Civil War Orders - 5th Cavalry Missouri State Militia

Thomas Biggers was born in 1837 in Pennsylvania. He lived with his family in Waterford, Pennsylvania until the 1850s. Biggers’ father moved his family from Pennsylvania and they were living in Missouri by the 1860 U.S. Federal Census. Thomas enlisted in the 5th Missouri Calvary on April 30, 1862 in St. Joseph, Missouri and fought for the Union during the Civil War. Thomas served in St. Joseph and the surrounding areas. He mustered out on June 22, 1863.

After the war, Thomas worked as a claim(s) agent for the IRS. On December 7, 1875, Thomas married Kate Himrod, who also lived in Waterford, Pennsylvania. Together they lived in Kansas as farmers and then moved to Oklahoma where they were stock dealers. Thomas died on October 24, 1919 and was buried in Waterford, Pennsylvania. Kate died 16 years later in 1935 and was also buried in Waterford.

The 5th Missouri Cavalry Regiment was organized on March 1, 1862 in St. Joseph, Missouri as a Union militia. It became attached to the District of Central Missouri, Department of Missouri in February 1863. On February 2, 1863, this regiment was attached to the District of Rolla, Department of Missouri. This unit participated in battles in west, southwest, and central Missouri.