Rev. Lorenzo J. Biggers. – This gentleman is a devout and eloquent Congregational minister as well as an agriculturist, near Perote, Bullock County, Ala., but was born in Muscogee County, Ga., in July 1848. His parents were Lorenzo M. and Ann Elizabeth (Dent) Biggers, the former born in York District, S. C., in March 1811, and the latter in Wilkes County, Ga., in 1815. Lorenzo M. Biggers was reared to practical planting in his native county and in Jasper County, Ga., to which latter place he was taken by his parents; later he moved to Muscogee Ga. where he still followed planting until his death, March 5, 1875. He was a prominent man during life and was worth about $70,000 at the close of the late war. Several times he was elected sheriff of Muscogee county and was always active in public affairs. In the Indian war of 1836, he proved himself to be a brave soldier, and during the recent Civil war was attached to the reserve corps the last year of the struggle. He was a Mason of the K. T. degree, a Son of Temperance, and from his youth has been a Methodist. His widow, a member of the same church, is a resident of Muscogee County, Ga.
Joseph Biggers, the father of Lorenzo M., was of Irish origin and was probably born in South Carolina. From that state he moved to Jasper County and thence to Muscogee county, Ga. He served in the war of 1812, became the father of seven children, and died in Muscogee County, a very wealthy man. The maternal grandfather of Lorenzo J. Biggers, whose name stands at the head of this sketch, was Lawson Dent, who was born in Maryland, but early settled in Wilkes County, Ga., where he resided several years and then removed to Muscogee County, Ga., where he passed away in 1848, the father of a large family.
Lorenzo J. Biggers is the seventh child in a family of nine children, comprising seven daughters and two sons, still living. He received a good classical education in and near Columbus, Ga.; and was preparing for college when the Civil war interrupted his studies. In June 1864, he and his father enlisted in what was known as the Pemberton cavalry of the reserve force, and did considerable scouting duty, and took part in a number of skirmishes.
On return of peace Mr. Biggers attended school another year and then engaged as mill contractor in Barbour and Henry counties, Ala., and Jackson County, Fla., for a few years. His next occupation was that of a planter near Columbus, Ga., but in 1876 he relinquished agriculture for the drug business at Eufaula for two years. In 1878 and 1879 he re-engaged in planting in Barbour County, and in 1880 removed to a plantation in Bullock County, and in this county, he has resided ever since, at different points. His present plantation is situated three miles south of Perote and comprises 560 acres, in addition to which he owns 240 acres in Harris County, Ga., his principal products being cotton and general supplies.
Mr. Biggers was joined in the bonds of matrimony January 25, 1876, in Barbour County, Ala., with Miss Josephine F., a native of Barbour County, and a daughter of Edward and Mary Garland. Mr. Garland was a native of Virginia, from which state he removed, first to Georgia and thence to Russell County, Ala., and later to Barbour County, Ala., where his death took place in 1875. He was a cousin of ex-Attorney-General Garland, and at one time a very wealthy man, but lost $70,000 by the calamities of war.
Mr. Biggers was licensed a preacher by the Methodist Episcopal church and officiated about six years, when he was regularly ordained by the Congregational church, and is now pastor of Morgan chapel and Webster in Bullock County, and Catalpa and Wesley chapels in Pike County, and also has appointments at Banks Station and Buckhorn in Pike County, both of which he is preparing to organize. He is a member of Missouri lodge No. 146 F. & A. M. and was formerly worshipful master of Wiley lodge at Post Oak; he was also at one time chaplain of Perote alliance. He is an indefatigable worker for his church, in which his chief interest is bound up, but he is still very popular with the more worldly minded, many of whom are desirous of his taking charge of their secular affairs as well as spiritual, and he has just been elected for the state legislature from his county.