Higgins was born in Chicago on January 5, 1891, was educated in public and parochial schools and business college.
He served in the United States Navy during the First World War, was honorably discharged, and went into what his official biography describes as "the advertising business, specializing in periodical magazine work."
Instead of running for reelection as alderman, he ran in 1932 for the State Senate (for the 6th District this time) as an independent, and again came in fourth in a four-way race.
He became a perennial candidate for city, county and state offices, and ran at various times as a Republican or Democrat.
He worked as a plant guard, and died of a heart attack on May 27, 1950, having lost his most recent race for alderman the month before.