JacksonHiggins
JACKSONHIGGINS, 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, andwas engaged in farming. He was born in 1777, and died in 1840, marryingPolly Henderson, and raising a family of twelve children. He was draftedinto the war of 1812, but sent a substitute. Daniel was married February28, 1828, in Green county, Pennsylvania, to Sarah Brewer. They moved fromthere to Morgan county, Ohio, about 1830. In the fall of 1838, they cameto 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 foundthe grass very tall, gone to seed, all kinds of game, and very recent marksof the buffalo remaining. Agues and fevers were universal.
Mr.Higgins is the oldest resident in this part of Schuyler county. He tookup eighty acres of school lands, and soon obtained a deed, which he hasheld 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 neighborhoodwell. His wife died, November, 1880, aged seventy-four years, leaving fourliving children, ten having been born. Mr. Higgins, in his eighty-sixthyear, is bright and active.
Jacksonhas been a farmer all his life. He started on forty acres, and has fromtime to time added to it until his farm is now 227 acres, all fenced andmore than one-half under the plow. There is some timber and large pasturage.
Hewas married in 1858, to Sarah, daughter of William and Polly (Fowler) Burnettof England, but who have been residents here for many years. They havetwo sons, William Harrison, married, residing on the home farm, and JohnR., 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 servedthe county as Road Commissioner.
BiographicalReview of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois,Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago, 1892, pages 279-280.
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