August 4, 2005:

Hi There,

        To add to the list of Pioneers that opened which is now called Gatineau were 
        Levis Bigelow and Baxter Bowman, they were lumber lords that were responsible 
        for most of the wood that built the first homes in the 1800’s around Ottawa / 
        Gatineau. In fact way before there was a Buckinghamshire (Not Buckingham Quebec) 
        or Gatineau, Hull, Alymer etc. all that area was known as Bigelow and I have 
        maps that also show that. My moms maiden name is Bigelow and her great great 
        ancestors are in fact Levis Bigelow. Got to love History and the way people 
        want to remember it, it isn’t always the way it was.
... Clark Hill

When I get home from work I will email you a picture of a map from the Canadian Archives 
which show the town of Bigelow but no Buckingham.

My home email is crhill@rogers.com
... Clark
_________________________

According to the book Hurling Down the Pine, Levis Bigelow
was also involved in an 1837 steamboat partnership with John Molson from Montreal and
a Mr. McPherson and Philomen Wright (PW). The steamboats operated on the Ottawa River 
between Montreal and Bytown and also went from Bytown to Kingston via the Rideau Canal.

Here is the early Bigelow family from Buckingham in the 1881 census. There were several
other Bigelow families in the area at that time.
... Al

1881 Census Place: Buckingham, Ottawa County, Quebec, Canada
 Source: FHL Film 1375860  NAC C-13224  Dist 97  SubDist A  Div 2  Page 3  Family 8
 Sex Marr Age Origin Birthplace
Levi BIGELOW M M 53 Scottish Q 
 Occ: Farmer Religion: Catholic 
Elizebeth BIGELOW F M 44 Scottish Q 
   Religion: Catholic 
Albert BIGELOW M  23 Scottish Q 
 Occ: Labourer Religion: Catholic 
Eliza BIGELOW F  21 Scottish Q 
   Religion: Catholic 
Silvester BIGELOW M  18 Scottish Q 
 Occ: Farmers Son Religion: Catholic 
Live BIGELOW M  15 Scottish Q 
 Occ: Farmers Son Religion: Catholic 
Adam BIGELOW M  13 Scottish Q 
   Religion: Catholic 
Ellen BIGELOW F  8 Scottish Q 
   Religion: Catholic 
Margret BIGELOW F  4 Scottish Q 
   Religion: Catholic 
 
The Levi Bigelow aged 53 above would have born about 1828 and he was born 
in Quebec, so this family was indeed here very early on.