Joshua Biggs
State senateMaryland
DistrictFrederick County
Term start1868
Term end1870
PredecessorCharles E. Trail
SuccessorLewis Henry Steiner
State delegate 2Maryland
District 2Frederick County
Term start 21861
Term end 21864
Alongside 2Hiram Buhrman, James M. Coale, Thomas Hammond, Henry R. Harris, Thomas Johnson, Upton Buhrman, David Rinehart, Oliver P. Snyder, Charles E. Trail
Predecessor 2Thomas J. Claggett, John A. Johnson, Andrew Kessler, David W. Naill, Jonathan Routzahn, William E. Salmon
Successor 2David Agnew, Upton Buhrman, Samuel Keefer, David J. Markey, David Rinehart, Thomas A. Smith
Birth dateJanuary 1, 1821
Death dateJuly 9, 1888 (aged 67)
Death placeRocky Ridge, Maryland, U.S.
Resting placeRocky Ridge, Maryland, U.S.
PartyWhig
Democratic
SpousePhoebe S. Morrison (m. 1856)
Alma materPennsylvania College
OccupationPolitician · miller · businessman

Joshua Biggs (January 1, 1821 – July 9, 1888) was an American politician and miller from Maryland. He represented Frederick County as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1861 to 1862 and in 1864, and as a member of the Maryland Senate from 1868 to 1870.

Early life

Joshua Biggs was born on January 1, 1821, at the Buck Forest farm, to Sarah (née Haines) and William Biggs.[1] He graduated from Pennsylvania College. He taught school and studied medicine.[1]

Career

Prior to the Civil War, Biggs was a Whig. After the war, he was a Democrat.[1] He was school inspector of Frederick County from 1851 to 1865. He became director of the Western Maryland Railroad Company in 1866. He was also director of the Baltimore County Fire Insurance Company.[1]

Biggs served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Frederick County, from 1861 to 1862 and in 1864.[1][2] He served as a member of the Maryland Senate, representing Frederick County, from 1868 to 1870.[1][3]

Biggs owned 500 acres (200 ha) of farmland and the Isabella Mills on Owens Creek. Around 1885, he turned over his mill and depot businesses to his sons.[1]

Personal life

Biggs married Phoebe S. Morrison on November 11, 1856. They had four sons, including William and Sheridan.[1] In 1870, he built a residence and depot at Rocky Ridge.[1]

Biggs had cancer in his jaw in March 1887. He died on July 9, 1888, at Rocky Ridge. He was interred in Rocky Ridge.[1]

References

  1. ^ "Death of Hon. Joshua Biggs". Catoctin Clarion. 1888-07-12. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-03-10. – via Newspapers.com
  2. ^ "Historical List, House of Delegates, Frederick County (1790-1974)". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. 2010-01-04. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  3. ^ "Historical List, Senate, Frederick County (1838-1966)". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. 2005-04-20. Retrieved 2024-03-10.