History of Daviess County, Kentucky, Inter-State Publishing Co., 
Chicago, 1883.  Reprinted by McDowell Publications, Utica, KY, 1980.  p. 
618.

RICHARD HIGDON (deceased), late of Knottsville, was born in Nelson 
County, Ky., in 1807.  He was born a slave, and the property of Peter 
Higdon, therefore he took his name.  At the death of Peter Higdon he 
fell to the Higdon heirs.  Our subject was a very enterprising man and 
wished to be free.  He therefore hired his time by paying his master a 
stated sum annually, and was allowed to work for whomsoever he desired, 
for wages.  He made enough each year to pay his master for his time and 
something more besides.  In the meantime he married Mahala Norris, a 
free lady of no little ingenuity and skill.  They raised a family of 
children, the oldest of whom were hired out by Mrs. Higdon as soon as 
they were large enough to work, and their earnings, together with her 
own, above the expense of living, was applied toward liberating Mr. 
Higdon.  This, with what he had saved from year to year, amounted to the 
requisite sum, and he became a free man.  Mr. Higdon was a remarkable 
worker in his time.  He has been known to make as many as 300 rails in 
one day, taking them from the stump.  On many a night he has worked 
nearly half of the night after performing his daily labor, so anxious 
was he to obtain his liberty.  He was the father of seven children, of 
whom five are living--Daniel V., John T., Richard H., Ellen and 
Elizabeth.  One daughter, Harriet, died at the age of thirty-five years. 
 The oldest child living, Daniel V., is a practical dentist, and is a 
subscriber to this work.  He was married and had four children.  His 
wife and one child are dead.  Mr. Higdon was raised a Catholic and died 
one, Jan. 2, 1883.  He owned 100 acres of land adjoining Knottsville.

Higdon Norris 
=
Nelson

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/daviess/higdon.r.txt