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, although this name is seldom used by New Yorkers, p.24 – is a major thoroughfare in New York City's borough of Manhattan, on which traffic runs northbound, or "uptown". It is commercial ...

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, the third largest city in the state with a population of 82,823 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. It is located approximately south of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, sout ...

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

, 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 state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

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

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. 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 (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

'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 National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR or NSSAR) is an American Congressional charter, congressionally chartered organization, founded in 1889 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Louisville, Kentucky. A non-prof ...

. 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 West ...

, 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 in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, named for resident Abner Allen and incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 26, 1897, from portions of Ocean Township. As of the 201 ...

Death

Bigelow died at St. Luke's Hospital in Manhattan on March 28, 1937, aged 85. His funderal was held on March 30, 1937, at the

Rutgers Presbyterian Church Rutgers Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian house of worship in New York City. The church's origins date to 1798 in Lower Manhattan. The first church building was erected on a plot of ground donated by Colonel Henry Rutgers at the corner of wh ...

, 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 is a township in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the township's population was 30,134, reflecting a decline of 2,734 (−8.3%) from the 32,868 counted in 2000. Orange was original ...

, beside his wife.

References

(today's 414 Sixth Avenue) {{DEFAULTSORT:Bigelow, Clarence Otis 1851 births 1937 deaths 19th-century American businesspeople American pharmacists People from Warwick, Rhode Island Columbia University people Sons of the American Revolution