Clarence Otis Bigelow (November 29, 1851 – March 28, 1937) was an American pharmacist and banker. He founded C. O. Bigelow Apothecaries on

Sixth Avenue Sixth Avenue, also known as Avenue of the Americas, is a major thoroughfare in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The avenue is commercial for much of its length, and traffic runs northbound, or uptown. Sixth Avenue begins four blocks b ...

in New York City. Today, it is the oldest apothecary–pharmacy in the United States.

Early life

Bigelow was born in

Warwick, Rhode Island Warwick ( or ) is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States, and is the third-largest city in the state, with a population of 82,823 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Warwick is located approximately south of downtown Pr ...

, to William Marlin Bigelow and Margaret Catherine Dye. His father died aged 41, before Clarence was born.

Career

Bigelow began his pharmaceutical career with Messrs. Frost and Dickinson in

Springfield, Massachusetts Springfield is the most populous city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, and its county seat. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers: the western Westfield River, the ea ...

, but left in 1867, "while still a mere boy", for New York City. He began working for George L. Hooper at his Village Apothecary Shop pharmacy, founded in 1838 by Dr. Galen Hunter, at 104 Sixth Avenue (today, number 414). In 1880, Bigelow purchased the business from Hooper and renamed it C. O. Bigelow Apothecaries. In 1904, he moved the business to 106–108 Sixth Avenue, two doors to the north of its original location, and expanded it twice over the next forty years. By 1900, he had a staff of fifteen, including seven registered pharmacists. His chief clerk remained with the business from its founding until at least the turn of the century, a period of twenty years. In 1900, he put his success down to two factors: keeping his capital invested in his company, and employing the best people as clerks and assistants. In 1924, Bigelow unveiled inside the store's main entrance a large bronze tablet commemorating the 85th anniversary of the incorporation of the business.

Personal life

Bigelow married

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

native Grace Frances Bird, daughter of Thomas H. Bird, one of the founders of the

New York Stock Exchange The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE, nicknamed "The Big Board") is an American stock exchange in the Financial District, Manhattan, Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It is the List of stock exchanges, largest stock excha ...

. She died on October 18, 1916, of heart disease. She was 62. The couple had one child, a daughter, who married Walter B. Simpson. He became the president of the New York State Board of Pharmacy and treasurer of

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

's Department of Pharmacy from 1882, and was also president of the West Side Savings Bank. He belonged to the

Sons of the American Revolution The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), formally the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR), is a federally chartered patriotic organization. The National Society, a nonprofit corporation headquartered in Louisvi ...

. In 1911, twenty-one years after moving to New York's

Upper West Side The Upper West Side (UWS) is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is bounded by Central Park on the east, the Hudson River on the west, West 59th Street to the south, and West 110th Street to the north. The Upper We ...

, he became a founding member of Ye Olde Settler's Association of Ye West Side. He was living at 133 West 78th Street, but also owned a summer home in

Allenhurst, New Jersey Allenhurst is a borough located on the Jersey Shore, in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The settlement was named after resident Abner Allen and was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 26 ...

Death

Bigelow died at St. Luke's Hospital in Manhattan on March 28, 1937, aged 85. His funeral was held on March 30, 1937, at the Rutgers Presbyterian Church, of which he was the president of the board of trustees. He was interred in Rosedale Cemetery in

Orange, New Jersey The City of Orange (known simply as Orange) is a Township (New Jersey), township in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 34,447, an increase o ...

, beside his wife.

References

(today's 414 Sixth Avenue)

External links

{{commons category, Clarence Otis Bigelow 1851 births 1937 deaths 19th-century American businesspeople Pharmacists from New York City 19th-century American pharmacists People from Warwick, Rhode Island Columbia University people Members of the Sons of the American Revolution