continue her journey to Rugby.
The first meal Mrs. Bigelow had in Rugby was in a little hotel with no floor and nail kegs for seats. That night Mrs. Bigelow slept in a sod shack. It had no floor nor any conveniences. Shortly after she came to Rugby a home was built, which had a number more conveniences that the sod house in which she slept that first night.
After their house was built Mrs. Bigelow started a school in her home, as there was none in Rugby then. The children gathered together and Mrs. Bigelow taught them.
During the early days a Literary Society was organized and which met at the Bigelow home.
Before leaving New York the family doctor had given the Bigelow a large case of medicine, together with the directions for the dosage for each member of the family. This case was in constant use all over town that first winter.
There was a fine feeling of sympathy between the pioneers, with many happy and many said times, but life was sweet and wholesome.
The beautiful Christian life led by this pioneer woman left its impress in many ways. She died in 1915.
Names of children are:
John S. Bigelow, Pleasent Lake, N.D.
Mrs. E. B. Ely, Rugby, N.D.
Hattie Bigelow, deceased.
The document does not have an author. But by the publication date of the book and mentioning of schools and teaching, it was authored by Eva B. Ely.
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