Many will remember Mildred Irma Biglow Burris Peterson, “Millie” to everyone she met, as a kind woman with deep roots in the Antioch community. She was the matriarch and last of the Antioch Biglows, one of Antioch’s pioneer families from Gold Rush times. She passed away after suffering a stroke on June 30 at age 101. She would have been 102 this coming Sept. 9.
“Millie’s passing marks the end of an era for Antioch,” said her cousin, Michael Judson Biglow. “Millie and I were the last two surviving great-grandchildren of the Forty-Niner Adoniram Judson (“A.J.”) Biglow, who sailed through the Golden Gate on a clipper ship on October 10, 1849.”
Biglow says that Peterson was one of the last Biglow family members in Contra Costa County. The only other left is Peterson’s nephew, Timothy, who lives in Brentwood. Peterson’s great-grandfather was a wealthy landowner of his era and did the first successful reclamation in the late 1860s of Sherman Island, the first of the Delta islands. A.J. Biglow and his wife, Martha Jane, lived there until after 1875. He then sold his interests on Sherman Island and purchased an old pottery factory and acreage along the river, the Lobree Tile & Pottery Plant, later the Biglow Ranch residence, still later the Fulton Shipyards, which now constitutes the Antioch Dunes Wildlife Refuge.
Peterson’s grandfather Franklin Judson Biglow Sr. married Mary Ann Jones, daughter of a colorful early resident, “Grandpa Jones.” Many of the names that are related to Franklin Biglow’s six children will be recognizable to those who know a little of Antioch’s history, as these children married into numerous other old Contra Costa County families, such as the Fords, Higgins (of the funeral home Higgins), Lauritzens, Meehans, Hodgsons and Vanderhorsts.
Peterson’s father was Cellus Biglow, who married Erma Vanderhorst. Peterson was one of three children. Peterson’s father ended his working career as a longtime employee of the city of Antioch. Biglow Drive in Antioch was named in his honor. Peterson was the oldest of Cellus and Erma. Her younger sister, Thelma Dorothy Biglow Giovanonni, was born July 3, 1921, and her baby brother, Vernon Cellus Biglow, on June 6, 1926. Vernon was an Antioch police officer. He and Thelma Dorothy passed away before Peterson.
Peterson married George William Burris after graduating from Antioch High School’s Class of 1935. They had a daughter named Linda in 1942, who later became a Dominican nun, and son named James William in November 1945. After being a widow for several years, Peterson married Antone L. Peterson. One of Peterson’s wedding dresses is featured in the bridal room at the Antioch Historical Museum.
“Cousin Millie is the oldest Biglow going in her direct line back 11 generations and 390 years to the immigrant ancestors,” Michael Biglow said.
For 30 years Peterson worked at Famous Fashions in downtown Antioch. In later years she dedicated her time to the Antioch Woman’s Club, where she started as a member in 1986. She also spent many years as a volunteer at Sutter-Delta Medical Center. She enjoyed attending the Antioch Historical Museum’s annual Victorian Tea and having lunch with friends.
Keeping his art alive: Under the current COVID-19 conditions it might be tough to get your art out there, but Antioch’s Michael Davis isn’t letting that get him down. He’s found his entrepreneurial outlet by hosting wave art shows of his work in his front yard, by posting pictures of his art on his fence.
Each Wednesday and Saturday, Davis sets up a “wave” day in front of his home. While he was in elementary school, Davis began drawing his favorite cartoon characters, one of which at the time was Mickey Mouse. He continued to get better and better, adding new characters as he went along.
“Today I draw cartoons, comics, superheroes, anime, fantasy and portraits,” he said. “My favorite is fantasy.”
While at Deer Valley High School, one of his favorite teachers was Bill Leach, from whom he learned a lot of different techniques. He particularly likes to paint and draw. See Davis’ Facebook page for some of his art and when his next “wave” day will be at facebook.com/miked515.
Roni Gehlke can be reached at oakleynow@comcast.net.