George & Samuel Higley

Of

Hopkins Twp., Whiteside Co IL

George Higley, a pioneer of Whiteside County in 1837, was born in 1793 in Burlington, Vt. His parents went to Pennsylvania while he was yet young, and a few years later they proceeded to Geauga Co., Ohio. Mr. Higley bought a hotel in Unionville in that county, and a mill which was located on Grand River three miles from Unionville. He sold his interests in Ohio in 1834, and, accompanied by his wife and children, came to Illinois, traveling overland to Joliet, in Will County, where he was one of the pioneers. He built and conducted the first hotel at Joliet. In 1837 he visited Whiteside County, making a claim on section 8 of township 20, range 6, now Lyndon. He built a dwelling of the variety common to the locality, and left his brother, Samuel Higley, in charge while he went back to Joliet for his family. He returned to his claim in the spring of 1838; He occupied his log cabin one year, when the structure was removed and enlarged, and served as a home for some years, after which a frame house was built for their accommodation.

In 1868 Mr. Higley sold his farm and went to Elairstown, Iowa, where he bought village property. He died there in December, 1880. His wife's death preceded his nearly ten years. Their children were 13 in number. Only five are living: Louisa A. is the widow of James Thomas; Angeline is the wife of Samuel King: they live in Blairstown, Iowa; Helen is the widow of Amzi Jennings and lives in Sterling. George W. lives in Oregon, and Henry C. in Rhinebeck, Iowa. George and Samuel Higley were men of giant stature, the latter being six feet six inches in height and the former measuring six feet four inches.

Portraits & Biographical Pg 502

George Higley was born in 1793, and married Miss Phebe Chamberlain in 1817. Their children have been: Louisa Ann, George Y.who died at the age of sixteen, Alfred Alonzo, Angeline L., HeIen M., Martha Jane, George Jr., and Henry C. Helen M. marrIed A. E. Jenmngs, February 21,1849; Children, George H., Francis C., William L., Edwin M., and Mary H.

Bent-Wilson History of Whiteside County 1877

Samuel Higley came from New York State, and after a residence of twenty years went farther west, and died. He was noted for being six and a half feet high, and very slender.

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