Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.III, p.247

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History of Cambria County, V.3

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. 247

Higson practically the use of his left arm. However, after the war he went back to Elmira and again worked in the rolling mill, performing such service as could be done with one arm. After a time he qualified as heater, and has since made that his occupation in life, but only for a short time in Elmira. In 1864 he married, and from that time until he settled permanently in Johnstown he lived and worked in Elmira, New York, Lochiel and Altoona, Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Maryland, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Cumberland, Maryland. From the city last mentioned he came to Johnstown, and worked first in the rail mill of the Cambria Iron Company, afterward in several other departments of the company's vast plant until he became permanently employed as heater in the Gautier department.
    When young John Higson, at the age of twenty-nine years came back to this country from England it was with the determination to afterward live in the United States and enjoy all the rights of citizenship. His mother had taken him back to England when he was a little boy, and bad educated him there, hence in 1857, when he crossed the Atlantic for the last time, he knew little of American institutions and politics; but he always had been an apt student and acquired knowledge from observation of and intercourse with men, which was worth as much to him as the education derived in the school room. As a matter of fact, John Higson began early to think and act for himself, but that which most perplexed him on coming back to the country was to determine and choose between the great political parties. Then as now the great parties were the Democratic and Republican, although the widespread agitation of the slavery question caused men to be classed either as Pro-Slavery advocates or as Abolitionists. While uncertain as to the best way for him to choose, Mr. Higson happened on one occasion to hear Mr. Lincoln in a public discussion of national issues, and at once allied himself with the Republican party. Mr. Higson was brought up under the influences of the Church of England. He is a communicating member of the Protestant Episcopal church of Johnstown and a member of its vestry. For more than twenty-five year, he has been a member of Emory Fisher Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and has filled all the offices of that organization except that of commander, which lack of time has made it impossible for him to accept.
    On March 25, 1864, John Higson married Anna Eliza Paxson, daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Jacquette) Paxson, then of Elmira, New York. Mr. Paxson was a Philadelphian, and had gone to Elmira to take charge as master mason of the brick construction of the Elmira Iron Works. He afterward became a permanent resident of that city, and is now retired from active pursuits. He was born of English parents, and his father, Samuel Paxson, possessed considerable means. Catherine Jacquette, who married Joseph Paxson, died about 1888. She was a granddaughter of Hazell Pierson Jacquette, a Frenchman who was closely associated with Lafayette, and who eventually settled at Wilmington, Delaware. A sister of Mrs. Higson married Alexander Hamilton, one of the prominent officials of Cambria Iron Company in his time.
    Children of John and Ann Eliza (Paxson) Higson: Margaret Catherine Higson, born in Elmira, New York, December 28. 1865; now a teacher in the Hudson street school, Johnstown. Carrie Louise Higson, married C. B. Cover, of whom mention will be found elsewhere in this work. Joseph Paxson Higson, died in infancy. Hazell Pierson Higson, died in infancy. Mary Elizabeth Higson, born January 15, 1873; lives at home. Agnes Higson, born in Cumberland, Maryland, September 19,

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	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.	247
Higson practically the use of his left arm. However, after the war he went back to Elmira and again worked in the rolling mill, performing such service as could be done with one arm. After a time he qualified as heater, and has since made that his occupation in life, but only for a short time in Elmira. In 1864 he married, and from that time until he settled permanently in Johnstown he lived and worked in Elmira, New York, Lochiel and Altoona, Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Maryland, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Cumberland, Maryland. From the city last mentioned he came to Johnstown, and worked first in the rail mill of the Cambria Iron Company, afterward in several other departments of the company's vast plant until he became permanently employed as heater in the Gautier department. When young John Higson, at the age of twenty-nine years came back to this country from England it was with the determination to afterward live in the United States and enjoy all the rights of citizenship. His mother had taken him back to England when he was a little boy, and bad educated him there, hence in 1857, when he crossed the Atlantic for the last time, he knew little of American institutions and politics; but he always had been an apt student and acquired knowledge from observation of and intercourse with men, which was worth as much to him as the education derived in the school room. As a matter of fact, John Higson began early to think and act for himself, but that which most perplexed him on coming back to the country was to determine and choose between the great political parties. Then as now the great parties were the Democratic and Republican, although the widespread agitation of the slavery question caused men to be classed either as Pro-Slavery advocates or as Abolitionists. While uncertain as to the best way for him to choose, Mr. Higson happened on one occasion to hear Mr. Lincoln in a public discussion of national issues, and at once allied himself with the Republican party. Mr. Higson was brought up under the influences of the Church of England. He is a communicating member of the Protestant Episcopal church of Johnstown and a member of its vestry. For more than twenty-five year, he has been a member of Emory Fisher Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and has filled all the offices of that organization except that of commander, which lack of time has made it impossible for him to accept. On March 25, 1864, John Higson married Anna Eliza Paxson, daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Jacquette) Paxson, then of Elmira, New York. Mr. Paxson was a Philadelphian, and had gone to Elmira to take charge as master mason of the brick construction of the Elmira Iron Works. He afterward became a permanent resident of that city, and is now retired from active pursuits. He was born of English parents, and his father, Samuel Paxson, possessed considerable means. Catherine Jacquette, who married Joseph Paxson, died about 1888. She was a granddaughter of Hazell Pierson Jacquette, a Frenchman who was closely associated with Lafayette, and who eventually settled at Wilmington, Delaware. A sister of Mrs. Higson married Alexander Hamilton, one of the prominent officials of Cambria Iron Company in his time. Children of John and Ann Eliza (Paxson) Higson: Margaret Catherine Higson, born in Elmira, New York, December 28. 1865; now a teacher in the Hudson street school, Johnstown. Carrie Louise Higson, married C. B. Cover, of whom mention will be found elsewhere in this work. Joseph Paxson Higson, died in infancy. Hazell Pierson Higson, died in infancy. Mary Elizabeth Higson, born January 15, 1873; lives at home. Agnes Higson, born in Cumberland, Maryland, September 19,