A Standard History of Waupaca County, Wisconsin. An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with Particular Attention to the Modern Era in the Commercial, Industrial, Educational, Civic and Social Development.

              414 HISTORY OP WAUPACA COUNTY
at New London as its owner and publisher, and has issued it contin¬ uously ever since, this being the oldest paper in the county that has remained without change in management. It is an attractive sheet, well arranged and wisely edited and its progressive policy is seen in its presentation of both local and other news. While it is demoeratic in politics it is not partisan to such an extent as to be offensive to any reader.   It deservedly has a wide circulation.
Mr. Carr was united in marriage with Miss Emma Stewart, who is a daughter of James Stewart. They have an adopted daughter, Alil- dred, who is the wife of Benton Howell and resides at Menomonie, Wis¬ consin. Air. Carr has a delightful .hobby and it is "Birds," and pos¬ sesses the most complete collection of books on this subject in the state. He is an interested student of Nature, in all its animate forms, and at great expense has gathered together a library on this subject that is not equaled in Wisconsin. He has scholarly tastes and is a lover of home, being identified with few social or political organizations and with but one fraternal body, the Knights of Pythias. He is active, however, in promoting the advancement of New London and Waupaca County and has* assisted in bringing about through his pen many public improve¬ ments and passage of excellent laws.
Rodger Collins Bigford. Every educator knows that the great need of the present public school system is the realization of an intelligent public that it can be bettered. Such a realization would bring about so urgent a demand for higher standards, for thoroughly qualified teachers, not alone in book knowledge, and for more power and a wider latitude given to superintendents, who should be men of great executive ability as well as of scholarly attainments. Waupaca County, Wisconsin, has gained an enviable reputation in many directions, and the high estimate placed on the value of its public schools has set an example for other sections of the state. For the past three years this county has profited in its schools through the efficiency of its able county superintendent, Rodger Collins Bigford, one of the enterprising and representative citi¬ zens of Manawa.
Mr. Bigford was born at Stockbridge, Wisconsin, December 10, 1885, and is a son of W. W. and Effie E. (Collins) Bigford. The father was born at Taycheedah, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, September 8, 1856, a son of Thomas and Eliza (Gifford) Bigford, natives of Genesee County, New York. In 1848 the grandfather of Superintendent Bigford removed from New York to Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, and lived there about nine years, and then moved on a farm near Taycheedah. For twenty years he was a farmer there before he retired and moved to Fond du Lac, where his death subsequently occurred. During the Civil war, although physically prevented from going to the front as a soldier, he made himself useful to the Union cause by acting as a recruit¬ ing officer. He was highly respected and his descendants refer to him with justifiable pride. He was the father of four children, namely: R. 0., H. L., Helen and W. W.