Brewster Higley VI
Encyclopedia
Brewster Martin Higley VI (November 30, 1823 - December 9, 1911) was an otolaryngologist who became famous for writing "The Western Home." This poem, originally written in 1872 and published under the title "Oh, Give Me a Home Where the Buffalo Roam" in the Smith County Pioneer in 1873, would be set to music to become the lyrics for the famous American folksong "Home on the Range
."
Because Higley wrote "The Western Home" while living in Smith County
, Kansas
, and because they felt it described their state very well, the Kansas legislature voted to make "Home on the Range" the official state song on April 8, 1947.
, the grandson of Rutland's founder Brewster Higley IV, Higley VI began studying medicine at La Porte Medical College in La Porte, Indiana at the age of eighteen. After graduating in 1849, he resettled in Pomeroy, Ohio
and established his first medical practice. He briefly practiced medicine in Indiana
and finally moved to Kansas in 1871 to claim land under the Homestead Act of 1862.
and secretly move away. He found his way to Smith County in 1871 and his marriage to Mrs. McPherson dissolved by default on Feb. 9, 1875. One month later, on March 8, 1875, he married Sarah Clemons, his final wife.
Brewster spent most of his remaining days in Kansas, but died in Shawnee, Oklahoma
in 1911, where he is buried in Fairview Cemetery.
Home on the Range
"Home on the Range" is the state song of Kansas, U.S.Home on the Range may also refer to:* Home on the Range , a drama directed by Arthur Jacobson* Home on the Range , a Disney animated feature film...
."
Because Higley wrote "The Western Home" while living in Smith County
Smith County, Kansas
Smith County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county's population was 3,853 for the 2010 census. Its county seat is Smith Center. It is named in memory of Maj. J. Nelson Smith, who was part of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry, killed in action at the Battle of Westport on October 21,...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, and because they felt it described their state very well, the Kansas legislature voted to make "Home on the Range" the official state song on April 8, 1947.
Early life and medical career
Born in Rutland, OhioRutland, Ohio
Rutland is a village in Meigs County, Ohio, United States. The population was 401 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rutland is located at . The village lies in the Appalachian Plateau physiographic region...
, the grandson of Rutland's founder Brewster Higley IV, Higley VI began studying medicine at La Porte Medical College in La Porte, Indiana at the age of eighteen. After graduating in 1849, he resettled in Pomeroy, Ohio
Pomeroy, Ohio
Pomeroy is a village in and the county seat of Meigs County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,966 at the 2000 census. During the late 19th century, Pomeroy was an important producer of coal and salt...
and established his first medical practice. He briefly practiced medicine in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and finally moved to Kansas in 1871 to claim land under the Homestead Act of 1862.
Family and later life
Dr. Higley married five times and fathered three children. His first three marriages are reported to have ended tragically when his wives succumbed to injury or disease, but there is some dispute whether this was the case with his second wife (see Spouses and Children). Following the dissolution of his first three marriages, Brewster married Mrs. Mercy Ann McPherson, a widow, on Feb. 28, 1866. The two had a tumultuous relationship, and Dr. Higley felt compelled to leave his children with relatives in IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and secretly move away. He found his way to Smith County in 1871 and his marriage to Mrs. McPherson dissolved by default on Feb. 9, 1875. One month later, on March 8, 1875, he married Sarah Clemons, his final wife.
Spouses and children
- Maria Winchell Higley (wife), died in 1852 from disease
- Eleanor Page Higley (wife), mother of Brewster Higley VII (son). It is reported that Eleanor may have taken their child and left Dr. Higley to live with her previous husband, David A. Smith. She likely died between 1867 and 1870, after she had already left Brewster.
- Catherine Livingston Higley (wife), mother of Estella (daughter) and Arthur Herman (son), injured in 1864 and died subsequently.
- Mrs. Mercy Ann McPherson (wife); Higley quite literally ran from the tumultuous marriage in 1871 to move to Kansas.
- Sarah Clemens (wife).
Brewster spent most of his remaining days in Kansas, but died in Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Shawnee is a city in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 29,857 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Oklahoma City-Shawnee Combined Statistical Area; it is also the county seat of Pottawatomie County and the principal city of the Shawnee Micropolitan Statistical...
in 1911, where he is buried in Fairview Cemetery.