Was married to an earlier wife and had children in Washington Co, PA. He and his second wife moved to Fayette Co and settled on a farm where the village of Grindstone is currently (about 1836), as reported by granddaughter Mary Wells Scarborough. He died near Finleyville 5 Jan 1854 from an injury received in using a horse powered thresher. His widow survived him by several years.
[Obituary] Monongahela Valley Republican - Friday, 20 Jan 1854, pg 3
FATAL ACCIDENT -
Mr. John Higbee, of Perryopolis, Fayette County being on a visit to his father near Finleyville, met with an accident on Thursday of last week, near his father’s house, which resulted in his death.
It appears he was engaged in driving the threshing machine, but unfortunately he fell from the platform on which he was standing, and was caught in the machinery. There were six horses attached to the machine, and it was some time before they could be stopped. Mr. Higbee was so wedged in the marchinery, that two hours expired before he could be removed. The morning was very cold, and he was so mangled and torn in a horrible manner, some idea may be had of what he suffered. Medical aid was immediately summoned, but the injuries were so severe that Mr. Higbee lingered until Friday when he expired. He was fifty years of age; he leaves a wife and family.