Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-13

Military Academy at Poughkeepsie. from
which he was graduated in 1873. He was
son of the late Orrin T. Higgins and his
grandfather was one Of the early settlers
In Allegany county.
After travelling in the west for a year
Mr.. Higgins then eighteen years of age
began business life in Chicago as western
sales agent for an oil refinery, but contin.
ued in that occupation for short time
only, and after two years more Of travel
he returned to Stanton, Mich. where he
became partner in the mercantile firm OF
Wood. Thayer & Co. A year later he
bought up the business and continued 1t
in his own name. In Stanton Mr.. Hig-
gins married Miss Kate c. Noble Of Sparta,
Mich. At this time Mr.. Higgins father
was head of the prosperous grocery firm
Of Higgins. Blodgett & Co.. which had
nine stores in Olean and other central New
York towns.
The younger Higgins sold his Michigan
interests In 1879 and bought a partnership
in his fathers firm. He managed 1t so
well that In five years he bought from his
partners three stores in Olean. His father
had bought large areas Of timber land in
Minnesota and to these he added timber
tracts IN Wisconsin. Deposits Of coal and
OIL were found In them which materially
increased the family's prosperity. At the
time of his death Frank Wayland Higgins
was reputed to be several times a million
afre.
His Political Career.
His political career began in 1888 when he
was elected q delegate to the republican
national convention in Chicago. He was
elected state senator in 1893 from what
was then the thirty-second district, con-
sisting Of Cattaraugus. Chautauqua and AL
legany counties. He was reelected from
the fifteenth district. consisting under the
new constitution, of Cattaraugus and Chau-
tauqua counties In 1895. He represented
this district for three consecutive terms.
In 1902 he declined to run again for office
and practically announced his retirement
from politics.
It was at that time that he was nomi-
mated Tor lieutenant governor on the ticket
elected. Mr.. Higgins got 66s, 1883 votes,
against 6SS555 cast for his opponent.
Charles N. Bulser. In 1904 B. 3. Odeli'
3r:. selected MI. Higgins as an available
mated and ELECTED. defeating d. Cady Her
rick. candidate of the democratic party. by
large majority. but running $1,000 yotes
behind President Roosevelt in the state.
Broke With Odell.
His two years in the governors chair
were turbulent. Gov. Higgins. an amiable,
peace-loving man, was pulled this way and
that by powerful politicians. He broke with
Odell soon after his election, one of the
reasons being that Odell had referred con-
temptuously to him as "a nice little man."
Gov. Higgins causel James w. Wadsworth,
jr., to be chosen speaker of the assembly
against Odell's wishes. When the insur-
ance scandals developed and there was an
outcry for legislative investigation Gov.
Higgins at first demurred, then consented
to send a message to the legislature calling
for an investigation. Later still there was
a demand for an investigation of the bank
ing department, presided over by his friend
Kilburn. Gov. Higgins would not consent
Toward the close of his term he was
talked of as candidate to succeed him
SELF He was urged to run by many re-
publican politicians that were not especially
in favor with President Roosevelt The
governor vacillated for a time, but finally,
on September "a 1906 issued a statement
saying that he had kept his pledges while
in Office and that by doing so he had in
CURED the enmity of those who believe
that governors should follow the dictates
of party bosses, and that as another reason
for declining denomination he needed time
for rest and to attend to personal affairs
The health Of the governor at that time
was poor, and when he gave way to Gov,
Charles E. Hughes on January 1, 1907. he
was undoubtedly sick man. He retired
to his home in Olean and remained there
until his DEATH.
He is survived by Mrs. Higgins, a daueh-
ter, Miss Josephine, and two sons, o. T.
Higgins. who Is married and lives In Colo
RADIO, and F. Harrison Higgins