Person:Edwin Higgins (1)

See article in Washington Post, July 2, 1906, which gives the facts of his life and survivors. He is buried in Arlington national Cemetery. He appears in the 1870 Census in Chicago, staying with Edward and Sarah Pierce (Sarah was his sister.)

Bugler for Company H, 11th Michigan Infantry[Samuel Randall - Descendants.FTW]

WESTERN CHRONICLE, dated 1-3-1860

"David Higgins, a blacksmith, came to Constantine in 1836 and built a shop adjoining the furnace of Mr. Benham, where he worked almost two years. He then moved across the river, and put up a shop in the rear of Clinton Doolittle's shop and residence, known as the red shop, where he continued business until his death, some ten years since. Mrs. Higgins subsequently married Almeron Bristol, Esq., with whom she lived several years, until her death. She left two children, a son and daughter. Her daughter married a man by the name of Pierce, several years since, and now resides in Chicago. Her son Edward (sic) Higgins, a lad of some 17 years is still in the vicinity." (Note that Edwin's name is misspelled!).

The Edwin Higgins shown in the 1860 Maryland Census is NOT the correct person!:

Edwin Higgins, age 20, sex M, birthplace [Md], attended school. St. John's College is written in margin.

• • • I'm not sure this is the right person *** (Lynda Howell, notes).

I do not think this is the right person either! The age is four years off and the census form indicates he was born in "Md." (?) - nearly illegible but certainly does not look like "Mich" - all other records indicate clearly that he was born in Michigan in 1844 - NOT Maryland. - fwj

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Obituary for Edwin Higgins, in Washington, District of Columbia, United States. Washington Post, The. (Washington, D.C.)
   Pg 4, 02 Jul 1906, Mon.

   "Rose from Bugle Boy to Positions of Trust".
   
   In the first paragraph: "Edwin Higgins, ..., died at his home, 1012 Fourteenth street northwest, Monday night"
   
   In the third paragraph: "Mr [Edwin] Higgins was born in Constantine, Mich., July 31, 1844. He was the son of David Higgins, a merchant, and lived with his parents until their deaths shortly after he was eleven years old".
   
   "Rose From Bugle Boy to Positions of Trust; Late Edwin Higgins was 'Boy Governor' of Utah; Held Many Important Posts; Left an Orphan at Eleven Years of Age, He Secured an Education by Attending Night School Until the Civil War Opened, When He Entered the Bugle Corps - Married Daughter of Exile". ..."died at his home, 1012 Fourteenth Street northwest, Monday night". ..."His death resulted from Bright's Disease. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery."

   Some references give earlier dates for the deaths of Edwin's parents, making Edwin orphaned perhaps at the age of 4 or 5 - not 11; see "History of Ashburnham, Massachusetts"; 1734-1886 with a genealogical register of Ashburnham families..."; Stearns, Ezra S.; 1887.

   "...died at his home, 1012 Fourteenth street northwest, Monday night". According to a 1906 calendar, this would refer to the previous Monday night, June 25, 1906 (July 2, the date of publication, was a Monday).

2. ↑ St. Joseph, Michigan, United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule: Seventh Census of the United States, NARA Microfilm Publication M432. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration)
   Constantine.

   Almeron Bristol (2nd husband of Mary Randall Higgins) is shown as head of hh, b. abt 1805 in "VT"?, "cabinet maker", with wife, Mary, b. abt 1806 in VT; son, George, b. abt. 1832 in NY? ("deaf"); daughter (illegible), b. abt 1833; daughter, Mary, b. abt. 1849; Lydia Randall (sister-in-law?) ; Sarah Higgins (stepdaughter), b. abt 1833 in "Vt."(?); and Edwin Higgins (stepson), "age 6" (b. abt. 1844) in Michigan. Edwin is shown living with his sister, Sarah, in the hh of his mother's 2nd husband.

   See also 1870 US Census, Chicago, where Edwin is living with this wife, Alice, in the Pierce hh; shown here as "age 25", b. abt. 1845, or b. 1844 if census was taken before July, Edwin's purported birth month..

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6} South Carolina Historical Society. South Carolina historical magazine. (Charleston [South Carolina]: South Carolina Historical Society)
   1945.
4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Duval, Florida, United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule: Tenth Census of the United States, NARA Microfilm Publication T9. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration).

   Jacksonville, Duval, Florida, United States, ED 35, Sheet 558A, Dwelling 117, Family 149, Lines 7-13, Roll 126

5. ↑ List of Governors from Territorial to Statehood.

   From Utah Division of Archives and Records Service. Edwin Higgins was the Secretary of the Territory from 1867 to 1869. During that time, Charles Durkee was the Territorial Governor. http://www.archives.state.ut.us/research/guides/governor.htm#list.

6. ↑ Edwin Higgins, Sr, in Find A Grave.

   Bugler, 11th Michigan Infantry
   
   He was the son of David Higgins (1804-1848) and Mary Randall Higgins (1807-1853). On August 24, 1861, he enlised as a Bugler at the age of 20 years. On August 28, 1861, he became a member of Company H, 11th Michigan Infantry Regiment. On December 1, 1861, he was transferred and promoted to Chief Bugler. On December 1, 1862, he was transferred back to Company H. (Source: Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War 1861-1865). On July 18, 1892, he received a Civil War pension (Application No. 1122113 and Certificate No. 976525). Additional daughter is Alice Higgins Willis.
   
   The Washington Post June 20, 1906
   Higgins Funeral Tomorrow
   Body of Former Governor of Utah to Rest in Arlington
   The funeral of Edwin Higgins, former Territorial Governor of Utah who died Monday night will be held from his late home, 1012 Fourteenth Street tomorrow afternoon. The services will be in charge of the B.B. French Lodge, Order of the Masons and Burnside Post, G.A.R. of which organizations Mr. Higgins was a member. The burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery.
   
   The services at the house will be conducted by Rev. J.D. LaMothe of the Church of the Epiphany. The burial will be with full military honors. The pallbearers will be selected from the Masons and Grand Army.

7. ↑ ^7.0 7.1 District of Columbia, United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule: Twelfth Census of the United States, NARA Microfilm Publication T623. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration).

   Washington city, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, ED 77, Sheet 8B, Family 112, Roll 161