Brought to the United States when but five years of age, he was educated in New York City and vicinity, chiefly at a school at White Plains. For seven years he taught school, finally becoming known as a writer by his editorial contributions to the Home Journal. His first published work, which appeared in 1855, was the " Life of Horace Greeley," It was a successful piece of work, and secured the author employment in the compilation of "The Humorous Poetry of the English Language," which a])- peared in 1857. It was followed, in 1859, by the " Life and Times of Aaron Burr," and in 1860 by the "Life of Andrew Jackson." In 1864 his "Life of Benjamin Franklin " appeared. Since then he has been a prolific writer of recognized popularity. In 1856 he married Sara Payson Willis, sister of N. P. Willis, the poet, and herself widely known for her literary productions under the nam deplume of Fanny Fern.

John Bigelow, the veteran writer and politician, was, for three years, a resident of Westchester County as one of the inspectors of the state prison at Sing Sing. Mr. Bigelow was appointed to this position in 1845, and during his term of service introduced various reforms in the prison discipline. Mr. Bigelow is a native of Maiden, Ulster County, N. Y. He was born November 25, 1817; graduated at Union College 1835 ; studied law, and was admitted to the bar in New York City in 1839. For ten years he was engaged in the practice of his profession, occupying himself, at the same time, more or less with literature and literary journalism. In 1850 he became one of the proprietors and editors of the New York Evening Post, and sustained this relation more than ten years. In 1856 he published a life of General Fremont, when the latter was a candidate for the Presidency.