[1][2] He was educated at Newark Academy, Ashland Hall, and Freehold Institute.

[3] He graduated from Princeton College in 1857 and became City Attorney of Newark, New Jersey in 1863.

President Grover Cleveland appointed him United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey.

Judge Andrew Kirkpatrick appointed him as United States Commissioner for New Jersey.

Samuel Fowler Bigelow died at his sister's home in East Orange on March 8, 1915, and was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Newark.