HON. JOHN E. HIGGINS.

HON. JOHN E. HIGGINS.
Hon. John E. Higgins, of Glenrock, belongs to that class of enterprising and progressive men who have contributed in marked measure to the development of the state. He is president of the Glen Rock State Bank, owner of the town site of Glenrock and is withal a most energetic business man who has wisely utilized opportunities that others have passed heedlessly by. He was born in Manitowoc county, Wisconsin, October 21, 1857, and is a son of John and Nancy (Lannen) Higgins, both of whom were natives of Ireland. He acquired only a limited common school education, for at the early age of thirteen years he was forced to start out in life to provide for his own support. When fifteen years of age he was earning a man's salary as an employe of the Wisconsin Central Railroad Company. Subsequently he spent two winters in the lumber woods of Wisconsin and did some contract work in getting out railroad ties and other railroad timber. In the winter of 1880-81 he drifted west into Montana, where he continued contracting in railroad ties and other railroad timber for the Union Pacific Railway Company. He remained in Montana until 1886, when he removed to Wyoming and has since been identified with the development and progress of the state, covering a period of almost a third of a century. On his arrival here he located at Nuttal, across the creek from his present home, and turned his attention to merchandising. The following year the coal mines were opened by William Nuttal and a Nebraska company came in and purchased the mining property, after which they founded the town of Glenrock. Mr. Higgins then removed his business to the new town, where he continued to conduct his store for twenty years, carrying a large and well selected line of goods and enjoying a substantial trade. During that period he also became heavily interested in the sheep and cattle business and was recognized as one of the foremost representatives of those industries in Wyoming. His business affairs were wisely managed and carefully conducted, bringing to him substantial success. In 1907 he was the dominant factor in the organization of the Glen Rock State Bank and was made president of the institution, in which capacity he has since served. In 1916 he built the Hotel Higgins, which is the principal hostelry at Glenrock. His business interests have thus been of a varied and important nature and at all times he has carried forward to successful completion whatever he has undertaken. In 1885 Mr. Higgins was united in marriage to Josephine Williams, a daughter of the late Eugene Amoretti, of Lander, Wyoming. Politically Mr. Higgins is a republican, giving stalwart support to the party because of his firm belief in its principles. He served for eight years as a member of the board of county commissioners of Converse county and in 1894 he was elected to represent his district in the state legislature, where he gave thoughtful and earnest consideration to all vital questions that came up for settlement. That his record was highly commendatory is indicated in the fact that in 1916 he was reelected to the position and is serving at the present time. His influence for good has been widely felt along many lines. He was prominently identified with the business interests of 'Thermopolis for eighteen years as the senior member of the firm of Higgins & McGrath, general merchants. He is an extensive holder of Wyoming lands, having made large investments in property in this state, and his discriminating judgment is attested by the success which has attended his various ventures in the business world. His interests, moreover, have been of a character which have contributed largely to the material development of the state.

Hon. John E. Higgins, of Glenrock, belongs to that class of enterprising and progressive men who have contributed in marked measure to the development of the state. He is president of the Glen Rock State Bank, owner of the town site of Glenrock and is withal a most energetic business man who has wisely utilized opportunities that others have passed heedlessly by. He was born in Manitowoc county, Wisconsin, October 21, 1857, and is a son of John and Nancy (Lannen) Higgins, both of whom were natives of Ireland. He acquired only a limited common school education, for at the early age of thirteen years he was forced to start out in life to provide for his own support. When fifteen years of age he was earning a man's salary as an employe of the Wisconsin Central Railroad Company. Subsequently he spent two winters in the lumber woods of Wisconsin and did some contract work in getting out railroad ties and other railroad timber. In the winter of 1880-81 he drifted west into Montana, where he continued contracting in railroad ties and other railroad timber for the Union Pacific Railway Company. He remained in Montana until 1886, when he removed to Wyoming and has since been identified with the development and progress of the state, covering a period of almost a third of a century. On his arrival here he located at Nuttal, across the creek from his present home, and turned his attention to merchandising. The following year the coal mines were opened by William Nuttal and a Nebraska company came in and purchased the mining property, after which they founded the town of Glenrock. Mr. Higgins then removed his business to the new town, where he continued to conduct his store for twenty years, carrying a large and well selected line of goods and enjoying a substantial trade. During that period he also became heavily interested in the sheep and cattle business and was recognized as one of the foremost representatives of those industries in Wyoming. His business affairs were wisely managed and carefully conducted, bringing to him substantial success. In 1907 he was the dominant factor in the organization of the Glen Rock State Bank and was made president of the institution, in which capacity he has since served. In 1916 he built the Hotel Higgins, which is the principal hostelry at Glenrock. His business interests have thus been of a varied and important nature and at all times he has carried forward to successful completion whatever he has undertaken.
In 1885 Mr. Higgins was united in marriage to Josephine Williams, a daughter of the late Eugene Amoretti, of Lander, Wyoming. Politically Mr. Higgins is a republican, giving stalwart support to the party because of his firm belief in its principles. He served for eight years as a member of the board of county commissioners of Converse county and in 1894 he was elected to represent his district in the state legislature, where he gave thoughtful and earnest consideration to all vital questions that came up for settlement. That his record was highly commendatory is indicated in the fact that in 1916 he was reelected to the position and is serving at the present time. His influence for good has been widely felt along many lines. He was prominently identified with the business interests of 'Thermopolis for eighteen years as the senior member of the firm of Higgins & McGrath, general merchants. He is an extensive holder of Wyoming lands, having made large investments in property in this state, and his discriminating judgment is attested by the success which has attended his various ventures in the business world. His interests, moreover, have been of a character which have contributed largely to the material development of the state.