Patrick J. Higgins : Short Biography

Patrick J. Higgins was the son of Thomas Higgins and Mary Coll. He was born in Ballinagare, County Roscommon on 10 Jul 1863. He grew up on his father’s farm and at age 18 was employed on an English farm in Staffordshire. In April 1881, he emigrated from Queenstown to New York on the City of Brussels. He settled in Glen Ridge, New Jersey where he worked as a farm gardener for 20 years. On 22 Apr 1883, he married Bridget Feeney, daughter of Peter Feeney and Mary McGowan from Sligo, Ireland. In 1901, Patrick was appointed as a patrolman on the Glen Ridge Police Department. Seven years later be became the Chief of Police. He served as Chief of Police for 17 years. Below is a photo of Patrick (far left) with his son William (far right) while serving with the Glen Ridge Police Department circa 1920.  The two Belgian police dogs were purchased to aid in night patrols.  William followed in his father's role as Chief of Police.  A photo of the Glen Ridge Police Department staff circa 1930 is also shown below.  William is standing to the right of the man in the straw hat.  Patrick died in Glen Ridge on 17 Dec 1937 and is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Bloomfield.