JUDGE ENOCH HIGBEE of Atlantic Co NJ
(BIOGRAPHY)

Information located at http://www.rootsweb.com/~njatlant/
On a USGenWeb/NJGenWeb Web site
TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN, County Coordinator in 2006 
Please see the web site for my email contact.
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The original source of this information is in the public domain, 
however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is 
restricted without written permission from the transcriber 
(who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same).
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SOURCE: SOUTH JERSEY, A History, 1664-1924, edited by Alfred H. Heston; Vol 1, 1924,
 Lewis Historical Publishing Co Inc., New York and Chicago

pages 3

JUDGE ENOCH A. HIGBEE--[excerpts only]
Judge Higbee's ancestry dates back to the earliest settlers of Southern Jersey, the family
having become established in this section in the middle or latter part of the seventeenth
century, after coming from New England, and it is understood, from Connecticut. The 
early residnts of this family in New Jersey became affiliated by marriage with various
other important pioneer families, notably the Leeds, Smiths, and Turners. Thus the
name became established in a part of the original Leeds survey, which is now known as
Higbeeville.  Absalom Higbee, Judge Higbee's grandfather, was a leading farmer at Leed's
Point, also a prosperous merchant and grocer, a splendid business man, held in the
highest esteem by all who knew him... He was one of the pillars of the Methodist Episcopal
Church at Smithville...He married Ann Turner, and they were the parents of three children:
Enoch, father of the subject of this sketch; James and Sarah.
  Enoch Higbee, son of these parents, became interested in the great West, and as a young
man joined the gold rush of 1849, going to California by way of Cape Horn. After spending
three years with the prospectors of that day, he returned to his native State of New
Jersey and married; then, for many years, followed the sea, as a captain of a vessel.
Later he retired from the sefaring life and purchased the homestead formerly occupied by
his father, where he spent the remaining years of his life. He was prominent in all
community advance and particulary active in the work of the church and Sunday School; for
many years he was affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Bethiah
Clark, a member of an old family, who settled in South Jersey and originally owned the
land between Clark's Landing and Gloucester. This family is the same from which the more
recently celebrated Champ Clark descended, and was held in the highest esteem in this
section. Bethiah (Clark) Higbee was a woman of the most charming presence and beautiful
character, devoted to her home and family and to deeds of Christian charity. Enoch and
Bethiah (Clark) Higbee were the parents of the following children: 1. Absalom H.  2. Joab.
3. Thomas. 4. Annie M., who became the wife of Somers T. Higbee, a member of another
family of the same name.  5. Enoch A., of further mention. 6. Sally, who died in 
childhood. 7. Evalena, who became the wife of John K. Johnson.
  Enoch A. Higbee was born at Leeds Point, NEw Jersey, April 22, 1863. His education 
was begun in the local schools, and after ocmpleting the grammar school course at
Galloway Township he determined to enter the profession of law. The achievement was in
his own hands and he secured a position in the employ of the Hon. Allan B. Endicott, under
whose preceptorship he prepared for his career. Gifted as an orator, and possessing the
poise and grace of manner which gives one command of his hearers, Mr. Higbee early
became an outstanding figure in the profession, and his rise was marked by the fact that
in the early years of the present century he was made president of the Atlantic County
Bar Association being the youngest member ever elected to that office. He has long been
considered one of the most able men in the profession in New Jersey, and his handling
of celebrated cases placed him in the highest rank of the profession. Judge Higbee's
public life began many years ago when he was elected assesor of Galloway Township at the
age of twenty-one years. Three time elected, he served during four terms. During the 
administration of President Cleveland he served as collector of customs at Somers
POint for the Great Egg Harbor district. During President Cleveland's first term he was
appointed postmaster of Leed's Point, and filled this office during nearly half of
President McKinley's administration. Later he became a resident of Somers Point and was
elected clerk of that community, and four times elected to the Mayorality. During his
period of service in the latter office he was appointed just of the Court of Common Pleas
by Governor Murphy, and later, at the expiration of his first term of service, was
re-appointed by Governor Fort.  Meanwhile he was elected as county solicitor, or counsel
for the Board of Freeholders of Atlantic County. 
 Judge Higbee is broadly interested in various local enterprises; he is a director of
the Union National Bank, which position he has filled for twenty years, and for a number
of years he has been vice-president of that institution. As county solicitor, county
attorney and county counsel, he represents the county hospital for the insane, the
committee in charge of that institution on the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Atlantic
County; also the almshouse and the hospital for the treatment of tuberculosis; the
County Board of Taxation of this county; and has represented the Altlantic County 
Mosquito Extermination Commission ever since its creation in about 1912. He has
represented practically all municipalities in this county in various public capacities
and is a large property owner in the vicinity of Somers Point, for the development of
which community he had sone much. He is often called in consultation on municipal
problems, and even in the State Legislature he has acted in an advisory capacity in 
connection with the enactment of many laws relating to the municipal advance. Judge
Higbee is now serving his twenty-first year as county solicitor, county attorney and
county counsel for Atlantic County. Judge Higbee's taste and leisure interests include a
great delight in literature, both historical subjects and the current writings of the day.
He was formerly greatly interested in horses, and owned a fine stable of blooded animals,
having won many prizes at shows, but his chief recreation at present are hunting and
out-door interests in the wilds, his pleasure in the companionship of dogs and guns being
keen. 
  Judge Higbee married Lida C. McCollum, daughter of James and Mary (Endicott) McCollum,
and they are the parent of eight children, of whom three died in infancy. Those now
living are: 1. Eulia Mae, wife of Raymong Smith of Somers Point, and mother of two sons
and one daughter: Enoch, Charles and Lois Virginia. 2. Clara K., at home. 3. Edna B.,
wife of Sidney G. Scull of Somers Point, a son of Dr. William B. Scull of Philadelphia. 
4. Eva Ray, at home.  5. Enoch A Jr. of further mention.

Enoch A. Higbee Jr., is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, department of law,
class of 1917. He enlisted in the United States Navy in the World War and was overseas
for a number of months, rising to the rank of ensign, with which rank he was mustered out
of service. Entering his father's law office, he was admitted to the New Jersey Bar as
attorney, December 18, 1919, and as counselor in the year 1922. He has since been
associated with his father and is considered one of the progressive and forward-looking
young men of the day in professional circles in Atlantic City. He married Dorothy Hall,
daughter of Dr. P. Sharpless Hall, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and they are the parents
of one child, Barbara.


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