Middlesex County CT Archives History - Books .....Gideon Higgins 1887

***********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ct/ctfiles.htm
***********************************************

************************************************************************
The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the
information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information
must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence.  It is
always best to consult the original material for verification.
************************************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 20, 2005, 6:22 pm

Book Title: The Old Chimney Stacks Of East Haddam

CHAPTER XVII.
GIDEON HIGGINS.

  Gideon Higgins, for over sixty-eight years a highly respected resident of East
Haddam, died in that town on the first day of August, 1878, in the ninety-sixth
year of his age. His prominency in all the civil affairs of the town, during so
lengthy a period of time, entitles him to more than a passing notice in these
pages. He was born in the town of Haddam, Conn., in that portion known as
"Turkey Hill," on the 8th day of September, 1782. His parents, Hawes and Lucinda
(Bushnell) Higgins, were of good repute in the community in which they lived. He
was, from early youth, deeply impressed with the advantages of a good education,
and, although in his boyhood, he saw but few opportunities to gratify his desire
for information, yet those few he zealously improved. About three months at
school each year was spared to him from his labor-at farming, and at his
father's trade of house and shipbuilding, until he arrived at the age of
eighteen years, when he, for a brief time, attended school in Chester, under the
instruction of the Rev. Mr. Mills. He lived in the town of his nativity until
the age of twenty-two, when he went to the city of New York. This was about the
year 1804, when that city numbered only 75,000 inhabitants. He remained there
about two years engaged in ship building. At the expiration of that time he
returned to Haddam, and in 1808 was made an Elector of the State of Connecticut
in that town. He was married June 3d, 1809, to Ann Wright, daughter of William
Wright, of Chatham, Conn., with whom he lived in the happiest relations until
the time of her death, August 2d, 1852. They had five children, William W.,
Lucinda A., wife of Nathan Tyler, Catharine, Eliza M., wife of James M. Welch,
and Mary S. Of these only one is now living—Catharine—who still lives in the old
homestead at East Haddam. Mr. Higgins removed with his wife to East Haddam,
November 10th, 1810, and commenced housekeeping in the house where the late
Richard S. Pratt resided at the time of his decease. He became, during his
residence in his native town, a member of the State Militia, and finally, in
1810, was chosen Captain of the Haddam Town Company, which position, he held for
the three succeeding years. When, during the war of 1812, the British troops
made an attack upon and burnt our vessels at Essex, he, with nine others from
this town volunteered, armed themselves, and took a row-boat for the scene of
destruction, and, for a short time, took part in-the attack upon the invaders,
but soon after their arrival darkness ensued and enabled the Englishmen to make
their escape with two men killed—one of whom was a lieutenant in rank.

  In 1813, he removed his family to "Chapman's Landing," or "the Ferry," by both
of which names it was then called — now universally known as "Goodspeed's
Landing" — into the house then called the "Dr. Percival House." It stood on the
site of the house where Whitby M. Smith now lives. Here he pursued his trade of
"master ship builder" for many years, having a large force of men in his employ.
In the year 1815 he purchased the land on which he erected the house which was
his place • of residence up to the time of his death. It was an unpromising
piece of ground, but persevering industry made it a comfortable and pleasant
home for over sixty-three years.

  He, at various times filled responsible positions of public trust. He was a
Deputy Sheriff of Middlesex County from October 3d, 1818, to June 1st, 1823. By
the General Assembly of the State, in whom was vested the appointing power at

the time, he was made the Sheriff of the county in 1827, which office he
occupied for three years. In the years 1826 and 1827 he was elected to the lower
House of the General Assembly, and subsequently also represented East Haddam
during three other sessions of that body. From 1838 to 1842 he was a
Commissioner of the County Court, and in 1834, one of the Judges of that Court.
He was Judge of Probate for the District of East Haddam during the years 1844
and 1845.

  Numerous minor offices of responsibility and public trust in the gift of his
fellow townsmen did Judge Higgins fill during his useful existence, covering
nearly a century. It is sufficient to say that he performed the duties connected
with them all creditably to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the
public. He was sought for important private trusts and discharged them with
perfect fidelity. His advice upon business matters and on law questions was
considered valuable and his judgment was universally approved.

  Politically, he was with the Whig party, and was a member of the Republican
party from its organization.

  He was always persistent and positive in the support of his political
convictions, and never, except on very isolated occasions, when he was
unavoidably prevented, did he omit to express his political faith at the ballot
box in Electors' and Town Meeting. In fact his devotion to this duty of every
citizen was very noteworthy. Being a radical anti-slavery man, he took great
satisfaction in all proper measures looking to the emancipation of the slave,
and was ever prepared to extend such assistance as lay in his power in the
prosecution of that object. He was a man of courage—moral, intellectual and
physical— and uncompromising in his convictions of duty. He never waited to
learn the opinions of others in order to modify the expression of his own and
shape them to some private advantage, but spoke as he thought, with a high sense
of right, which always guided his sensibilities.

  He was a practical temperance man, in every respect, at no time indulging in
any of the physical excesses which impair or destroy health. With an active,
energetic temperament, he possessed remarkable powers of physical strength and
endurance. His arrival at the ripe old age of ninety-six years, in the
possession of his mental faculties, and with an extraordinary amount of physical
vigor for that age, was evidence of a healthy constitution, wisely preserved. At
the age of ninety-five he shot a mischievous squirrel upon the top of one of his
pear trees, and one week previous to his death, which resulted from an attack of
dysentery, he was cutting the grass in his orchard with the briskness of a much
younger man.

  His private character was without a stain. His integrity was unquestioned. To
his excellence as a citizen he added a true Christian character, which he
manifested in profession and practice.

  Although favoring the Second Adventist doctrine, he was free from the taint of
sectarian bigotry, and cordially welcomed all manifestations of a Christian life.

  His old Bible, so long and faithfully used, bears upon each page evidences of
how diligently it was perused, and how well it- was loved, and with its
teachings in his heart, he closed his earthly career with great hope and
assurance of eternal life.


Additional Comments:
Transcribed from:

THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS OF EAST HADDAM, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, CONNECTICUT,
BY
HOSFORD B. NILES,
Author of Genealogy of THE NILES FAMILY.
NEW YORK: LOWE & CO., Book and Job Printers No. 210 Fulton Street.
1887


File at -- http://files.usgwarchives.net/ct/middlesex/history/1887/oldchimn/gideonhi29gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ctfiles/

File size: 7.7 Kb