The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-11-13
A GOOD MAN GONE.
"A Prominent Farmer of York County
Passes Away,
Enquirer.

coS ~H"e
Yorkville Enquirer.
Mr.. Robert Il. higgins, q we'll known
and prominent citizen of York County,
Mr.. higgins was born on the 14th day
of July, 1S47. His educational oppor-
%tunities were confined TO the common
schools of the neighborhood but being
an industrious young man of bright
intellect, he acquired q knowledge of
men and things, which, in afterlife,
gave him u high standing among his
fellowmen in whatever calling.
Upon the call for the young men of
l6 years of age, Mr.. higgins went to
the a Hostilities were nearly at q
close at tho time, however, and he was
never engaged in a regular battle.
Returning home he went to work
on q farm, and on November 10,
1868, he was married to Miss r.. N.
| Warlick, of Blairsville.
Becoming a member shortly after
the inception of the organization, MI.
higgins was connected with all the
more important operations of the
kuklux in this section during the ex-
istence of the klans. Shortly after
martial law was declared, no was ar
rested by the military authorities and
~incarcerated in Jail on various grave
charges, including conspiracy and muir
der. His Imprisonment commenced in
the latter part Of 1871, and for a little
moro than three. years he was trans
ferred first to one jail and then another.
a portion OF the time he was in Char
lotte, then in Columbia, and finally in
York. During his imprisonment, the
military authorities used all the arts
in their power to.secure from him q
confession that would implicate his
companions. They threatened, per-
secuted, and even offered him his
liberty, for the desired information,
but he told nothing. During the last
two years of his imprisonment, he and
his companion, Mr.. e. II. Sapoch, had
the keys of the Jail, and the only bar
rier to liberty was their personal hon
or. But they stood the racket to the
end. In June 1874, MIR. higgins was
transferred to Albany, N. Y, peniten-
tiary. He remained there until Christ
mas of the same year, when, through
The continued efforts Of friends at home,
he was granted q pardon and allowed
to return to his family.
Several years ago, MI. higgins was
elected to the Office of county commits
sioner. AT that time, under the law,
the duty of ~snppressing the illegal sale
OF Intoxicating liquor outside the in
%cOrporated towns, fell on the county
commissioners. True to his duty, Mr..
higgins started q crusade against the
liquor dealers. He aroused the bitter.
ness of these dealers and their friends
against him and when no offered for
reelection, he was defeated by O small
majority. Two years ago the State
legislature elected him as a member
of the board OF penitentiary directors.
He has all along taken a deep and CON
scientious interest In his work, and is
entitled to much OF the credit for the
efficient maslnar In which that institu-
tion has been managed during the
present administration.
Becoming q member OF the Alliance
at It's first organization In this county |
he soon began TO take a leading place
la tho councils OF the order, end at its
last annual meeting was elected presi-
dent of the county OF g~anization. Ho
was also u leading Farmers Movement
man in this county, and In politics was
o sincere and considerations Reformer,
who had the entire confidence OF ali
with whom hp came In contact. II Il
universally admitted that In politics
his mQtiyea |have always been pure.
lefty and unSeiish, aud that his errors
~ any nftYe been simplys mistakes OF !