The Higley Families of Portage County, Ohio

MATTHEW P. HIGLEY, farmer, P. O. Windham, was born in Windham Township, this county, September 12, 1813, the second white child to see the light of day in the township, and the oldest living resident now that was born here, son of Benjamin and Sally (McCown) Higley, who were the parents of seven children: Robert M., Edward, Loren, Matthew P., Sarah, Hannah and Alfred M. Benjamin Higley was a native of Berkshire County, Mass., born in 1877; came to this township in 1811; served as a Colonel in the war of 1812, and died about 1865, his wife having died several years previous. Our subject was raised on a farm, and made farming the principal occupation of his life. He was married September 25, 1839, to Miss Luna C. Robbins, born in Windham Township, this county, February 16, 1821, by whom he has had six children: Lodisa H., Philander R., Marion C, Benjamin P., Franklin (deceased) and Mack D. In 1869 Mr. Higley removed to Windham Center, still retaining his farming interests, however, for a few years. During the Rebellion he offered his services to the country, but they were not accepted. Politically he is a Republican, and though not an office-seeker he has held some of the minor township offices. He has been a member of the Congregational Church for forty-live years, and always took an active part in Sabbathschool work, until within a few years past, when deafness interfered with those duties.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HENRY A. HIGLEY, farmer, P. O. Windham, was born in Becket, Mass., February 21, 1814, son of Joseph and Sybel (Cogswell) Higley, the former of whom was born April 25, 1774, in Berkshire County, Mass. The latter, also a native of Massachusetts, was born March 14, 1776. They were the parents of eight children: Sybel R., born September 21, 1804; Joseph N., born September 6, 1806; Sarah M., born November 6, 1808; Ezra C, born August 22, 1810; Elizabeth D., born April 22, 1812; Henry A., born February 21, 1814; John L., born January 17, 1816; Oliver B., born March 18, 1818. Joseph Higley was a farmer by occupation, an influential man, and an active church member. He died October 18, 1825; his widow December 1, 1864. Our subject was brought by his parents to Windham Township, this county, when but two years of age, and here he grew to manhood, fully injured to the hardships of pioneer life. He has always followed agricultural pursuits. Mr. Higley was thrice married; first on May 7, 1840, to Mary E., daughter of James Seeley, born October 16, 1821, died October 4, 1866, leaving to his care one child — Henry J. (Charles O. died January 21, 1862). Our subject next married, November 7, 1867, Marion M. Udall, who died October 7, 1870, and by her heed one son — Frank S. August 24, 1871, he then married Sarah Joslin, born in Mesopotamia, Ohio, April 6, 1825, daughter of Reuben and Sarah (Parker) Joslin, natives of Connecticut and Vermont, respectively, and early settlers of Trumbull County, Ohio, and who were the parents of eleven children, of whom Mrs. Higley is the ninth. During the war Mr. Higley was one of the Township Trustees, and has held other offices of trust. He is a regular attendant of the Congregational Church, in which his wife is an active member. He has always been identified with the Republican party.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN L. HIGLEY, farmer, P. O. Windham, was born January 17, 1816, in Windham, son of Joseph Higley (see sketch of Henry A. Higley). He was married in 1841 to Miss Elizabeth K. Frary, born in Becket, Mass., in 1820, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Gilford) Frary, and has a family of sis children. Mr. Higley is one of the self-made men of Windham Township, this county, and the property he has accumulated represents many hours of hard labor with his own hands. Though he took no active part in the late war of the Rebellion, he aided the soldiers' families at home. He has been a consistent member of the Congregational Church since 1841, and has also been an active worker in the Sabbath-school. Mr. Higley bears the reputation of being one of the substantial farmers of his township, which he has served as Justice of the Peace for one term and in other offices of trust. Politically he is identified with the Republican party.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

OLIVER B. HIGLEY (deceased) was born in Windham Township, this county, March 18, 1818, son of Joseph and Sybel (Cogswell) Higley. He was twice married, on first occasion to Eunice West, who bore him one son— Milton. His second marriage, June 14, 1849, was with Betsey Case, born in Pennsylvania June 4, 1827, daughter of Daniel and Phalley (Peck) Case, natives of New York. By this union there were five children: Charley, Mary, July, Clint and Edwin. Our subject was reared on a farm and received a common school and academic education, and entered upon his career in life as a teacher. At the age of twenty-one he went to Iowa, and for several years taught school in the Western States. Returning to Ohio in 1851 he turned his attention to farming and sheep-raising. He soon had his farm under a state of cultivation which won for him the reputation of being a practical as well as a representative farmer of his township. His motto was to excel, and all his efforts were to that end. He filled several of the township offices, and, although not identified with any religious denomination, was for many years previous to his death a professed Christian, and took an active part in the support of religious and educational institutions, as far as his limited means would allow. He died February 19, 1866, and since his death the farm haa been successfully carried on by his widow with the assistance of her children.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.