Clarence Elmer Higgins

HIGGINS JACKSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/21/2010 at 23:07:58

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Clarence Elmer Higgins
By Everett F Lamb

Clarence Elmer Higgins, better known as ‘Dad Higgins’ was born in New Lexington, Ohio, on January 31st, 1852, the son of Robert and Jane Higgins. Later he moved to Brooks Grove, Illinois. On February 18, 1875, he married Mary Emaline Jackson Endicott of Stanford, Illinois.

Elmer and Mary had three children: Alice Bertha Higgins was born on December 18, 1878; on June 11, 1882, Alpha Earl Higgins was born.

In 1907, he moved with his family to the Sloan vicinity. Here ‘Dad’ Higgins carried the mail from the post office to the trains. He was an early riser, meeting the train at 4 a.m. in the morning. He also delivered merchandise from store to store – home to home. He walked many times to his daughter’s home (Alpha) refusing rides.

Mary was noted for her garden and flower patches. She spent much time working on quilts. Many quilts were made for the bazaars in the Sloan Methodist Church.

On December 26, 1899, Alice Bertha ‘Bert’ married Suel Neal. They came to Iowa in 1908. Mariel Neal Slocum and Grace Barton Weymer were the adopted daughters. Marie died in 1932. Grace lives in California. Bert died October 3, 1928, and is buried in the Sloan Cemetery.

Frank Higgins married Mary Caroline Butler on March 1, 1906. They had four children: Jeannette Higgins Hassloch lives in Georgetown, Kentucky; Mildred Higgins Hargadine lives in Cincinnati, Ohio; George Higgins lives in Woodburn, Oregon; Kenneth Butler Higgins was born November 12, 1911, and died April 21, 1913.

On May 26, 1912, Alpha married Foster Milo Lamb. Their children were: Raymond Harry Lamb lives on a farm near Salisbury, Missouri. Everett lives on a farm near Salix, Iowa. One son died at birth and is buried in the Sloan Cemetery.

Clarence Elmer Higgins died on December 10, 1927, in the home of Frank Higgins. On July 5, 1931, Mary died in her son’s home in Omaha, Nebraska. She had lived with her daughter, Alpha since March of 1930. Both are buried in the Sloan Cemetery.