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28 Feb 2010
Reminiscences of Newberry: embracing important occurrences, brief
biographies of of prominent citizens. - By John Brown Carwile
- Published 1890
FRANCIS BERNARD HIGGINS.
Francis Bernard Higgins, was born in Newberry County, near Higgins'
Ferry, on the Saluda River, on the 22d of October, 1794. He was the
son of Francis and Sarah (Coxe) Higgins. When he was
three years old his mother died, leaving beside himself another son,
nine years old, and a daughter six years old. The daughter
afterwards became the wife of William Wilson, who was for many
years, the Judge of the Court of Ordinary for Newberry. After the
death of his mother, his sister was sent to friends in Edgefield, to
be taken care of; the two boys remaining on the plantation with
their father. As the eldest boy was attending school, Francis
naturally had a lonely life, and eagerly looked forward to the time
when he would be old enough to go to school himself; his father
having promised that he should begin when he was six years of age.
But he never enjoyed the pleasure of attending school with his
brother, •who died before the long wished for time had come.
His father, mindful, however, of his promise, carried him when he
was six years old to the school of ''Master Howe," a celebrated
teacher, who taught near the Quaker Meeting House, leaving him in
the care of Col. John Summers, who lived in the neighborhood. He
remained at this school about two years, and until Master Howe's
death. . He then attended a school in Edgefield County, taught by
Gillson Yarborough, boarding during the time at the home of Gen.
Butler, the grandfather of Gen. M C. Butler, present United States
Senator from South Carolina.
He seems to have had a happy life at this school, and in Gen.
Butler's family, and he entertained a strong affection for the
people of Edgefield as long as he lived. Another thing which
endeared Edgefield to him was, that his stepmother who came to his
home two years after the death of his mother, came from that County.
The coming of his step-mother, whom he always spoke of as one of the
kindest and gentlest of women brought back the absent sister and
thus his vacations were rendered brighter and happier. It so
happened that by reason of his attendance at school - and college,
and the study of his chosen profession, he never lived at home a
whole year at a time after he was six years old.
In 1806 he entered the Newberry Academy, which had just been opened,
and continued to attend that school about six years, boarding in the
village, with the exception of one spring and summer of the time,
when with a view to the improvement of his health, his father
required him to. attend school from home, riding eight miles on
horseback and arriving in time for roll-call each morning.
He had prepared himself to enter the South Carolina College in
October, 1811, but for some reason did not go there until January,
1812. He then applied for admission into the Junior Class, for which
he had prepared himself. As three months of the session had already
past, he was informed (after examination) that he would be received
provided he could get some one to hear him recite, out of regular
hours, in order that he might make up for the time lost. Mr. James
Gregg, then a tutor in the college, kindly consented to hear his
recitations, and he was allowed to take his place in the Junior
Class. This kindness on the part of Mr. Gregg, Mr. Higgins always
remembered with gratitude. Years afterwards, when they were both
members of the Senate of South Carolina, and some matter of
importance was suddenly brought up and earnestly debated, Col.
Gregg—then suffering from a temporary aggravation of deafness—said
to Mr. Higgins : " You must pay me now for helping you forward in
college, by keeping me informed as to the discussion going on, so
that I may know how to vote." And frequently afterwards Col. Gregg
would notify Mr H. that "he must be ears for him."
He was graduated from the South Carolina College in December 1813
standing third in a class of thirty three; Governor McDuffie being
first.
. In 1814 he read law at Edgefield Court House, under Eldred Simkins,
Esq., and in 1815 continued the study of law at Newberry under
Anderson Crenshaw, Esq. After being admitted to the Bar, he settled
at Spartanburg, where he remained only a short time and then
returned to Newberry.
Upon the organization of the Court of Equity, in 1817— and within
two years from the time he began to practice law—he was elected by
the Legislature of South Carolina Commissioner in Equity for the
District of Newberry. He continued in that office until December,
1826, when he resigned, and at the same time retired from the
practice of law. His health had become enfeebled, and he resolved to
devote himself to his planting interests and land surveying, in
order that he might enjoy the benefits of outdoor life.
On the 12th of October, 1820, he was married to Elizabeth A.
Caldwell, the daughter of William and Elizabeth
(Williams) Caldwell, of Newberry District. His venerable widow,
in her eighty-fourth year, is now living with the family of her
son-in-law, Dr. James Mclntosh, at Newberry, in the house that has
been her home for more than sixty-five years.
He was elected to the State Senate in 1832, while away from home on
a visit to the States of Alabama and Mississippi, whither he had
gone to inspect the country, with a view to removing from South
Carolina. His election to the Senate, under such flattering
circumstances, decided him to remain in his native State. He
continued to be a member of the Senate for three successive terms.
In 1844 he declined a re-election, and retired from public life.
As Commissioner in Equity, he was prompt and efficient. His
administration of the business of that office was highly commended
by the Bench and the Bar.
During the twelve years of his service in the Senate, he. was a
laborious, faithful and efficient member, and was always a member of
some of the most important committees. In all things relating to the
statistics of the State, he was regarded as high authority. He once
published an interesting and exhaustive statement, giving the
comparative population and wealth of the different Counties of the
State.
He made no pretensions to oratory and seldom made speeches. He was
always at his post, and kept himself fully informed as to every
measure brought before the Senate. His retirement from that body was
much regretted by his fellow-Senators, as well as his constituents.
He was an excellent mathematician, and as a land surveyor—both as to
the accuracy of his surveys, and the beauty and correctness of the
delineations of his plots was never surpassed.
He 'was' possessed of a naturally vigorous intellect which he had
greatly improved by study and observation, was always a reader of
books, delighting most in the Bible, standard historical works and
the ancient classics. He had a wonderful knowledge of words, and
could give at once the chief definitions of almost any word in the
English language. His conversation was entertaining and pleasant.
Having a good memory, he had treasured up much that he had read, and
many traditions of the past. He was very domestic in his habits and
tastes, and fully enjoyed the pleasures of home and the family
circle. His manners were courteous and engaging. He was kind-hearted
and generous and singularly free from malice or injustice, in his
intercourse with his fellow-men.
In the afternoon of the 29th of December, 1863, he attended the
funeral services of his life-long friend, Chief-Justice O'Neall,
(who had died suddenly,) and occupied, on that occasion for the last
time, his accustomed seat in the Baptist Church at Newberry, of
which he had been a member since 1831. In the evening, after his
return from the funeral, he read to the family the 14th Chapter of
the Gospel by John, and in commenting in a familiar way upon it,
said : "That he had, in his earlier life, often expressed the wish
that he might not die suddenly ; but that all apprehension and
concern about the manner of his death had long since passed away,
and if his summons should be as sudden as O'Neall's he was willing
to go. ' And trusted that through the atonement of Christ and the
free-and unmerited grace of God, he was ready for the call whenever
and however it might come." In less than ten hours his summons came.
On the following morning (December 30th, 1863), he was stricken with
apoplexy and died in a few hours.
and also
Source: The annals of Newberry: in two parts By John Belton O'Neall,
John Abney Chapman
Francis B. Higgins.
A very high but not undeserved compliment is paid to this gentleman
in the first part of this work. As Mr. Higgins has passed away since
the publication of that part, it is necessary that something more
should be added.
As State Senator he represented the county for several terms, always
holding an influential place in the councils of the State. The last
several years of his life ho spent in retirement, having declined
re-election in 1844, after serving as Senator for twelve years. As
Senator he was always at his post, and kept himself fully informed
as to every measure brought up. He once published a statement giving
the population and wealth of the different counties of the State. He
was a good and useful man, and from 1831 to tho time of his death he
was a member of tho Newberry Baptist Church.
On the 20th of December, 1863, he attended the funeral of Judge
O'Neall, and occupied on that occasion, and for the last time, his
usual seat in the Baptist Church of Newberry. On the following
morning. December 30th, 1863, having already expressed a willingness
to go whenever the summons came, he was stricken with apoplexy, and
died in a few hours. He was born October 22nd, 1704.
Mrs. Higgins was born July 19th, 1803, at the place when her uncle,
Major John Caldwell, was killed by Cunningham in 1781. Her father
was William Caldwell. Her mother was Elizabeth Williams, daughter of
Major John Williams, member of the Provincial Congress which met in
Charlestown on the 11th of January, 1775: who also served in the
American army during the Revolution.
Mrs. Higgins' father was also an officer in the army, and was held
as a prisoner eighteen months at St. Augustine, in Florida. After
the war he was at different times State Senator and Judge of the
County Court for Newberry District. Two of her brothers became
distinguished men, John Caldwell, member of the Legislature and an
eloquent and eminent lawyer, and Patrick Calhoun Caldwell, lawyer,
legislator and member of Congress.
She was happily married on the 12th of October, 1820, to Francis
Bernard Higgins, of Newberry. In 1835 she joined the Baptist Church
at Newberry, having been previous to that time a member of the
Associate Reformed Church at Head Spring. It is thought that none
are now living who welcomed her into the Baptist Church at that
time. Mrs. Elvira Rutherford, who recently died at Newberry, was the
last of these.
Mrs. Higgins gave a son to the Palmetto Regiment in the Mexican War,
who was a lieutenant in Captain J. H. Williams' company, and another
son to the Confederate army,
who was killed during the war. She will long be remembered for the
amiable and kindly features of her character. She was a Christian
woman. She died on the 2nd of May, 1889, in the eighty sixth year of
her ago, in the house at Newberry, now owned by Dr. Jas. Mclntosh,
in which she had lived continuously for about sixty-five years
http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/newberry/S10817736013/index.htm
National Register Properties in South Carolina
Francis B. Higgins House, Newberry County (1520 Boundary St.,
Newberry)
HIGGINS F B 55 M W SC SC NEWBERRY NEWBERRY TWP 1850
Name Age
F B Higgins 55 Surveyor
E A Higgins 46
A W Higgins 23
C E Higgins 15
F C Higgins 13
S B Higgins 11*
S M Higgins 7
HIGGINS F B 65 M W SC SC NEWBERRY NEWBERRY 1860
Name Age
F B Higgins 65 Farmer
Elizabeth A Higgins 57
Fannie C Higgins 22
Francis W Higgins 8
His son Sanders Burton Higgins in 1860 census
HIGGINS S B 21 M W SC SC NEWBERRY NEWBERRY 1860
HIGGINS E A 63 F W SC SC NEWBERRY NEWBERRY TWP 1870
Name Age
J Mc Intosh 32
Fannie Mc Intosh 32
M G Mc Intosh 6
J H Mc Intosh 4
F B Mc Intosh 2
Sarah Furman 22
H Tanant 23
E A Higgins 63
Household:1880
Name Relation Marital Status
Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's
Birthplace
Jas. MCINTOSH Self M Male W 42 SC Physican SC SC
Fannie C. MCINTOSH Wife M Female W 42 SC Keeping House SC SC
Mattie MCINTOSH Dau S Female W 16 SC At School SC SC
Jas. H. MCINTOSH Son S Male W 13 SC At School SC SC
F. B. MCINTOSH Son S Male W 12 SC At School SC SC
Edward MCINTOSH Son S Male W 8 SC SC SC
E. A. HIGGINS MotherL W Female W 77 SC No Occupation SC SC
Lalla ROOK Niece S Female W 24 SC SC SC
Jane MCINTOSH Other W Female B 54 SC Servant SC SC
Tamar ROBINSON Other S Female B 5 SC Servant SC SC
Source Information:
Census Place Newberry, Newberry, South Carolina
Family History Library Film 1255235
NA Film Number T9-1235 Page Number 14C
Source:
South Carolina troops in Confederate service: Vol. 1
Company "B", First Infantry (McCreary's) - 1st Provisional Army
Higgins, S. B., (Sanders Burton) enlisted at Newberry, July 27,
1861; killed at Gaines's Mill, June 27, 1862
see South Carolina Confederate
Service records # 33 & # 34
...............
06
April 2009
Inquiry: I
looking for information on Joanna
Higgins who married
Reuben Martin abt 1775
according to the only
records that I can find she
would have been on 11 yrs
old. I thinking that may she
was born in 1754 instead of
1764. I Found one record
that said she was born in VA
but not sure. When she
married Reuben they moved to
SC. She and Reuben had a son
Samuel L Martin born
20 Nov 1797 SC died Feb 1875
Georgia. Other children were
1.)
Henry Martin b
1775, 2.)Jemima Martin
b1777 3.) Joseph
Martin, 4.) Benjamin
Martin b ? 5) John H
Martin b 1789, 6.)
Sally Martin b
1792, 7.) Samuel L Martin
1797, 8.)Stephen G b
1798. Any help would be
greatly appreciated.
|
06
June 2007
Source: Men
of the Time: Sketches of Living Notables. A Biographical
Encyclopedia of Contemporaneous ... By J. C. Garlington
Charles Mouzon Higgins
Son of James and Elizabeth M. Higgins, born June
14,1863,at Sand Ridge, Berkeley County, South Carolina. Of
Scotch-Irish descent. Attended the private school of Miss Mattie
Gamewell of Spartanburg, South Carolina and Porter Military
Academy,Charleston.
Married Miss Minnie E. Mims May 29,1883.Elected Supervisor of
Berkeley County in 1897,served two years; elected Auditor 1899. [No
census information found]
. . . . . . .
24
Nov 2006
http://www.hchsonline.org/cemetery/hebron.html
-Hebron United Methodist Church Cemetery-
Horry County, South Carolina
Located on Hwy 475 in Bucksville.
Higgins, Honor Sarvis 8 Jan 1893-12 Nov 1991
Higgins, James S. 23 Jan 1834-6 Sep 1899
Higgins, Mary F. 26 Feb 1851-10 Apr 1900
Household:1880
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age
Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
James S. HIGGINS Self M Male W 49 ME Engineer MA ME
Mary HIGGINS Wife M Female W 27 SC Keeping House SC SC
Heman HIGGINS Son S Male W 7 SC ME SC
Maria HIGGINS Sister S Female W 45 ME Visitor MA ME
Joanna HARPER Other S Female W 22 SC SC SC
Edward LANPHER Other S Male W 27 ME Mill Owner ME ME
Source Information:
Census Place Bucks, Horry, South Carolina
Family History Library Film 1255231
NA Film Number T9-1231
Page Number 231B
...
http://www.hchsonline.org/obits/abstracts.html
Obituaries From Horry County Newspapers
Higgins, Clara Brookman (Mrs.), b. 14 May 1829 in Bucksport, ME, m. Capt. A. G. Higgins __Feb 1851, d.
18 Jan 1894. 18 Jan 1894 (The Horry Herald)
Higgins, Frederick A., b. 1852, d. "last Friday evening", bur. at Methodist Church; Mrs. M. B.
Beaty, aunt. 22 Dec 1887 (The Horry Herald)
Higgins, Jas. H., of Bucksville, d. [n.d.] 7 Sep 1899
(The Horry Herald)
............
William Walker HIGGINS
http://campross.freeyellow.com/d0011/g0000024.htm#I00945
Added:
24 February 2002
BIRTH: 1819, Greenwood Co, SC
DEATH: 1862, Battle of Fredericksburg
BET. 1846 - 1848, US Army in War with Mexico in Co. E,
Palmetto Regt., SC Volunteers
Killed in the Civil War, 2nd SC REgt., Co. G (Orr's Rifles)
Spouse: Sarah Jane HODGES
MARRIAGE: 13 APR 1852
Children:
1.+Macena L HIGGINS
2. James Benson HIGGINS
3.+Mendoza HIGGINS
4. Eugene HIGGINS
5.+Elizabeth HIGGINS
[More
on this line]
. . . . . . . . . .
Newspaper Obituary Index
Hi-Hz Entries http://www.co.beaufort.sc.us/bftlib/obithihz.htm
Higgins, (Mrs.) Lucretia Murray:
BG January 21, 1974; p. 12.
Higgins, (Pfc.) Robert L.:
BG June 11, 1948; p. 7.
Higgins, Shirley:
BG September 3, 1948; p. 1.
Eodem anno Bartholomaeus, canonicus Pragensis, privatus est
praebenda sua per capitulum Pragense, episcopo Nicolao consentiente
et confirmante sententiam capituli, quam idem Bartholomaeus in anno
praeterito contra se ipsum tulerat et in scripto redegerat, propter
varios excessus et continuam absentiam chori. Hiems temperata fuit,
nec nimis aspera neque lenis.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
This
information compiled by Michael James
Higgins
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