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Elizabeth Hires

Research on the Hires/Highers families of Smith County, Tennessee

Compiled by Judy Griffin, 2007 - email address

Elizabeth Hires married John Jackson Worthey circa 1838. Elizabeth was born circa 1820 in Tennessee (or South Carolina) and died before July 1868, when John remarried. Elizabeth may have died a few years after their last child, circa 1851, unless there were more children who have not been found. John, Elizabeth and five of their children were found in Smith County, Tennessee in 1850. Living near John and Elizabeth in Smith County in 1850 were two separate Hires families that may be Elizabeth’s relatives. These were a Mary Hires (probably the widow of Thomas Highers), age 43, and seven children, all born in Tennessee; and a Henry Hires, age 54 and born in South Carolina, with his wife and eight children, all born in Tennessee.

Hires/Highers Families, Smith County, Tennessee

Most of the information is from Fran Rutkovsky and Linda L. Clements.

George Highers

George Highers was born in 1770 and died between 1846 and 1850. He is mentioned in a Smith County, Tennessee deed book where a John Gann deeded to George a tract of land on the south side of Cumberland river, August 24, 1814. (1) A George Hires was in the 1800 Barnwell Co, SC census, listed next to Jacob Hiers. George was listed in the 1820 census for Smith County, Tennessee. Children of George Highers:

• Josiah Highers, born between 1790 and 1800, died 1848. See below

• Henry Highers, born before 1796 in South Carolina. See below

• Thomas Highers, born in 1800 in South Carolina. See below

• Susan Highers (possible), married Sam Hughes.

• Lodicey Highers (possible), was born December 25, 1807 in Smith County, Tennessee. Possibly Irene Lodicy She married Edward Burgess Clark on November 7, 1828 in Smith County. Source Peggy Mitchell.

Most of the Hires/Highers families were in Smith County, Tennessee from about 1820. On a website for the Warman family, there is an interesting incident involving a Highers family in 1887. (2) “Josh Warman was a constable at Rome TN. He was taking a black prisoner, John Hadley, to Carthage TN. and was shot in the leg and died. The Highers family got Hadley out of jail and Lynched him.”

Josiah Highers

Josiah Highers was born between 1790-1800 and died in 1848. He married Nancy _?_. Their children were:

• David Highers

• Judicah Highers

• M. Highers

• Nancy Highers was born circa 1840 in Smith County, Tennessee and died before 1865 in Smith County. Nancy married Henry Dice on August 11, 1857 in Tennessee. Henry was born between 1834 and 1836, the son of Henry Dice and Mary Springs. Henry died between 1900 and 1910 in Cheatham County, Tennessee. They had one child, Louisa Dice, born in 1858 in Smith County, Tennessee, died June 5, 1932 in Cheatham County. The 1860 Smith County Census lists Henry Dice, 24; Nancy, 20; Lovinia 2. Henry Dice married Nancy’s sister, Tennessee.

• Richard Dixon Highers, married Hannah Craig on June 5, 1847 in Smith County, Tennessee. Their son was Thomas Highers, born between 1851 and 1853 in Illinois. Rutkovsky cites her source was Erick Montgomery. Clements states that Dixon Highers married Hannah Creage on June 5, 1847 in Smith County, Tennessee

• Tennessee Highers died between 1870 and 1880 in Smith County. She married Henry Dice on September 19, 1865 in Tennessee. Henry previously married Tennessee’s sister, Nancy. The children of Tennessee and Henry, all born in Smith County, were Nancy, born 1868; Hugh H., born September 1870; and Walter, born October 1872.

Henry Highers

Henry Highers was born circa 1796 in South Carolina and died in Smith County, Tennessee. He married Celia T. Williams circa 1827 in Tennessee. Celia was born before 1820 (varies in censuses) in Tennessee and died after 1880 in Smith County. Henry and Celia were found in the 1850 census for Smith County. (3) Henry was age 54, a laborer, born in South Carolina, with real estate valued at $1,000. Celia was 43 (born circa 1807). Listed with them were Jacob, age 22; Pheraby, age 20; Henry, age 17; Josiah, age 15, Catherine, age 12; George, age 9; Simon, age 7; and Mary, age 3. All born in Tennessee, so Henry and Celia were in Tennessee by 1818 when Jacob was born.

The 1860 census (4) listed Henry, farmer, age 64, real estate $3,500(?) personal estate $1,000, born North Carolina. Celia was age 50; Henry, age 24; Josiah, age 22; George, age 18; ???? female, age 22; Catherine, age 16; Mary, age 12; and Susan, age 6. Next door was their son Jacob and his wife Ellen.

In 1870 Henry and Celia were still in Smith County. (5) Listed for dwelling 71, family 130: Henry was a farmer, age 75, born South Carolina, with real estate valued at $1,500 (1,600?). Celia was age 60, born Tennessee. Listed in the family, all born in Tennessee, were F. W. [Pheraby/Ferby], female, age 40; M. J. [Mary Jane], female, age 22. Listed for the same dwelling, family 131, was Henry Hierres, farmer, age 35, personal estate value $1,255, born Tennessee. At the same dwelling, family 132 was Simon Hierres, farmer, age 25, born Tennessee. Listed for the same dwelling, family 133, was L. or S. Hierres, male, age 70, no occupation, born South Carolina.

In the 1880 census for Smith County, Celia was living with her son Henry. She was a widow, born in Tennessee, her parents born in North Carolina. Also living with Henry were his sisters Mary J. and Fereby W. Henry and his sisters listed their father born in North Carolina. The children of Henry and Celia, all born in Smith County, were:

• Jacob Highers, born March 8, 1828 in Smith County and died on September 17, 1905 in Smith County, possibly at Rome. He married Eleanor (Ellen) Wilson on November 2, 1853 in Smith County. Eleanor was born April 15, 1836 in Tennessee and died on February 16, 1903. According to the 1860 census, their children were: Celia A., Henry, George, Fereby.

• Ferby/Pheraby W. Highers, born in January 1829. She married Jacob Waggoner on June 9, 1880 in Smith County.

• Henry N. Highers, born January 18, 1833, died December 30, 1902 in Smith County.

• Josiah T. Highers, born circa September 7, 1835, died December 19, 1912 in Smith County. He married Ann Dickerson Belk on October 25, 1866 in Smith County. Ann was born March 25, 1850 and died on May 8, 1916, buried in Highers Cemetery, Rawls Creek, Smith County.

• Henly Highers, born circa 1838

• Catherine Highers, born May 17, 1838.

• George Highers, born in 1841.

• Simon R. Highers, born April 26, 1844.

• Mary J. Highers, born August 31, 1847.

• Susan Highers, born in 1854.

Thomas Hires

Thomas was born circa 1800 in Collecton County, South Carolina, and died before the 1850 census, probably in Smith County, Tennessee. He married Mary Wilson circa 1825, probably in Smith County, Tennessee. Mary was the daughter of Elijah Wilson and Ruth _?_. She was born 1807 in Tennessee, and died after 1860.

Thomas was not listed in the 1850 census, but his wife and children were. (6) Mary was age 43 with a real estate valued at $700(?), born in Tennessee, could not read or write. Listed with her, all born in Tennessee, were Wilson, age 26, laborer; John, age 22, laborer; Elizabeth, age 18; Harry, age 16, laborer; Mary, age 14; George, age 11; Elijah, age 9. Living next door were Thomas’ brother Henry and his wife Celia. Mary was again listed in the 1860 census for Smith County. (7) Mary was a farmer, age 52, with real estate valued at $3,000, personal estate, $1,000. Listed with Mary were Mary A., age 22, occupation house work; George W., age 21; and Elijah, age 17, occupation farming.

• Wilson B. Highers was born December 24, 1826 in Smith County, Tennessee, and died May 25, 1891 in Smith County. He was buried in Highers Cemetery, Rawls Creek, Smith County. He married Helen B. Jones on January 11, 1860 in Smith County. Helen was born September 15, 1831, and died September 10, 1913, buried in Highers Cemetery. A W. B. Highers was sold 85 acres in District 13, Smith County, near Clark’s Spring on February 13, 1862. (8) The property adjoined that of Mary Highers, probably Wilson’s mother.

• John Highers was born circa 1828 in Tennessee. John married Martha Craig on April 6, 1853 in Jefferson County, Illinois. Martha was born circa 1831 in Tennessee. John and Martha were found in Pope County, Illinois in 1860 and 1870 (Hyers in 1860, Highers in 1870). John and Martha’s son Thomas married Lucy Lawles at Golconda, Pope County, Illinois on May 19, 1881. (9) Thomas stated that his parents were John Highers and Martha Craig. Thomas, age 24 on his next birthday, stated he was born in Jefferson County Illinois. Both Thomas and Lucy were residents of Livingston County, Kentucky when they married.

• Elizabeth Highers, born circa 1832.

• Harry D. Highers was born March 27, 1836, and died December 8, 1912 in Tennessee. He married Jane Caroline Easters on September 26, 1859 in Smith County. She was born December 24, 1841, and died December 8, 1912.

• Mary Ann Highers was born circa 1837 in Tennessee. She married Mason Gomer on June 23, 1859 in Smith County.

• George W. Highers was born circa 1839 in Tennessee.

• Elijah Highers was born August 10, 1842 in Tennessee, and died July 28, 1876. He was buried in Barnett's Campgound Cemetery, Smith County, Tennessee. He married Nancy J. Enoch on August 16, 1865, daughter of Reece Enoch and Martha _?_. Nancy was born November 10, 1845, and died February 9, 1929.

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