Shawnee County KS Archives Biographies.....Higgins, Elbridge 1831 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com September 26, 2006, 8:22 pm

Author: James L. King (1905)

ELBRIDGE HIGGINS.

    ELBRIDGE HIGGINS, one of the esteemed residents of Topeka, a retired farmer,
was born in 1831 in Massachusetts, and is a son of Josiah and Hannah (Snow)
Higgins.

    The ancestry of Mr. Higgins includes members of the Plymouth colony,
-soldiers of the Revolution and of the War of 1812, and old established
residents of Cape Cod, many of these having been sea-faring men. The family has
also been noted as one of unusual longevity. The paternal grandfather, Ephraim
Higgins, lived to the age of 99 years and his son Josiah was a hale, hearty man
up to the age of 89 years. The latter followed the sea during his early years
and then became a farmer. Of his six children, the two survivors are Elbridge
and Russell—the latter still resides on the old home place in Massachusetts.

    Elbridge Higgins was reared on his father's farm, but, like all coast boys,
had a fondness for the sea, and by the age of 14 years he had gained his
family's permission and shipped for a voyage. For 14 successive years he
followed this life, visiting many strange lands and having many wonderful
experiences. In 1859 he went to the Pacific Coast and engaged in mining in
Eastern Oregon and in Idaho, remaining in Oregon until 1872.

    Mr. Higgins then came to Kansas and located on a raw prairie farm of 160
acres, which he purchased from the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company.
It was located in Mission township, Shawnee County. Mr. Higgins developed this
into a fine property and later purchased a second 160-acre tract for meadow
purposes. He carried on extensive farming and handled considerable stock, enough
to consume all the corn he raised. About 1901 he sold his first farm, but still
retains the second. He had erected a very handsome modern residence at No. 1509
College avenue, Topeka, and took possession upon retiring from agricultural
work. This beautiful home is a model of modern building and is appropriately
furnished with all to please the eye and render comfort and ease to its occupants.

    Mr. Higgins was married at Topeka, in 1872, to Hepsa Holway. They adopted a
child of five years, Hettie M. Bassett, in whom they centered parental
affection. She grew to be a beautiful maiden of 16 years, when her innocent
young life ended, leaving Mr. and Mrs. Higgins sorely bereft.

    Mr. Higgins takes no very active interest in politics, merely attending to
the duties of a good citizen. For 35 years he has been identified with the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY, KANSAS
AND
REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

EDITED AND COMPILED BY
JAMES L. KING
TOPEKA, KANSAS 

"History is Philosophy Teaching by Examples"

PUBLISHED BY
RICHMOND & ARNOLD,
GEORGE RICHMOND; C. R. ARNOLD.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,
1905.

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