John Allen Higgins was born on October 24, 1831 in Lexington, Kentucky to parents Joel and Anna Louisa Gibson Higgins. He was the second of four sons for the couple. John married Bettie Chinn Webb on September 20, 1852 in Fayette County, Kentucky. John made a living as a planter, and he owned land in both Arkansas and Kentucky. This was common during the 19th century, and like other families, the Higgins split their time between the two locations. Most likely Lexington and the Higgins Mansion was the summer home for the family, so they could escape the heat further south and Arkansas became their winter home, allowing them to avoid the unpredictable Kentucky winters. John also had business interests in Lexington, as a building was done for him downtown.
John and Bettie had eight children together, including Alline Higgins Headley, Mary Ford Rodes, and Susan Higgins Cochran. John passed away on December 30, 1880 in Arkansas, and was buried in the Lexington Cemetery in Lexington, Kentucky.
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