Thomas J. Higgs, a farmer from Western Tennessee, married Sarah Reynolds in 1845. The family moved to Mississippi, where Thomas J. Higgs passed away on May 8, 1860. In 1882, Sarah relocated to Arkansas with her son Thomas H. Higgs, born January 11, 1846, who became a school teacher and farmer. J. C. Higgs, born July 25, 1856, also pursued teaching and moved to Conway, Arkansas, in 1882. Active in Masonic organizations, J. C. Higgs served as Grand Secretary of the Arkansas Grand Chapter. The Higgs family were prominent members of the Christian Church and were active in public enterprises.
Thomas J. Higgs (deceased), father of this interesting family, was a son of Thomas Higgs, one of the early settlers of Georgia. Thomas J. Higgs was a farmer of Western Tennessee and was married in 1845 to Miss Sarah Reynolds, a native of Kentucky. They moved to the state of Mississippi, where Mr. Higgs’ death occurred on May 8, 1860. Mrs. Higgs removed from Mississippi to Arkansas in 1882, where she lives with her son, Thomas H., who was born January 11, 1846, his occupation being that of a school teacher and farmer.
J. C. Higgs was born July 25, 1856, and received a good education in the common schools of Tennessee. At the age of eighteen, he commenced teaching school and followed his chosen profession of teaching for several years. In 1882, he joined his mother’s family in Conway, Ark., and once more engaged in teaching, which he carried on for six years. Mr. Higgs is a member and Junior Deacon of Green Grove Lodge No. 107, A. F. & A. M., at Conway, Ark., having been made a Mason in East Fork Lodge No. 327, in Faulkner County, Ark. He is also a member of Palmetto Chapter No. 47, of the Order of the Eastern Star. He was secretary of East Fork Lodge No. 327 for one year, and on October 20, 1886, at the meeting of the Grand Chapter of Arkansas at Russellville, was elected Grand Secretary for the state, and has been three times re-elected— the second time at Harrison, the third at Little Rock, and the fourth time at Conway, and is the present incumbent.
He is a staunch Democrat and exerts a local influence in that direction, being always among the first to give support to enterprises of a public character and is liberal in his contributions to the same. Mrs. Higgs and her family are members of the Christian Church and are well known for their generosity in matters pertaining to that church.