GEORGE W. HIGGINS, merchant, Olmsted, born August 28, 1847, in Wheeling, W. Va., son of Bernhard Higgins, a native of Wheeling, W. Va., where he died 1881. He was a saddler by occupation. He was a soldier in our late civil war. The mother of our subject is Ann J. (Rankin) Higgins, a native of County Tyrone, Ireland. She is yet living at Cleveland, Ohio. She is the mother of seven children, viz.: Thomas H., William A.. Eliza A. (deceased), Martha B. (wife of Rev. J. Hall), George W., Benjamin F. and Mary J. (wife of Rev. B. Smith, New Lisbon, Ohio. The oldest son, Thomas H., is a photographer, William A. is a sign painter, and Benjamin F. is a local editor on the Wheeling Journal. Our subject was educated in Wheeling, W. Va. In early life, he clerked on the Silver Moon steamer, running between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Memphis, Tenn. He was on the river for seven years, and then in 1872 he came to Caledonia, Pulaski County, where he was married, in the same year to Miss Mollie Clemson, who died April 1, 1879, leaving two children, viz.: Ben M., born March 5, 1873, and Mollie C., deceased. April 26, 1882, he was married a second time to Miss Nannie Olmsted, born July 16, 1862. She is a daughter of George E. Olmsted, a son of Rev. Ed Olmsted. Her mother was Sallie (Timmons) Olmsted, whose mother, Nancy Timmons, is yet living, and may be classed among our pioneers. Our subject entered in partnership with James Y. Clemson in June, 1872, keeping a general merchandising store at Olmsted, Pulaski Co., Ill. He is also Postmaster, and in politics he is identified with the Democratic party. Mrs. Higgins is a member of the Episcopal Church.
Extracted 02 Nov 2014 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V - Biographical Sketches, page 316.
| Union | Johnson | |
| Alexander |
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Massac McCracken KY |
| Ballard KY |
