Jacob Whitehead Bigley was born in 1898, son of Charles Henry Bigley and Lucinda C Whitehead Bigley.

Jacob married Helen Mae Hagaman, daughter of William Hagaman and Lavinia Cox Hagaman. Jacob and Helen had seven children born in Hopewell, Mercer County, New Jersey: Hilda H (1920-2008), Esther L (1921-1993), Jacob Whitehead (1922-1994), Blanche H (1923-2002), Edna L (1928), Julia F (1931-2007), and Betty H (1933-1940).

Jacob worked as a machinist in a car shop, a laborer at a state nursery and as assistant superintendent at a state park, according to census information.

Jacob died in 1955 and is buried with his wife and son at Titusville Methodist Church Cemetery in Titusville, Mercer County, New Jersey.