HIGGINBOTHAM, William N. (1836-1925)

HIGGINBOTHAM, HIGINBOTHAM, FISHER, MILLER

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society
Date: 4/7/2022 at 14:16:34

William Nelson Higginbotham, son of John and Charity Higginbotnam, was born in Tyler Co., Va. on May 6, 1836. When he was about 7 years of age his parents moved to Ohio, and about a year later settled in Ill. where they made a permanent home. Here as a young man he was married to Rachel Miller.

On Aug. 1, 1862, he enlisted in the 79th Illinois infantry, becoming a member of Co. F. He was in 14 battles among which were such prominent engagements as Murfreesboro, Hoover's Gap. Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, Kenesaw Mountain and others, as well as numerous skirmishes. In the battle of Franklin, fought on Nov. 30. 1864, he was severely wounded in the shoulder. A comrade, Willis Gibert, carried him from the field to a church in which a temporary hospital had been established. In the evening, when the troops were moving across Duck river, Gilbert again appeared, carried him on his back to the river and with the help of one Robert Rhodes and two other comrades improvised a stretcher and got him across, the soldiers opening ranks for them in the belief that the wounded man was some high officer. He was then placed in one of the ammunition wagons, and after a fearfully rough ride, his wound bleeding much on the way, he reached Nashville where he was taken to a hospital.

Eight days later he was moved to Jeffersonville, where he remained until in March, when he was given a 30 day furlough. He then returned to his regiment in East Tennessee and remained in the service until his discharge in May 1865. He arrived at his home in Wesfield, Ill. in July 1865.

He decided to go west with his family and on the 20th of Sept. 1865 he with his wife and three little girls arrived at Forest City, then a hamlet containing a store, a blacksmith shop, a frame court house and a few small dwellings. he meant to stop here temporarily, his intention being to find a home somewhere in Mn. He was traveling in an old fashioned prairie schooner, as most of the pioneers of those days did. On being told that the Indians were on the war path to the north he decided to remain in Winnebago county. He purchase a forty acre tract in Mt. Valley twp. at $3.00 per acre, and with the generous assistance of a few neighbors he soon succeeded in erecting a log cabin in which to house his family. Here on Nov. 29, 1865, their oldest son was born, the first white child in the township.

Having very little money, he was obliged to earn what he could. He was not always fortunate in his contracts. Once he engaged to make 100 mortised posts for a man. When completed, they were rejected by the owner on the plea that the lower mortise was too near the ground. At another time he paid $2.50 for a pair of mittens, cut wood with them until they were worn out and then sold the wood for $1.00. His cabin, into which he moved before it was finished, was 16 feet square, with door and a small window in the south, another window in the north, and a big fireplace with a chimney of sticks and clay in the west. These were some of the experiences, shared in common with those of other settlers.

Mr. Higginbotham was a frugal, industrious man, highly respected by all who knew him. In time he built a comfortable home, in which he spent many busy and happy years, and in which he passed his declining days in comfort.

Mrs. Higginbotham died in Dec. 1919, and two of his daughters made their home with him since that time. He remained in good health, and occasionally visited his friends in town, until two weeks ago, when he suffered a slight stroke, from which he did not recover. He passed quietly away on Fri. morning, Feb. 13. at 6:30. He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Mary Fisher of Red Lake Falls. Mn., and Mrs. A. C. Fisher and Miss Alice Higginbotham of Forest City; 3 sons. Victor of Red Lake Falls, Mn.; John of Rocanville. Sask. Canada; and Charles of Gruver, !a. Two children died, a son Henry in infancy and a daughter Louise at the age of 8. There are also 18 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Mr. Higginbotham was for many years a member of the Congregational church of Forest City, and for more than fifty years a member of the Masonic fraternity. In all the varied relations in life, as husband, father, citizen and man, in peace and in war, he strove to do his duty. Of such is the greatness of our country.

source: Forest City Summit, 19 Feb 1925, page1, column 2

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The same year came William Higinbotham, who located on section 30. Mr. Higinbotham was born near Wheeling, W. Va., and is the only American in the township. He came here from Illinois, and has since made this his home.

William Higinbotham, one of the well-to-do farmers, and the only American in Mount Valley township, was born May 6, 1836, near Wheeling, W. Va. When seven years of age, his parents moved to Licking Co., Ohio, where they remained about two years, then moved to Illinois, locating in Clark county. His father purchased a farm, and William, the subject of this sketch, worked thereon until 1858, when he was married.

He then worked for himself until the commencement of the Civil War, and in 1862 he enlisted for three years in company F, 79th Illinois Volunteers, at the end of which time he was honorably discharged, having participated in the following battles: Stone River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Hoover's Gap, Dalton, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Columbia, Spring Hill and Franklin. At the latter place he was shot through the left shoulder, and has never fully recovered from the effects of the wound. In August, 1883, it having gathered on the inside, broke out afresh; at present he is somewhat better, but unable to do any physical labor.

In 1865, after his discharge from service in the army, he returned to Illinois, and immediately moved to Iowa, locating on section 30, Mount Valley township, where he bought forty acres of land. He has since bought forty acres more adjoining his first farm, and eighty acres in Forest township, west of Forest City. This land is all under cultivation, and valued at $25 per acre. When he arrived here on Sept. 20, 1865, the family were obliged to camp out in their wagons till he could build a house. At first he put together a small log house, but has since built a nice frame addition, making a comfortable one and a half story dwelling. On April 14, 1858, Mr. Higinbotham married Rachel A. Miller, of Clark Co., Ill. They have had eight children, six of whom are living—Mary A., Elmeretta, Margaret A., John S., Charles H. and Victor M. He has always been a republican and still supports that ticket.

source:Kossuth / Hancock / Winnebago Counties History 1884, page 910