Augustus Chapman Biggs ^{1 3}

   Another name for Augustus was "Uncle Chap."

  General Notes:

Our notes are that he served in 30th Regiment of Virginia Infantry, Company C, 30 Battallion, Virginia Sharpshooters during the Civil War.

Enlisted on March 26, 1862 at Union, Monroe Co, WV as a private in Vawter's Battery, Co C. He was present until absent on furlough February 28, 1863. He was detailed as a boatman on New River from March 17, 1863 to December 31, 1863. Was admitted to Charlottesville General Hospital on June 9, 1864 for acute dysentery, furloughed June 27, 1864 (was 36 yrs old). Was also listed on the register of Delevan Hospital in Charlottesville, VA for a simple wound. Date unknown. He was listed on clothing receipts of December 25, 1864 and December 30, 1864. Post war record lists him as 1st Corp.

Listed in the 1860 Monroe Co, VA Peterstown Twp. Census age 30. Melissa age 29, Elizabeth age 9, James H age 3, Mary A age 2. Augustus had $1000 in real estate and $223 in personal estate.

Listed in the 1870 Monroe Co, WV Red Sulfur Springs Census, age 41. Lydia age 40, Elizabeth S age 18, James H age 13, Mary A age 10, John L age 2, and Melvina age 49 (his sister). Augustus had $360 in real estate and $344 in personal estate.

Listed in the 1880 Monroe Co, WV Census, age 51. Delila S age 33, John age 11, George age 4 months, Elizabeth Biggs age 17 (niece and housekeeper - probably Wilson Riley's daughter).

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Farmer, Stone Mason, Vawter's Battery, Co C (later 30th Bat VA Sharpshooters). ⁶

• Military Service, 26 Mar 1863. ^{6 7 8}

• Obituary, Jul 1921. ¹ Obituary In Realms of Rest A.C. Biggs

"Monroe county lost her oldest and one of her best citizens when Mr. Augustus Chapman Biggs passed into the Great Beyond at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ballard, near Pine Grove Church in Red Sulpher district last Saturday morning. July 23, 1921. He was in the 93rd year of his age. As a Confederate soldier, as an honest man whose rugged integrity never failed, and as a Christian he made a record of many virtues which we all honor. In all his relations he trod the path of duty--in simplicity of life, in affection toward his family, in kindness toward his neighbors and with a good conscience toward God and man. What an achievement is such a good and wholesome life, kept cheery and staunch till all was done!

"The funeral of Mr. Biggs was held in Pine Grove Church last Sunday morning at 11 o'clock, Rev. L. D. Chandler of Peterstown, conducting the services, after which the remains of the deceased were committed to earth in the Broyles Cemetery by the Masons of the Peterstown Lodge, of which Mr. Biggs was the oldest member. A great assemblage attended the obsequies. The following sketch of Mr. Biggs was sent us by a friend:

"Augustus Chapman Biggs, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Biggs, was born April 28, 1829, in Giles Co., VA, near the mouth of Big Stony Creek. His parents moved across the mountains to Monroe county in what is now West Virginia when he was 4 years old and from that time he lived in the same comunity until his death which occurred July 23rd, 1921, at 10:15 a.m., being 92 years, 2 months, and 17 days old. He was twice married--first to Miss Lydia Broyles, May 2nd, 1850. To this union 4 children were born-Elizabeth Susan, James Henry, Mary Ann, and John Lee. Elizabeth Susan, James Henry, and Mary Ann live in Monroe County, and John L., in Mercer County, W.Va. Mr Biggs' first wife died Nov. 18 1877. On Nov. 7, 1878, he married Miss Delilah Balard and to this union two sons were born, George Washington of Fayett Co., and Charles William of Monroe Co. His second wife died May 20th, 1910, and since that time Mr. Biggs made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Susan Ballard. He served during the Confederate War in Clark's Battalion of Infantry. Mr. Biggs was a consistent member of the Baptist Church for 55 years or longer. As to the life he has lived the people of the community in which he dwelt so long are the ones best to judge. He has one surviving sister, Mrs. Harriet McGhee, living at White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. She is now 72 years of age. One brother, Miles W. Biggs, a Confederate soldier, was killed at the battle of Cold Harbor. Another brother, William Biggs, died at Fayetteville, W.Va., during the war, of typhoid fever".

Augustus married Lydia Melissa Broyles, daughter of Zacharias Broyles and Susanna E Riner, on 2 May 1850 in Monroe Co, Virginia (Now WV).^{1 2} (Lydia Melissa Broyles was born on 7 Jun 1829 in Monroe Co, Virginia (Now WV),⁵ died on 18 Nov 1877 in Monroe Co, Virginia (Now WV) ⁵ and was buried in Broyles Cemetery, Lindside, Monroe Co, WV.)

Augustus next married Delilah S Ballard, daughter of John Calvin Ballard and Elizabeth McGhee, on 7 Nov 1878.¹ (Delilah S Ballard was born on 19 Sep 1846 in Monroe Co, Virginia (Now WV), died on 20 May 1910 and was buried in Broyles Cemetery, Lindside, Monroe Co, WV.)