Jackson Higgins
JACKSON HIGGINS, of Brooklyn, Illinois, was born in Morgan county, Ohio, in 1832. His father, Daniel, was born in Green county, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1807, and his father, Joseph, was born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and was engaged in farming. He was born in 1777, and died in 1840, marrying Polly Henderson, and raising a family of twelve children. He was drafted into the war of 1812, but sent a substitute. Daniel was married February 28, 1828, in Green county, Pennsylvania, to Sarah Brewer. They moved from there to Morgan county, Ohio, about 1830. In the fall of 1838, they came to Illinois with a small horse and wagon, bringing four small children, being twenty-six days on the road. There were six families in the party. The trip was a pleasant one, and the winter following was mild. They found the grass very tall, gone to seed, all kinds of game, and very recent marks of the buffalo remaining. Agues and fevers were universal.
Mr. Higgins is the oldest resident in this part of Schuyler county. He took up eighty acres of school lands, and soon obtained a deed, which he has held until he came to live with his son. He was a tailor by profession, having learned his trade in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, when a young man, having worked at it much of the time. In those early days the wives carded, spun and wove wool and flax, and Mr. Higgins in his trade, served the neighborhood well. His wife died, November, 1880, aged seventy-four years, leaving four living children, ten having been born. Mr. Higgins, in his eighty-sixth year, is bright and active.
Jackson has been a farmer all his life. He started on forty acres, and has from time to time added to it until his farm is now 227 acres, all fenced and more than one-half under the plow. There is some timber and large pasturage.
He was married in 1858, to Sarah, daughter of William and Polly (Fowler) Burnett of England, but who have been residents here for many years. They have two sons, William Harrison, married, residing on the home farm, and John R., married, and also on the farm. They are all Democrats and Methodists. Mr. Higgins has been Justice of the Peace for four years and has served the county as Road Commissioner.
Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago, 1892, pages 279-280.
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