Son of Isaac and Sophie Higbee and was born... in Galloway, Gloucester county, New Jersey. In 1803 he removed with his parents to Clermont county, Ohio. At the age of twenty-two, he married Sarah Ward, and removed to Cincinnati. He received the gospel in the spring of 1832, and in the summer of the same year went to Jackson county, Missouri, where he was baptized and then returned to Cincinnati. He was ordained an Elder under the hands of his brother, Isaac Higbee, Feb. 20, 1833, and arrived in Jackson county with his family in March. In the fall of 1833 he was driven by the mob to Clay county. He was ordained a High Priest by Orson Pratt, Aug. 7, 1834, by order of the High Council in Clay county. March 26, 1835, he started on a mission, preaching the gospel through the States of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Arriving at Kirtland, he labored on the Temple until it was finished, and received his endowments therein. In the spring of 1836, he returned to his family in Missouri and removed them to Caldwell county, where he was appointed county judge. At a general conference held at Far West, Mo., April 6, 1838, he and John Corrill were appointed Church Historians, "to write and keep Church history." In 1839 he was driven out of Missouri by the mob, and subsequently settled at Commerce [Nauvoo], Ill. Oct. 6, 1840, he was appointed one of the committee to build the Nauvoo Temple, which office he maintained until his death... He endured much persecution for the gospel's sake, both in Missouri and other places. In his official capacities he was always just and trustworthy and manifested great zeal for the prosperity of the latter-day work. He left a large family. (LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson, Vol. 1, p.253)