Historic Pelham

Presenting the rich history of Pelham, NY in Westchester County: current historical research, descriptions of how to research Pelham history online and genealogy discussions of Pelham families.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Charles Higbee, Eighth Rector of Christ Church in Pelham Manor, 1871-1893


Reverend Charles F. Higbee served as the eighth Rector of Christ Church in Pelham Manor from 1871 until 1893.  He thereafter was designated as Rector Emeritus until his sad death in Mexico City, Mexico in 1900.  Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog assembles information about the life of Charles Higbee.  

Charles Higbee was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1838, a son of Charles Higbee (later of Trenton, New Jersey).  His family appears to have moved east and his father died in 1844 when Charles Higbee was about six years old.  

Charles Higbee graduated from the Princeton College School of Divinity in 1860.  See Directory of The Graduates and Former Students of Princeton College, 1896, p. 20 (Princeton, NJ:  The Princeton Press - C. S. Robinson & Co University Printers, 1896).  

In March, 1869, Charles Higbee became rector of St. Andrew's Church, located on New York Avenue at the intersection of Herkimer Street in Brooklyn.  The parish later ceased to exist.  See "St. Andrew's Church" in Stiles, Henry Reed, et al., The Civil, Political, Professional and Ecclesiastical History, and Commercial and Industrial Record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y. from 1683 to 1884, p. 1006 (NY, NY:  Munsell, 1884).  

Charles F. Higbee married Sara Augusta Mitchell, a daughter of Roland G. Mitchell, on Tuesday, November 21, 1871 in Bay Farm, Long Island, New York.  The couple had at least three daughters including Cornelia Post Higbee (born May 22, 1874 in Pelham, NY), Mary Higbee (born Jul. 16, 1876 in Pelham, NY, died Sep. 20, 1961 in Massachusetts), and Caroline Howell Higbee (born Apr. 8, 1878 in Pelham, NY).

Reverend Higbee became Rector of the Parish of Christ Church in 1871, the year he married Sara Augusta Mitchell.  He was a man of exemplary character and was beloved by members of the Parish.  Though he served as Rector of Christ Church for 22 years, clearly Rev. Higbee was an unusual man.  Newspaper accounts of the time refer to him as an "eccentric."  He would leave his home and family and sometimes would be away "for many months" as he traveled the world alone.  According to Charles R. Gillett in his "Recollections of Old Pelham Manor," many "queer stories" were told about Charles Higbee.  Gillett writes:

"On one occasion when one of his daughters was ill, he brought in a handful of garter snakes and tossed them on the girl's bed for her to amuse herself with.  After his resignation he planned a house for himself and family in the outskirts of New Rochelle.  But he made a serious mistake in his plans, for he failed to include any stairs."

Source:  Gillett, Charles R., Recollections of Old Pelham Manor, The Pelham Sun, Jul. 25, 1941, p. 5, cols. 1-3.

Reverend Higbee was a nature lover and an enthusiastic sportsman who enjoyed virtually every sport.  He was an enthusiastic underwater diver who reportedly could hold his breath and remain underwater for between five and six minutes.  While practicing this sport late in life, he permanently damaged his hearing and became profoundly deaf.  He remained so for years until his death on January 27, 1900.

Higbee "was a good shot with the rifle, a superb swimmer and he knew how to cast a fly and never start a ripple.  He handled a good stick at golf.  He could surprise the young men at cricket, and tennis and held a high rank as a base ball enthusiast."  (See quoted article below.)  

Charles Higbee enjoyed traveling the world and claimed to have visited every part of the globe except South Africa.  For example, a report published in The Churchman in 1892 noted as follows:

"New York. -- The Rev. Charles Higbee, rector of Chirst church, Pelham Manor, who is making a tour around the world, is expected home shortly.  During his absence of six months the Rev. Edward De S. Juny has officiated with great acceptance and the congregation was sorry to part with him.  Mr. A. Van Cortlandt, of the Priory has presented to the Nanette Bolton memorial chapel a beautifully carved altar with brass vases and cross."

Source:  The Churchman, Apr. 30, 1892, p. 555.  

Reverend Higbee's world travels were somewhat unusual.  Periodically he would leave his wife and daughters at home as he took off for distant points.  He would remain gone for many months at a time and, occasionally, would go for extended periods of time without communicating with his family because his global travels took him far from most means of communication of the day.  His family would worry, but he always returned with tales of his travels.

In 1893, Rev. Charles F. Higbee resigned as Rector of the Parish of Christ Church.  He was, however, designated as Rector Emeritus.  

For many years Reverend Higbee and his family resided in Pelham.  Indeed, all three of his daughters were born in Pelham.  The 1880 U.S. Census shows Reverend Higbee living with his wife, Augusta, and their three daughters in Pelham together with two "servants":  Emma E. Foster and Anna Berghart.  Late in Reverend Higbee's life shortly after he resigned as Rector of the Parish of Christ Church, he and his family built a new home on Weyman Avenue near Pelham Road in New Rochelle, not far from the Pelham Manor border.

In 1896, after his resignation, Rev. Higbee suffered an accident while practicing diving and his ability to remain underwater for long periods of time.  He became profoundly deaf.  

Given his disability, Rev. Higbee's family hoped that his globe-trotting would cease.  In October, 1899, however, Rev. Higbee announced that he planned to undertake an ambitious hunting and fishing trip southward to Texas and then to Mexico.  As it turned out, it would be his last such trip.

Charles F. Higbee departed on his trip before the end of October, 1899.  As usual, his family received a few letters from him at the outset.  The last letter they received from him showed that he was in Mexico about January 15, 1900.

Four months passed without any communication from Higbee.  Given his prior practices, neither his wife nor his three daughters were particularly alarmed.  It was only when Higbee's wife became ill and required special care that the family decided to try to reach Rev. Higbee.  Their efforts failed.  They could find no trace of him.  According to several accounts, "weeks of worry then commenced."

Finally the family communicated with the United States Secretary of State seeking assistance in locating Higbee.  The Office of the Secretary of State sought assistance from the U.S. Consul General in Mexico City.  The Consul General's response was prompt and devastating.  The Department of State informed the family by dispatch as follows: 

"The Rev. Charles Higbee, of New Rochelle, N. Y., has been missing since January last.  The Department of State received yesterday from the Consul General of the United States at Mexico City a telegram reporting the death in the Grand Hotel there of Charles Higbee on January 27.  The Consul in his message states he has mailed particulars."  

Research has yet to reveal the "particulars" of Rev. Higbee's death in the Grand Hotel in Mexico City.  No evidence yet has been uncovered suggesting that the family ever revealed the particulars of his death.



Christ Church, Shortly After It Was Constructed,
as Depicted in the 1848 First Edition of Bolton's
History of Westchester County, Volume 1. NOTE:
Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

Below is the text of a number of articles that shed light on the lives of Reverend Charles F. Higbee, his wife, and their daughters.  Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"REV. HIGBEE REPORTED DEAD
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Consul General in Mexico Informs State Department at Washington.
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EXPIRED ON JANUARY 27, 1900.
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On Wednesday the Department of State at Washington received a dispatch from the Consul General of the United States in Mexico City reporting the death of the Rev. Charles Higbee in the Grand Hotel there on January 27.  The Consul in his message states that he has mailed particulars.

Rev. Charles Higbee's residence is on Weyman avenue near Pelham Road.  He leaves a widow and three daughters, the Misses Cornelia, Mary and Carolyn Higbee.

Mr. Higbee was the second son of the late Charles Higbee of Trenton, N. J.  His brothers are William Higbee, of 36 W. 35th street, New York, and Col. George Higbee of Burlington, In.

Rev. Charles Higbee was rector of Christ Church, Pelham, for twenty-two years.  He retired about ten years ago and since that time he has traveled in all parts of the globe.  He was known as a great lover of sports and was a superb swimmer.  It is believed that while diving his hearing became injured and four years ago he became entirely deaf.

Last October Mr. Higbee went to Mexico on a hunting and fishing trip.  He always travelled alone and sometimes he was away for many months in distant states and foreign countries.  His family on many occasions heard nothing from him for long periods.  They received their last letter from him in January.  Thinking that he was in the mountains far away from the mails the family were little alarmed over the long absence of news from him.

This week owing to the illness of Mrs. Higbee, who is under the care of a nurse, the Secretary of State was requested to make an inquiry through the Consuls, and on Wednesday the report of his death was received.

Mr. Higbee was a man of most exemplary character.  He was 55 [sic] years of age.  His wife was a Miss Augusta Mitchell, a member of an old New York family."

Source:  REV. HIGBEE REPORTED DEAD -- Consul General in Mexico Informs State Department at Washington -- EXPIRED ON JANUARY 27, 1900, New Rochelle Pioneer, Jun. 2, 1900, Vol. 42, No. 11, p. 1, col. 3.   

"THE DEATH OF REV. CHARLES HIGBEE ANNOUNCED.
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He Died Away From Home Among Strangers.
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The Rev. Dr. Charles F. Higbee, a retired Episcopal clergyman, who was for many years . . . rector of the Pelham Priory [sic], Pelham Manor, has been travelling in Mexico for his health.  When Dr. Higbee first went away his wife and family, who live in this city, heard from him often, but lately they have received no letters, and are becoming alarmed.  Dr. Higbee is more than sixty years old, and they fear that he has become ill in some remote place and is unable to communicate with them.  At his hoe on Monday it was said that if word were not received from him in a few days some one of the family would go to Mexico to look for him.

As far as was consistent with the cloth, the Rev. Charles Higbee was an enthusiastic sportsman.  He was a good shot with the rifle, a superb swimmer and he knew how to cast a fly and never start a ripple.  He handled a good stick at golf.  He could surprise the young men at cricket, and tennis, and held high rank as a baseball enthusiast.  Notwithstanding that he was well along in years he could dive with the best of them and stay under water five or six minutes.  It is believed that it was while practicing this diving that he permanently injured his hearing.  He was entirely deaf, and had been so for years.

He had an uncontrollable desire to travel.  He often went away from home to hunt or fish in distant States or even in foreign countries.  He travelled alone and sometimes was away for many months.  His family in New Rochelle on several occasions heard nothing from him for long periods.  Then he would come home and his friends would learn that he had been in the far North beyond the mails, or perhaps in South America, away from the travelled routes.  The rector often said he had seen every part of the globe except South Africa.

When the minister lost his hearing friends hoped he would quit globe trotting, but last October he suddenly announced that he was going for a trip through Texas and Mexico.  A few letters were received from him, the last being in Mexico about January 15.  He was a great lover of nature, and it was supposed he was hunting or fishing in Mexico.  When for many weeks no news came the family concluded he was in the heart of the mountains somewhere and could not communicate with friends at home.  Until over four months went by the daughters were little alarmed.  

Finally Mrs. Higbee was taken so ill that she was placed in the care of a trained nurse.  An effort was then made to communicate with the absent rector, but no trace of him could be obtained.  The weeks of worry then commenced.  At last the Secretary of State was requested to make inquiry through the consuls and the following despatch from Washington, D. C., was received:

'The Rev. Charles Higbee, of New Rochelle, N. Y., has been missing since January last.  The Department of State received yesterday from the Consul General of the United States at Mexico City a telegram reporting the death in the Grand Hotel there of Charles Higbee on January 27.  The Consul in his message states he has mailed particulars.'"

Source:   THE DEATH OF REV. CHARLES HIGBEE ANNOUNCED -- He Died Away From Home Among Strangers, The New Rochelle Press, Jun. 2, 1900, Vol. XXV, No. 52, p. 1, col. 2.  

"REV. HIGBIE [sic] DEAD IN MEXICO.
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Passed Away In Hotel.
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DIED MORE THAN FIVE MONTHS AGO.
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Family Sought Him -- Aid Given by Consul -- Was on Hunting Trip -- Former Rectory [sic] Pelham Priory.
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(New York Herald, May 31.)

After weeks of anexiety over the utterly inexplicable disappearance of the Rev. Charles Higbee, of New Rochelle, relatives have learned that the eccentric minister died nearly five months ago in the Grand Hotel, Mexico City, Mexico.

Strange, indeed, is the story of this last journey of the rector who was very well known in Pelham Manor, where for 25 years he had the Pelham Priory Church.  He retired from his office as rector of this parish ten years ago.

As far as was consistent with the cloth, the Rev. Charles Higbee was an enthusiastic sportsman.  He was a good shot with the rifle, a superb swimmer and he knew how to cast a fly and never start a ripple.  He handled a good stick at golf.  He could surprise the young men at cricket and tennis and held a high rank as a base ball enthusiast.  Notwithstanding that he was in his fifty-sixth year he could dive with the best of them and stay under water five or six minutes.  It is believed that it was while practising this diving that nhe permanently injured his hearing.  He was entirely deaf, and had been so for years.

Fond of Travel.

The Rev. Charles Higbee had an uncontrolable [sic] desire to travel.  He often went away from home to hunt or fish in distant states or even in foreign countries.  He traveled alone and sometimes was away for many months.  His family in New Rochelle on several occasions heard nothing from him for long periods.  Then he would come home and his friends would learn that he had been in the far north beyond the mails, or perhaps in South America away from the traveled routes.  The rector often said he had seen every part of the globe except South Africa.  

When the minister lost his hearing friends hoped he would quit globe trotting, but last October he suddenly announced that he was going for a trip through Texas and Mexico.  A few letters were received from him, the last being written in Mexico about January 15.  He was a great lover of nature, and it was supposed he was hunting or fishing in Mexico.  When for many weeks no news came the family concluded that he was in the heart of the mountains somewhere and could not communicate with friends from home.  Until over four months went by the daughters were little alarmed.

Finally Mrs. Higbee was taken so ill that she was placed in the care of a trained nurse.  An effort was then made to communicate with the absent rector, but no trace of him could be obtained.  The weeks of worry then commenced.  At last the secretary of state was requested to make inquiry through the consuls.  Yesterday the 'Herald' received the following dispatch from Washington, D.C.:

'The Rev. Charles Higbee of New Rochelle, N. Y., has been missing since January last.  The Department of State received yesterday from the consul general of the United States at Mexico City a telegram reporting the death, in the Grand Hotel there, of Charles Higbee on January 27.  The consul in his message states that he has mailed particulars.'"


Memorial Services for Dr. Higbee.

A Memorial service will be held at Christ Church, Pelham Manor, to-morrow afternoon, at 4 o’clock, for the late Rev. Charles Higbee, rector emeritus of that church.

Dr. Higbee died in Mexico on January 27.  He left New Rochelle last fall on a hunting and fishing trip in the South.  When no news was received of him for several months by his family inquiry was made of the authorities at Washington about May 25.  Five days later a telegram was received from the consulate at Mexico that Dr. Higbee had died four months previously in a hotel where he had been stopping. 

Dr. Higbee was well known in this vicinity.  He had been the rector of Christ Church for 25 years.  He was a man of most exemplary character, and the news of his sudden death in a distant land was received with great sorrow by a multitude of friends.

The public are invited to attend his memorial services to-morrow.”

Source:  Memorial Services for Dr. Higbee, New Rochelle Pioneer, Jun. 30, 1900, p. 8, col. 4

"--The memorial service held in Christ Church, Pelham, Sunday afternoon last for the late Rev. Charles Higbee, rector emeritus of that church, whose death occurred in Mexico last January, was largely attended.  The services were conducted by the Rev. A. H. Tenney, rector of Christ Church, and his remarks on the character of the deceased were most appropritate."

Source:  BRIEF AND NEWSY, New Rochelle Pioneer, Jul. 7, 1900, p. 5, cols. 1-3.  

WEDDINGS.
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Channing—Higbee.

The marriage of Miss Cornelia Post, daughter of the late Rev. Charles Higbee, of this city, and Walter Channing, Jr., was solemnized by the Rev. Percy Gordon, at Mattapoisett, Mass., on July 10.  The bride’s father was at one time the rector of Christ Church, Pelham, and after his retirement from the ministry built a home in Neptune Park, where his family resided for several years.”

Source:  WEDDINGS – Channing—Higbee, New Rochelle Pioneer, Jul. 20, 1907, Vol. 49, No. 17, p. 4, col. 2

"PERSONALS . . . 

The engagement has been announced of Robert L. Minturn and Mis Mary M. Higbee, of this city.  Miss Higbee is the second daughter of the late Rev. Charles Higbee, for many years rector of the old Pelham Priory [sic].  The date of the wedding has not been fixed, but owing to the death of Miss Higbee's father in Mexico it will probably be a quiet one."

Source:  PERSONALS, The New Rochelle Press, Nov. 10, 1900, p. 5, col. 3.  

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