My Genealogy Hound

JAMES F. HIGBEE, a retired farmer residing in Benton Harbor, was born in Benton Township, Ontario County, N. Y., May 7, 1818. He is descended from the English nobility and traces his lineage in a direct line to the Prince of Orange. His grandfather, James Higbee, was a native of New York, where his father, who was likewise named James, was born and reared. The latter married Mary Finton, and, coming West to Michigan, resided here until his death.

At the age of nine years our subject accompanied his parents to Berrien County, Mich., where he acquired a practical education in the common schools. He also attended the Niles High School for six months. In the spring of 1839 he went to Louisa County, Iowa, where he turned the first furrows in the virgin soil. During the summer he engaged in breaking prairie land at $3 per acre, and in the winter taught school, being thus occupied for two years. In the fall of 1841 he returned to Michigan and cleared and improved a farm in Berrien County, remaining on the place until March, 1885, when he retired from agriculture and came to Benton Harbor. Since that time he has engaged as a dealer in real estate. In 1887 he erected the Higbee Hotel, which is a line brick structure containing all the modern conveniences. With the various interests connected with the growth of Berrien County Mr. Higbee was actively interested. He was one of the Commissioners appointed to superintend the construction of the Benton Harbor Canal and rendered efficient service in digging it. In politics he is a strong Republican, and gives his influence to the good of his party. In regard to social connections he is identified with Lake Shore Lodge No. 298, A. F. & A. M. With his wife he holds membership in the Christian Church of Benton Harbor, and is active in the promotion of all religious enterprises. His residence is located on the corner of Brittain Avenue and Heck Court, and is an elegant two-story structure, erected in 1889 and containing all the modern improvements.

In Iowa, September 30, 1841, Mr. Higbee married Miss Mary Lewin, who was born in Ohio, and at the age of eleven years removed to Louisa County, Iowa, with her parents, John A. and Saloam Lewin. Mr. and Mrs. Higbee are the parents of nine children: Amanda M., wife of William Hill; Mary A., who married W. H. Pike, and is deceased; John Calvin; Nancy Jane, the wife of George D. Thompson; Emily H., the wife of James M. Cunningham; Ida J., who married Henry C. Lane; Eliza, deceased; Capitola L., Mrs. James G. Phillips; and Perry, deceased. Mrs. Higbee was educated in the schools of Iowa, and acquired a good English education. She has reared a large family of children, and has proved herself to be a most devoted wife and mother, and it may here be said that much of the success of her husband is due to her good judgment and persevering efforts in aiding him in his undertakings. After a wedded life of over a half-century they can look back over the past with that degree of satisfaction which is only characteristic of a life well spent.

In November, 1841, Mr. Higbee brought his wife to his farm in the woods of Benton Township, Berrien County, and they commenced housekeeping in a log cabin without a dollar on hand. They had to go in debt for provisions enough to carry them through the coming year. Flour and pork were very high, and store goods equally so. Mr. Higbee commenced to clear up the land, which was a very hard and laborious task. The first crop consisted of one acre planted to potatoes, on which he raised four hundred bushels, selling them the next spring at $1 per bushel; from three and one-fourth acres of corn he raised about two hundred bushels, which he sold for seventy-five cents per bushel; he also raised about fifteen bushels of spring wheat.

The first year’s crop, by rigid economy, enabled Mr. Higbee to pay off his debts and leave a balance of about $250. We mention these facts of the early days more to impress on the minds of the present and future generations the hardships and privations which the pioneers endured in order to lay the foundation for our present prosperity and greatness as a nation. Too much credit cannot be given to the brave men and noble women of the pioneer period of our country’s history. Few citizens of Benton Harbor have been more closely connected with its growth than the venerable man of whom we write. He served as the first Treasurer of the township, and held that office for several terms. He also served as Justice of the Peace for several terms. Often he was the incumbent of three or four official positions at the same time, and he is still a Notary Public.

It was Mr. Higbee who purchased the ground and erected the buildings where was held the first Agricultural Fair of Berrien County, and for four successive terms he was President of the Board of Directors. The grand success of the Fair was due to his efforts more than to those of any other man. During the early years of the settlement of Michigan, bears and wolves were very bold and troublesome, devouring stock of every kind. Mr. Higbee caught the ring leader in a trap and the other wolves then left the country. In early life he enjoyed the sport of hunting, and often tells of his first experience in shooting deer. After he had fired the shot and seen the deer fall, he jumped upon the prostrate animal and commenced to cut its throat. Before he had done so, however, the deer brought up its hind feet and caught them in the side of Mr. Higbee’s clothing, tearing his garments to shreds. While the experience was a little painful, yet to him the suffering was of far less moment than the important question of how to reach home minus any clothing. The difficulty was solved by the discovery of some thorns, which he used for pins.

During the early years of the history of Michigan, Indians were troublesome. In 1838 one of the Pottawatamie tribe stole Mr. Higbee’s rifle, and our subject, with his brother Tyler, started in pursuit of the thief. Leaving home about daybreak, they went to the Chief and laid their complaint before him and gave him a description of the gun. He stated that one of his tribe had been there the previous night, carrying a gun of that description. The Chief had noticed it at the time and, as he knew the man had no money, had shrewdly suspected that the rifle was a stolen one. He supplied our subject and his brother with a pilot and interpreter, and the little party traveled through snow nearly three feet deep to the camp of the Indians, reaching their destination about dark. The thief was found and the gun restored. The three men, having had nothing to eat during the day, then looked around for some food. They found a tent a little cleaner in appearance than the others and occupied by two squaws, who furnished them with some cakes fried in raccoon oil, coffee, corn bread and hominy, which the hungry men ate with a relish and considered delicious.