WI BIO - Dane Co - HIGHAM, Samuel
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 260-261

Samuel HIGHAM, vice president of the Fuller & Johnson Manufacturing Company 
of the city of Madison, Dane County, WI, a very prominent citizen, was born 
in Geneva, Ontario County, NY, a son of Henry and Sarah (ROBERTS) HIGHAM. 
These parents were born and brought up in Stockport, England, and his 
father was engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods in his native county. 
About 1842 Mr. HIGHAM, Sr., came to the U. S., first settling in Geneva, 
Ontario County, NY, and following the occupation of a farmer, moving to 
Madison, Dane County, WI, in 1850. He is now living with his wife, after a 
married life of fifty-three years, at the age of seventy-eight years. Seven 
children were born to Henry and Sarah (ROBERTS) HIGHAM, five sons and two 
daughters: (1) Mary Ann, who married Mr. Joshua SMITH; (2) Elijah, a 
resident of Oakland [Alameda County], CA; (3) Sarah E., who married Mr. 
TILLOTSON, and resides at Baraboo [Sauk County], WI; (4) John, who resides 
in Oakland, CA; (5) William Henry, who resides in Grand Forks [Grand Forks 
County], ND; and (6) George C., who is a resident of the same place. [Note 
only six are listed, the seventh being the subject, Samuel.]

Henry HIGHAM was a resident of NY when Samuel was born, and the latter was 
two and a half years old when the family removed to Madison, WI, in 1850, and 
located in Madison Township, Dane County, on a new farm, but later removed to 
section 6 in Fitchburg Township [Dane County], in 1854. Samuel HIGHAM was 
given a public school education in the district schools of Madison and 
Fitchburg Townships, working on the farm in the summer and attending school 
in winter, and was prepared to enter the University of WI in 1865, passing 
some three years in that institution. In 1868 he left school and went to 
Hudson [St. Croix County], WI, and there engaged in milling and manufacturing 
lumber, and at this place he remained in business some five years.

Following this life in northern WI, Samuel HIGHAM went to Cannon Falls 
[Goodhue County], MN, and then to Red Wing [Goodhue County], MN, and there 
engaged in the sale of lumber and agricultural implements. In some of these 
enterprises his brother, William H. HIGHAM, was a partner. Until 1883 Samuel 
HIGHAM remained there and then sold out as he saw greater opportunities in 
Madison for his abilities to become known. He purchased an interest in the 
Fuller & Johnson Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of plows, cultivators, 
corn planters, mowing machinery, hay rakes, harrows, etc. His experience and 
training so [p 261] well fitted him for the management of this line of 
business that he was at once chosen vice president of the company, which 
office he has held ever since. This company is one of the largest and best 
known in the Northwest. To this prosperous and growing business Samuel 
HIGHAM devotes all his time, but he is also largely interested in other 
enterprises, among them the Higham Brothers' Hardware Company of Grand Forks, 
ND, being the president of the company, but the business is being carried on 
by his brothers, who reside there. These large corporations require their 
officers to be shrewd, farseeing business men, such as our subject.

In the State of MN, Samuel HIGHAM was called upon to serve his fellow 
citizens in many official positions, but since his residence in WI his 
personal business has claimed the greater part of his time. Samuel HIGHAM 
was married in Sep 1873 to Miss Clara JAMES, of Wellsville, NY, who was born 
in Warren [Warren County], PA, and was there educated. She is still living, 
but the one daughter, Gertrude O., born in 1880, was taken by death on 02 Apr 
1891. The family have been active members of the Congregational Church, and 
to this denomination Samuel HIGHAM has been liberal and attentive, doing his 
whole duty as a Christian and good citizen.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly