Sam Higginbottom

Sam Higginbottom (October 27, 1874 – 1958) was an English-born Christian missionary in Allahabad, India, where he founded the Allahabad Agricultural Institute.

Early life

Higginbottom was born October 27, 1874, in Greenheyes, Manchester, England. [http://www.aaidu.org/founder.htm Founder] , Allahabad Agricultural Institute website] He grew up in poverty, leaving school early and working at different times as a butcher's boy, cab driver, and milk deliverer. However, he had a strong youthful interest in the Christian gospel, and resolved to become a preacher or missionary.

An introduction to evangelist Dwight L. Moody led to Higginbottom's attending Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts, which was founded by Moody, from 1894 to 1899. Charles W. Forman, [http://books.google.com/books?id=oQ8BFk9K0ToC&pg=PA292&lpg=PA292&dq=Sam+Higginbottom&source=web&ots=_5WgfSiAe1&sig=WlAIR2wayW8xRh4jFKoRtdpqH5Y&hl=en Higginbottom, Sam] , in Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions (Gerald H. Anderson, editor), pages 292-293] Higginbottom continued his education at Amherst College and Princeton University in the United States, receiving a bachelor's degree from Princeton.

Work in India

Higginbottom arrived in India in 1903 as part of the North India Mission of the Presbyterian Church. [http://www.aaidu.org/history.htm Dr. Sam Higginbottom (1874-1958)] , Allahabad Agricultural Institute website.] From 1903 to 1909 he taught economics and science in the Allahabad Christian College (now Ewing Christian College). In 1904 he married former Ethelind Cody, an American, who joined him in his work. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,800711-1,00.html Padre Sahib] , [" [Time magazine] ", September 19, 1949]

In 1909 he embarked on a project of teaching farming methods. He returned to the United States and spent three years studying agriculture at Ohio State University, after which he went back to Allahabad to teach scientific methods of farming. His educational programs grew into the founding of Allahabad Agricultural Institute in 1919.

Higginbottom wrote two books: a book about his work published in 1921 and an autobiography published in 1949.

Higginbottom retired in Florida in 1945.

Bibliography

*Sam Higginbottom. "The Gospel and the Plow, Or, The Old Gospel and Modern Farming in Ancient India". 1921. London: Central Board of Missions and Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. Republished in 2006: ISBN 1425486657
*Sam Higginbottom. "Sam Higginbottom, Farmer: An Autobiography". 1949. Republished in 2007: ISBN 9780548442005

References