William Higginson

William Higginson (1822 – 1905) was a Colonel of the Upper Canadian militia, the owner of the Vankleek Hill Electric Light Co., and chairman of the County of Prescott Railway.

Overview

William Higginson, son of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Higginson, was appointed Capt. of the first Company of the 18th Batt. of Prescott Volunteer Militia about 1861, commissioned Major 24th July, 1863, and Lieut.-Col. 15th February, 1867.” In 1866, Major William Higginson was given command of the volunteer Prescott Militia mustered at Vankleek Hill in anticipation of the Fenian Raid. William Higginson was also a “highway surveyor” for the Township of West Hawkesbury in 1879 and 1880. He was elected reeve of this township 1890 and 1891.

Colonel Higginson took an active part in having electric light introduced into the village of Vankleek Hill in the 1890s. According to the diary of his cousin Thomas Tweed Higginson for November 19, 1891: “Vankleek Hill lighted by electricity last night. Great rejoicing.” William took an interest in local schooling and made no little effort to have the High School equipped with a telescope and a good supply of philosophical apparatus. William added the upper portion of the Higginson Tower to create a conservatory and also built the red brick house nearby. The new railway station to serve Vankleek Hill and district was on land north of the hill, which was given by Colonel William Higginson.

References

*Cyrus, Thomas. "History of the Counties: Argenteuil, Quebec, Prescott, Ontario" (John Lovell and Son, Montreal 1896)
*Higginson, Thomas Boyd. "Diaries of Thomas Tweed Higginson" (Research Publishing Company, London 1960)
*"Minutes of Township of West Hawkesbury" (1879, 1880)
*"Minutes of West Hawkesbury" (1890, 1891)
*Higginson, Thomas Boyd. "Descendants of Reverend Thomas Higginson" (Research Publishing Company, London)

External links

* [http://www.vankleekhill.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=161&Itemid=1 The Real Vankleek Hill Site - Higginson Tower Main Page]
* [http://www.vankleek.ca/electricity-e.html Early Vankleek Hill Business History: Electricity]
* [http://www.vankleek.ca/railway-e.html Early Vankleek Hill Business History: The Railways]