From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 789-791
 
FRANCIS M. HIGGINS.  The newspaper profession in Walworth county has an able 
and worthy representative in the person of Francis M. HIGGINS, editor of the 
News at Lake Geneva, whose success since locating here has won him a high 
place among his contemporaries and many admirers in the city and county for 
his straightforward and public-spirited policy, and his influence has been for 
the general upbuilding of this locality in every way possible, for he 
evidently has unswerving faith in its future and its interests at heart.
 
Mr. HIGGINS was born in LaSalle county, Illinois, May 23, 1861.  He is the son 
of James and Ellen (EGAN) HIGGINS, the father born in county Donegal, Ireland, 
and was there reared and educated, emigrating to America in 1837, and located 
in LaSalle county, Illinois, in 1838.  He was a stone cutter and there he 
assisted in building culverts and viaducts on the Illinois & Michigan canal, 
and he was living there when he married Ellen EGAN, a native of county Mayo, 
Ireland, who came to America when young and at the time of her marriage was 
living at Joliet, Illinois.  When these parents came to northern Illinois they 
found a wild, sparsely settled prairie.  James HIGGINS took a prominent part 
in public affairs, in organization and general civic duties in LaSalle county, 
of which he was commissioner at the time the county was laid off as a separate 
county.  He bought land and turned his attention to farming.  His family 
consisted of twelve children, all born and reared on the farm in LaSalle 
county.  The death of James HIGGINS occurred in 1889; his widow is still 
living, being now eighty-seven years of age.  After spending fifty-five years 
on the home farm, she moved to Seneca, Illinois, in 1905, where she still 
resides.
 
Francis. HIGGINS grew up on the home farm on which  he worked when a boy, 
attending the district schools in the winter time, later attending the Grundy 
County Normal at Morris, Illinois.  When nineteen years of age he obtained a 
certificate to teach school and he taught near home during the winters for 
several years.  In 1884 he went to Kansas, where he spent six years, part of 
the time in Nebraska, handling horses.  Returning to the home farm in LaSalle 
county, Illinois, he remained there five years, managing the same in 
partnership with his brother, then he bought a newspaper at Seneca and has 
been in the newspaper business ever since.  In 1899 he leased the plant of the 
Fair Dealer, a newspaper at Ottawa, Illinois, and he remained at that place 
until the spring of 1903.  In October of that year he came to Wisconsin and 
took the management of the Lake Geneva News, and here he has continued his 
efforts to the present time.  He has made his paper an important factor in 
local affairs, increased its circulation constantly, rendered it valuable as 
an advertising medium and brightened very materially its mechanical appearance.
 
Mr. HIGGINS has long taken an active interest in politics, and before leaving 
Illinois he took a hand in public affairs.  He is at present chairman of the 
Republican county central committee of Walworth county.  He is president of 
the Wisconsin League of Progressive Republican Newspapers.  He is also a 
member of the executive committee of the State Progressive League.  He is 
heart and soul for the progressive movement, believing it to be the fight for 
the people, although he was reared a Democrat and was with that party in his 
earlier career.
 
Mr. HIGGINS was married in 1895, at Seneca, Illinois, to Katherine McCORMICK, 
daughter of James and Johanna (SHEEDY) McCORMICK.  She was a native of LaSalle 
county, Illinois, and her death occurred in 1902, leaving three children, 
Mildred, Florence and Francis.  She was a member of the Catholic church, to 
which her children and Mr. HIGGINS also belong.  In 1904 Mr. HIGGINS was 
united in marriage with Mrs. Cora (GIFFORD) HANSCOM, daughter of E. P. and 
Marietta (CHAPIN) GIFFORD, and widow of P. L. HANSCOM, deceased.  She was born 
in Walworth county, of which her parents were early settlers.  Her mother was 
born on the "Maple Glen Farm," near Lake Geneva, seventy years ago.  Her 
father came here from New York about 1840, being among the very early 
settlers. Mrs. HIGGINS had one daughter by her former marriage, Winnifred.  
Her first husband, Mr. HANSCOM, died in 1901.
 
Mr. HIGGINS' hobby is scientific agriculture. Before leaving Illinois he spent 
a week each year at the state agricultural experiment station, and he has 
endeavored ever since to disseminate knowledge and arouse interest in 
experiment work along these lines.  He gives much time to farmers' institute 
work and in organizing corn contests, distributing seeds, etc.  He is well 
read, keeps fully abreast of the times in all scientific and research work as 
well as the world's best literature, and he is known as an earnest worker for 
any cause which he espouses.
 
Submitted by Carol