Shelby  County  Indiana
Obituaries

Higgins


The  Shelbyville  News
 Thursday, April 9, 1959
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Higgins Rites Saturday
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Mrs. Grace Mitchell Higgins, 78, 114 Grant St., Greenfield, died this morning.  Formerly lived in Shelby county prior to moving to Greenfield 14 years ago.
D/o  Hardin  and  Miranda (Mings) Mitchell  and was born in Shelby county.  Married William E. Higgins, who preceded in death.  Member of the Waldron Baptist Church.
Survivors include daughter, Mrs. Edith Zike  of Greenfield, and one sister, Mrs. Inez Wertz of Greensburg.  A son  Carl M. Higgins  preceded in death.
Pasco Memorial Mortuary at Greenfield. Rev. Tom Arthur will officiate. Burial Washington Park cemetery, Marion county.
Submitted by Don T. Mitchell, great great great nephew of Hardin D. Mitchell.


The  Shelbyville  News
 Monday, April 24, 1950
Page 1
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SAMUEL  HIGGINS  SUCCUMBS  HERE
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         A serious illness of eight weeks caused the death of  Samuel D. Higgins, 70, at the W. S. Major Hospital at 12:20 p.m. today.
         Mr. Higgins resided at 107 E Taylor St.  He was a lifelong resident of Shelbyville and for many years was employed as an interior decorator.  For the past several years he had operated the Higgins Liquor Store on E. Broadway.
         He was the son of  Andrew J.  and  Frances (Shadley) Higgins  and was born in this city on December 22, 1873.  On May 16, 1902, he was married to  Zona McCarty  who survives with a daughter, Mrs. Bonetti Ferleman.  Also surviving are three granchildren,  Mrs. Patti Degner  and  Fay  and  Kay Ferleman.
         Funeral servies will be held at the Ewing Mortuary Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.  Burial will be at Forest Hill cemetery.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelbyville  News
 Monday April 11, 1949
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WILLIAM  HIGGINS  DIES  SUDDENLY
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Rites for Former Factory Engineer To Be Tuesday
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          William H. Higgins, lifelong resident of Shelbyville, died Sunday afternoon at 4:30 o’clock at the Shelby Hotel where he made his home.  He was 87 years of age.
          A retired furniture factory engineer, Mr. Higgins was born in this city on September 4, 1861, the son of  George and  Harriett (Ford) Higgins.  He was married to  Rose Zeigler who preceded him in death in July, 1940.
          He is survived by three children,  Mrs. Lytle Nail,  Mrs. Helen Curson  and  Maurice Higgins, all of Indianapolis; four grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. Paul Polk of Los Angeles, California.  Two sons,  Otto and  Harry, preceded him in death.
          Funeral rites will be held Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at the Murphy Mortuary with the Rev. Clement Zepf officiating.  Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery.
Contributed by Barb Huff



The  Shelby  Democrat
 Thursday July 18, 1940
Page 2 column 7
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RITES  PLANNED  FOR  MRS. ROSE  HIGGINS
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Elderly Woman Succumbs
at Home of Sister, Mrs. N. J. Rembusch
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          Funeral arrangements were made today for Mrs. Rose Higgins, age seventy-six, who died at 9:00 o’clock last night at the home of her sister, Mrs. Nicholas J. Rembusch, of 316 south West street. She became seriously ill Monday morning.
          The funeral service will be at 9 a.m. Thursday in the St. Joseph church here, with the Rev. Clement Zepf officiating. Interment, in charge of Loren H. Murphy, funeral director, will be in the St. Joseph cemetery.
          Mrs. Higgins, who had resided with a daughter,  Mrs. Charles I. Carson, in Indianapolis, for the last year, had been visiting relatives in Shelbyville for the last eight weeks. She had lived in this city until about five years ago.  For several years she was housekeeper for the Reverend Father J. C. Reidinger, of Mars Hill.  She was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic church here and of the Daughters of Isabella.
          A daughter of  Joseph and  Mary Zeigler, Mrs. Higgins was born in Shelby township February 12, 1864.  Surviving are: two daughters,  Mrs. Lytle Nail and  Mrs. Carson, both of Indianapolis; two sons, Otto Higgins, of Union City, and  Maurice Higgins, of Indianapolis; two sisters,  Mrs. Nicholas J. Rembusch and  Mrs. Melvin Collins, of Shelbyville and four grandchildren.
Contributed by Barb Huff


The  Shelbyville  Republican
Thursday March 23, 1916
Page 1 column 4
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REV.  J.  MARTIN  HIGGINS
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          The Rev. J. Martin Higgins, well known aged minister, died at his late home in Middletown at one-fifteen o’clock this morning, from a complication of diseases from which he had been suffering for three months.  He was aged seventy-two years.
          The funeral services will be held at the home at ten o’clock Saturday morning and at Flat Rock M.E. church at twelve-forty-five o’clock, the Rev. Charles McDonald officiating.  Burial will be made in the Flat Rock cemetery.
Contributed by Barb Huff



The  Shelby  Democrat
 Thursday, August 4, 1904
page 2, column 2
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ANDREW  J.  HIGGINS
An Old Respected Citizen Passed Away Saturday Afternoon
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          Andrew J. Higgins, one of the pioneers of Shelbyville, died at his late home, No. 35 east Taylor street, Saturday, July 30th, at 4:45 p.m.  Mr. Higgins' death was due to uraemia, which in his weakened condition the two operations which were recently performed on him for gangrene, the result of erysipelas on one of his toes, soon overcame him.
          Andrew J. Higgins was born near Brooklyn, Franklin county, Indiana, December 28th, 1830.  His father, Henry Higgins, of Irish descent, was born in Kentucky, came to Shelby county in 1835, and died in this city in 1872.  Malinda (Jackson) Higgins, the mother of our subject, was born in Ohio, January 1st, 1813 and died here a few years ago.
          Andrew J. was the eldest of eight children.  He received a common school education sufficient to enable him to teach school which he began at the age of seventeen years and followed at intervals which marked success for a period of nine years.
          In 1847, he embarked in the jewelry business, which he carried on with financial profit until 1877, when he retired and entered the business arena as real estate dealer, and being a man of excellent judgement has made some very profitable investments.  Since retiring from the jewelry business in 1877 he also served as justice of the peace for more than twenty years, during which time he united in marriage more than six hundred couples.
          In 1852 he was united in marriage to Frances Shadley, unto whom were born eleven children:  Mary J. Bailey (deceased),  Elizabeth A. Bassett,  Jas. B. Higgins (deceased),  William Higgins (deceased),  Margaret E. Walker,  Frances Marshall,  Martha E. Brown,  George F. Higgins,  Ursula Robertson,  Charles A. Higgins (deceased), and  Samuel A. Higgins.  Shortly after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Higgins united with Ripple M. E. Church, and in later years removed their membership to the First M. E. Church of this city.  He was a member of the Young Men's Prayer Band, seldom missing a meeting.
          Mr. Higgins was a genial, whole souled old gentleman, strictly fair in all his business dealings and was always ready with a helping hand for those who were in distress.  His beaming countenance will be greatly missed by those who daily came into contact with them.  His loss is like the loss of an old land mark to Shelbyville and Shelby County.
          The services will be held at the family residence, No. 35 east Taylor street, Tuesday morning at 10:30 o'clock, the Rev. L. F. Dimmitte of the First M. E. Church, officiating.  Interment in Forest Hill cemetery in charge of Oscar Hand & Son.
Submitted by Barb Huff


The  Franklin  Democrat
Friday, July 15, 1898
Volume XXXIX, Number 1
Page 1, column 6
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          After an illness of about five months,  Samuel Higgins  died at the home of his daughter,  Mrs. Emma Atwood,  at Bengal, Monday, at the age of eighty-five years.  Funeral at the M.P. church of that place on Wednesday morning.
Notes:  Date of birth, about 1813. Date of death, 11 Jul 1898 – Bengal, Shelby County Indiana.
Contributed by Mark McCrady and Cathea Curry


The  Shelby  Democrat
 Thursday, September 10, 1891
Page 3, column 5
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          Mrs. Malinda Higgins died at the home of her son, Isaac Higgins on East Washington street at seven p.m. Saturday, September 5, age seventy-eight years.  Funeral services were held at the house at 2 p.m. Monday. Rev. Charles Tinsley officiating and interment in the Jackson graveyard.  Cummins & Edwards funeral directors.
Submitted by Barb Huff for Phyllis Fleming


The  Shelby  Democrat
Thursday February 25, 1886
Page 1 column 6
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          Mrs. Martin [Esta (Warner)] Higgins died at her home in Flat Rock last Thursday age forty-two years.  The funeral services wee held at the M.E. Church in flat Rock, at one o’clock Friday afternoon, Rev. L. N. Jones officiating.  The remains were then taken to St. George’s Lutheran Church, four miles west of Flat Rock, where funeral services will be held by Rev. C. A. Kuhn after which the remains will be interred in St. George’s cemetery.
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Ibid.
Page 2 column 6
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(Flat Rock, February 10, 1886)
          I am sorry to record the death of  Estaville Higgins, wife of  Martin Higgins, whose demise, was a great shock, she only being sick a few days. But I am happy to say that she died the triumphant death of the righteous.

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Ibid.
Page 3 column 1
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      The funeral of  Mrs. Martin V. Higgins at Flat Rock Friday, was largely attended, and the husband of the deceased, desires through the  Democrat to return his sincere thanks to the many friends who befriended himself and wife during her last illness of the latter.

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Ibid.
Page 3 column 3
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IN  MEMORIAM
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          Estie Higgins, was born in Shelby county, Indiana, May 8, 1844, and died February 18, 1886.  She leaves a husband and five children to mourn her loss and three children who have preceded her to the spirit world.  Her remains were interred in St. George’s cemetery after a very touching funeral sermon by Rev. Kuhn.  She united with the M.E. Church when quite young, and lived a consistent member of the same until her death, which was a very triumphant one.  This only reminds us that the destiny of man is dissolution and the history of material organization is decay.  To know our end is the lesson of life, for life in its entire analysis, is but a lesson; its preface the cradle, its finale the grave.  The great voice that John heard out of heaven, saying,  "There shall be no more death,"  was not the language of earth, but the unmistakable vernacular of that celestial land above.  "Earth to earth, dust to dust, ashes to ashes,"  is the idiom of earth voiced by the shroud, the coffin, the grave. To that voice we have been listening as it comes to us so often of late. Her death has caused a blank in the church, the Sabbath School and social circle that cannot be filled.  Her vacant pew and chair should be kept sacred to her memory.  It mattered not whether in the kitchen, or parlor, she only had one object in view and that was duty in its broadest sense.  It was her only aim in life to do right and make all happy around her.  So warm in friendship that her friends were many. Although sensitive in nature, yet she was most appreciated by those with whom she was best acquainted.  When she passed away the earth was mantled in white, as if reaching down its white arms to receive her spirit above. He life was irreproachable for, Enoch-like, "she walked with God."  Stricken down in the midst of life, her loss will be felt around the family altar as well as in the class-room.  Although she has passed away yet she shall live again; shall live in precept and Christian example, in the many noble deeds, virtues and Christian graces which shall rise from her tomb and kiss the wings of the summer wind as it gently passes o’er her tomb.  Peaceful be thy repose. You will live again when the heavenly Father shall wake you to the joys of eternal life. With great satisfaction I review her life, so pure, so gentle, so lovely while in health, so calm and triumphant in death.  May her life and character be an example to her friends, and may their end be like hers—triumphant.
Contributed by Barb Huff


The  Shelbyville  Daily  Democrat
 Thursday, February 26, 1885
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          Charles M.,  son of  J. N. and  Ellen E. Higgins,  of Washington township, died Saturday evening of typhoid fever, aged fourteen years.  Buried at five o'clock yesterday evening at Winchester, Rev. Hawkins officiating.  D. B. Wilson, funeral director.  The following were the pall-bearers:  Henry Talbert,  Edward Killion,  Joseph Wilson,  Daniel Hawkins,  Robert Raynes and  Charles Stilwell.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming


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