Porter Preston HigginbothamPorter Preston Higginbotham, son of Samuel Higginbotham and Sarah Fynettie LNU, born 16 Jul 1893, Lake City, Columbia CO, FL, died 10 Jul 1969, Orlando, Orange CO, FL, married Aileen Cody, dau of John Augustus Cody and Mary Victoria Wright, born 25 Oct 1890, Hastings, St Johns CO, FL, died 27 Oct 1943, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL. Both buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.
His occupation as a truck driver took him to many locations in Florida and at one time, he lived in West Virginia. The family moved to St Johns Park in Flagler CO, FL in Sep of 1931 where they lived at the Lockhart place several years before moving to Bunnell. They moved to Lake Worth, FL in 1937 Issue;
1. John Samuel (Jack) Higginbotham, born 30 Jun 1918, Hastings, St Johns CO, FL, died 03 Apr 1981, Palm Beach CO, FL, married Mary Ann Lanier, born 12 Apr 1921, died 06 Feb 1986, Palm Beach CO, FL.
2. Gilbert Walter Higginbotham, born 28 Feb 1920, FL, died 11 Oct 1985, Orange CO, FL, married 06 Dec 1942, Enid Army Flying School, Ann Jean Lewis.
SSgt Higginbotham was a gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber in the Pacific during WW II.
Gilbert Walter Higginbotham married 2nd 15 Jan 1977, Jeanette Powell.
3. Porter Preston Higginbotham, Jr, born 18 Dec 1921, Orange Mills, Putnam CO, FL, died 04 Feb 1942, Glendale Hospital, Palatka, Putnam CO, FL as a result of injuries received from an automobile accident near Bunnell, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL. He married 24 Dec 1941, Methodist Parsonage, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL by Rev W R Howell, Effie Anna Mae Crews, dau of James Eustis Crews and Violet E M LNU, born 09 Oct 1924, died 07 Mar 2001, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL,
Effie Anna Mae Crews married 2nd, 25 Feb 1943, Macclenny, Baker CO, FL, Aubrey Isom Sheffield.
4. Harold Edward Higginbotham, born 07 Jan 1924, Sanford, Seminole CO, FL, died 08 Feb 1997, Flagler CO, FL, married 27 Dec 1949, Folkston, Charlton CO, GA, Lizzie (Bonnie) Medders, dau of William Jesse Medders and Hester C Vernie, born 16 Apr 1932, Alma, Bacon CO, GA, died 17 Oct 1998, Alachua CO, FL. Both buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.
He served with the U.S. Army in WW II and Korea. Among his many other decorations, he received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. He moved to Flagler CO with his family in 1931 and was a heavy equipment operator. Issue;
(1) Harold David Higginbotham, born 23 Sep 1953, Flagler Hospital, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, married 28 Apr 1973, Pentecostal Holiness Church, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, Linda Jean Proper.
(2) Harold Wayne Higginbotham, born 11Aug 1963
5. Clifford Gerold (Higgie) Higginbotham, born 06 Nov 1926, Sanford, Seminole CO, FL, married 25 Jun 1950, Methodist Church, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, Lois Janet Stults, dau of Morris Ezra Stults and Pauline Andora Bechdolt, born 07 Jul 1926, Portland, Jay CO, IN.
Other than living in Willow, Alaska from Sep 1960 until Sep 1962, the family lived in Flagler CO, FL. Clifford farmed in the Bimini area, growing potatoes and cabbage until he retired. Lois taught in the public school system of Flagler CO for many years. Issue;
(1) Edna Jeanne Higginbotham, born 03 May 1952, Flagler Hospital, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, married 28 Jun 1974, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, Gary Wayne Gieger, son of Hardy H Gieger (Div-12 Nov 1991)
(2) Susan Diane Higginbotham, born 21 Oct 1953, Flagler Hospital, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, married 21 Aug 1971, Flagler CO, FL, Larry Luther Taylor, son of Walter Emmett Taylor. Larry served in the U.S. Air Force. Issue;
A. Walton Clifford Taylor, born 10 Jul 1973, Barksdale AFB, Bossier Parish, LA
B. Casey Deree Taylor, born about Jul 1977, USAF Hospital, Anchorage, Alaska
(3) Christine Lee Higginbotham, born 08 Mar 1955, Okeechobee, Okeechobee CO, FL, married Herman Parks
Christine Lee Higginbotham married 08 Mar 1974, First Baptist Church, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, Robert James Gould, born Mar 1955. Issue;
A. Andrew Gould, born Jun 1984
6. Gladys Marie Higginbotham, born about 1929, FL, married FNU Parks
Source: Unto This Land - A History of the St Johns Park Area and the Pioneer Settlers and Their Descendants, edited by Mary Ketus Deen Holland - sketch by Clifford G and Harold E Higginbotham.
Additional sources used by the compiler: 1910 United States Federal Census, Precinct 9, Putnam CO, FL; 1920 United States Federal Census, East Palatka, Putnam CO, FL; 1920 United States Federal Census, Federal Point, Putnam CO, FL; 1930 United States Federal Census, Delray Beach, Palm Beach CO, FL; World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Record; U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946; Florida Marriage Collection, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001; Texas Divorce Index, 1968-2002; Social Security Death Index Record; Florida Death Index, 1877-1998 Record; U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca 1775-2006; The Flagler Tribune, Bunnell, FL, 01 Jan 1942, 05 Jan 1950, 29 Jun 1950, 08 May 1952, 01 Oct 1953, 29 Oct 1953, 07 Feb 1974, 27 Jun 1974, 07 Jul 1977 and the U.S. Public Records Index.
Please send questions, corrections or additions to Sisco Deen, P.O. Box 637, Flagler Beach, FL 32136 or email him at Sisco_Deen@hotmail.com
