From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 963-965
 
WILLIAM SAILOR HIGBEE.  Such a life as that led by the late William Sailor 
HIGBEE is worthy of earnest contemplation, for it abounds in both lesson and 
incentive.  It was a life conservatively and nobly lived, thus resulting in 
much good.
 
Mr. HIGBEE was born on November 9, 1830, at Shiloh, Cumberland county, New 
Jersey.  He was the son of Thomas and Nancy HIGBEE.  His father was the son of 
an old English sea captain who went down in a storm with his ship and all on 
board.  His mother's ancestors were among the early settlers of New York and 
New Jersey.
 
William S. HIGBEE lived at home with his parents in Shiloh until he was 
thirteen years old, when his father died and he went to work on a farm  A year 
later he was bound out to Smith DUNHAM, a wagon-maker at Shiloh, to learn the 
trade, and there he remained over seven years, receiving nothing for his labor 
but his board and clothing.  After serving so long as an apprentice he was 
abundantly able to make his own way in the world, and on February 2, 1852, he 
married Emma Ann AYARS, and they continued to live at Shiloh until 1856, when 
they moved to Walworth.  Here Mr. HIGBEE found it difficult in finding work at 
his trade, and during his search for work he made the distance to Milton and 
to Edgerton on foot, but without success.  He returned to Walworth and his 
first work here was helping construct a barn for Eli DAVIS, Mr. HIGBEE hewing 
the timbers and doing most of the work alone.  During his early residence in 
Walworth he formed a partnership with Welcome CRANDALL for the manufacture of 
wagons.  They occupied as a shop a building that in later years Mr. HIGBEE 
used as a barn.  He continued wagon-making until 1892, when his shop and all 
his tools were destroyed by fire.  Many wagons of his make were in use 
throughout the country and he did a big business, his wagons being of such 
superior quality and workmanship that they were in great demand. 
 
Mr. HIGBEE's first home here was built by him on the east side of Main street, 
about one hundred and fifty yards north from the park.  In later years it 
burned down, while it was the property of Frank POLLARD.  Later he built two 
houses in the same part of the street.
 
During the Civil war, Mr. HIGBEE was a member of the Wide-awakes, and was 
subjected to draft, but feeling that his duty at home was greater than at the 
front, he hired a substitute, and he was elected treasurer of the town to 
receive the money for the quota.  He was a public-spirited man and always 
stood ready to use his time and means for establishing public enterprises.  He 
was among the stockholders that controlled the Walworth academy building, now 
the public school building at Walworth, and he served with H. W. RANDOLPH and 
E. R. MAXON as building committee when the Walworth Seventh-Day Baptist church 
was built.  He was also a stockholder and was president of the Farmers 
Creamery Company, of Walworth, and during the year before his death he was 
trustee for the Chicago, Howard & Geneva Lake Railway to receive funds 
contributed for that enterprise.  He himself gave the company the site for the 
power house, the right of way across his farm and three hundred dollars in 
cash.  He made various improvements in Walworth, the most important one being 
the erection of the double ironclad store building in 1898.
 
The death of Mrs. HIGBEE occurred in 1890, and Mr. HIGBEE survived until 
October 29, 1903.  He was a faithful member of the Seventh-Day Baptist 
Society.  He left two children, Ezekiel J. and Josephine, the latter being the 
wife of of. L. SMITH, a sketch of whom appears in this work.  Although not a 
member of the church, the subject was strong in the faith of the Seventh-Day 
Baptists, and helped maintain the local church of this denomination.  His son 
has always resided in this locality and he has a fine farm near the village of 
Walworth.  He was married on January 25, 1912 to Minnie RENNISON, of 
Walworth.  She was born in England, the daughter of John and Esther RENNISON.  
Mrs. RENNISON lives on Mr. HIGBEE's farm.  Ezekiel J. HIGBEE is successfully 
carrying on general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of Holstein 
cattle and fine chickens.
 
Submitted by Carol