John Somers Higbee was born on 7. Mar. 1804 at Tate Twp., Clermont County, Ohio. He was the son of
Isaac Higbee and
Sophia Somers. John Somers Higbee married
Sarah Ann Voorhees, daughter of
Isaac Voorhees and
Sarah Mount, on 26. Feb. 1825 at Batavia, Clermont County, Ohio; 1st marriage John. John Somers Higbee married
Sarah Ann Voorhees, daughter of
Isaac Voorhees and
Sarah Mount, on 16. Feb. 1826 at Batavia, Clermont County, Ohio. John Somers Higbee was baptized on 1. May. 1831 at Lewiston, Logan County, Ohio; by Calvin Wilson. He married
Judith Hall on 17. Aug. 1846 at Winter Quarters, Douglas County, Nebraska. John Somers Higbee married
Ann Grainger on 11. Mar. 1852 at New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. John Somers Higbee died on 27. Oct. 1877 at Toquerville, Washington County, Utah, at age 73. He was buried on 1. Nov. 1877 at Toquerville, Washington County, Utah.
Baptized May 1831 in Lewiston,Logan,Ohio by Calvin Wilson. Confirmed by Lyman Wight. Ordained High Priest 4 Apr 1841 by Isaac Higbee. Ordained Bishop of First Ward of Nauvoo, 24 Mar 1845 at Nauvoo,Hancock,Illinois by Amasa M. Lyman, Orson Pratt and John E. Page. Patriarchal Blessing 13 Dec 1838. Poss. born 27 March 1804, also need to verify place of birth;marriage poss tate twnship; As a baby he moved to New Jersey and grew up on his father's farm. He and Sarah, along with his parents, joined the Mormon Church about 1 May 1832. They sold their property and moved to Jackson Co., MO in February 1833, where they bought land and planted corn. john had four children with him. He was given a deaon's license at a conference at Far West on 6 Jul 1838. The family suffered at the hands of mobs in MO. When John's family, with four other families, was driven from Jackson Co. to Clay Co., his wife was sick and the Saints could only carry what they could on their backs. The five families made huts from bark of trees to live in for the winter and depended entirely upon their skill in hunting whild game. At night, one of the group would cross the river and steal corn from their own farm, which they had not sold. John kept five volumes of journals during his lifetime. In them he writes: "The mob kept threatening so my parents, brothers and families moved to Caldwell Co., MO. Here my mother died thru exposure August 24, 1840. Now the State rose up against us and sent an Army who said, you are rebellious and must comply with our frontier opinions, called law....When they took our arms I was forced to sign a deed to all of our property in Jackson, Caldwell Co. to defray expenses of this....They then selected 57 of us to make examples of, took us to Richmond in the Courthouse, under strong guard. [11 Nov 1838] After 29 days were were tried and nothing found against us, we were ordered to leave the state, which we did January, 1838, going to Illinois in an old rickety one horse wagon. There were three families on us on this trip, and all that could, walked most of them barefooted over frozen ground, women as well as children. Nevertheless in all this trial and troulbe we seemed tðV쌟co be happy. We traveled about 15 miles per day, our wagon breaking down on us every few days. After arriving at Quincy, Illinois, my father died fromthe fatigue of the journey. He was 75 years of age." He was cabinet maker,Bishop of 1st ward in Nauvoo.was baptized Lewiston Ohio by Calvin Wilson,confirmed by Lyman Wight;served mission to England 1849-52.Their 4 children crossed plains in 1847 with 4th hundred,1st fifty,1st ten.There is also a judeth h higbee,born 22 apr 1811,southerlain abeverill,u.s. listed above the childrens names. Shortly after arrival in the Salt Lake valley, President Young sent an exploring party into the southern part of the territory to look over possible settlement sites. Parley P. Pratt, accompanied by John S. Higbeen and others, set out in the direction of Utah Lake sometime in December. First party to launch boat and try net fishing on the lake.
Residences: Tate,Clermont,Ohio, 1827-1837. Lee County Illinois 1840. Mill Creek,Salt Lake,Utah 1855-1857. Plain City,Weber,Utah 1859. Ogden,Weber, Utah 1863. Toquerville,Washington,Utah, 1870. Vocations: Gardener, Net Fishing Business, Cabinet Maker.
March. Provo, Utah Valley, was settled by John S. Higbee and some thirty others. On March 18th a branch of the Church was organized with John S. Higbee as President. During the year, the settlers had some trouble with the Indians.