Charles Higinbotham, 1870-1940

HIGINBOTHAM

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/5/2009 at 10:07:59

GRUVER PIONEER IS DEAD

Chas. Higinbotham Passes Last Night of Heart Attack; Resided at Gruver Over 40 years

Chas. Higinbotham, popular Gruver merchant, died suddenly Wednesday afternoon [June 10, 1940] at his home in Gruver. His death was attributed to a heart attack. Mr. Higinbotham had been working in his store at Gruver and he complained of a pain around his heart. He went upstairs to the family apartment above the store and as he reached the door he collapsed. Medical aid was summoned but he passed away before help arrived.

The deceased was one of Emmet county's pioneer merchants and citizens. He was born in Forest City on April 26, 1870, and was 70 years old at the time of his sudden death. He spent his childhood in and around Forest City obtaining his education in the public schools of that place. In 1897 he moved to Armstrong and entered the grain business.

Mr. Higinbotham was united in marriage with Miss Grace Lawrence, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Lawrence of Estherville. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Higinbotham. The family moved to Gruver in 1899 and Mr. Higinbotham continued in the grain business for the first year of his residence there. In 1900 he opened a general store in Gruver and he continued to operate the store until his death.

For thirty years Mr. Higinbotham has successfully served the people of Gruver and vicinity as postmaster, being retired on May 1st of this year having reached the age of seventy years.

His genial disposition and his pleasing personality won many friends for Mr. Higinbotham throughout his many years of service to the public in the store and the postoffice. He had been active in community affairs and was one of the guiding powers in the administration of the Gruver town affairs. He served the town as mayor for a number of years, was a member of the town council and was active member of the school board during his residence in Gruver.

Funeral services will be held at the William Higinbotham home in Estherville at 1:30 o'clock on Friday afternoon and at the Gruver Presbyterian church at 2:30 p. m. Rev. Burton of Gruver will be in charge of the services. Burial will be in the East Side cemetery. Pall bearers will be Chris Skaarup of Maple Hill, M. H. Chukker, Leonard Brood, John Irwin, John Goldsberry and Frank Krieger all of Gruver.

Surviving besides his widow are the two sons, William of Estherville and Lawrence of Spencer, two grandchildren, Dean and Janice of Estherville, two sisters Mrs. Meta Fisher and Miss Alice Higinbotham of Forest City and one brother V. M. Higinbotham of Red Lake Falls, Minn.

Contributed by: Ruth M. Hackett. Source: Estherville Daily News, Estheville, Emmet County, Iowa, June 12, 1940.