Other Events and Attributes:

• _AMTID: 162485317539:1030:191555462
• _FSFTID: GMFS-SGW
• _UID: 44E137E5BCA44C429EA46B2F728C13B2CE55
• Census: 12 Sep 1860, Iuka, Tishomingo, Mississippi, United States
• Occupation: 12 Sep 1860, Iuka, Tishomingo, Mississippi, United States; shoemaker
• Possessions: 12 Sep 1860, Iuka, Tishomingo, Mississippi, United States; personal property $1200
• Military: 27 May 1861, Corinth, Tishomingo, Mississippi, United States; inducted into the Confederate Army
• Military: 10 Jan 1862; discharged from the Confederate Army
• Census: 6 Jul 1870, Ozan Township, Hempstead, Arkansas, United States
• Occupation: 6 Jul 1870, Ozan Township, Hempstead, Arkansas, United States; mechanic
• Misc: 25 Sep 1874, Washington, Hempstead, Arkansas, United States; sued estate of S. B. Hempstead for $20

Notes:

Looking at the 1850 census (which is very hard to read - familysearch.org is clearer than Ancestry), it appears that there are a number of Sartin neighbors near the home of the Oglesbys in 1850. In 1850, the home is lead by M.H. Oglesby and William is a 23 year old son in the home. Perhaps he is the head by 1857. Additionally, there are a number of harness makers and shoemakers in the close vicinity.

There is a Simeon Higgs in Lawrence County, TN, immediately north, who had a will probated in Feb 1845, but does not name Thomas Morton Higgs. It does name a James H. Higgs.

In Limestone, from the 1820s-1830s, at least, there is a James Higgs active. He might be sheriff.

Read all of Athens in 1850, Limestone pages 1-30.

In the 1870 Census of Hempstead Co., AR, the Higgs family is enumerated with the family of Dr. M.C. Boyce. In the obituary for Thomas' son Will, there is a mention that the remains will be sent to Boyce, TX. While this was not the case, there may be a Boyce connection. The local chapter of the NSDAR in Waxahatchie, TX is named for a Boyce.

Another interesting research tidbit: in "The Heritage of Madison Co.,AL", a Sallie E. Higgs Parks is discussed. She is married to William Elisha Parks. Her father was Robert Higgs, born in Florida on 8 Nov 1845, the son of Charles (b. 1805) and Sarah (b. 1806) Higgs. His mother was Louisa Berry, born 6 Sep 1843 to John (b. 1808) and Eliza(b. 1809) Berry. Robert is buried in McGee, MS, but according to this article, Charles Higgs and many of Sallie's other family members are buried in Athens, Limestone Co., AL.

Cannot find a reliable record in the US Census 1850 for Thomas Higgs
Cannot find a matching record in the Alabama 1855 or 1866 census. Many counties in northern AL are missing.
Limestone County - checked all old records in the Limestone County Archives - Dec. 2015 - Deeds, wills, probate, everything available. No Sartains listed at all except the Higgs / Sartain marriage record.
Morgan County, Alabama - Checked old records - Commissioner's Court, deeds, wills, estates, probate records, old land records, orphans court records, newspaper histories of the county from John Knox - No Sartains or Higgs at all.

What about Alabama tax lists? Poll & property taxes would at least say who was there during the intra-census years. These appear to be only available via the probate court and are not filmed or published that I can find, if they actually exist at all.

Some of the other Higgs families around Limestone county came out of Jefferson and Knox counties in Tennessee. Likewise, there were Higgs families in east Tennessee. It seems somewhat possible that Mary and Thomas married during the migration south and then headed west to Arkansas. There are some other Higgs families in southern Arkansas that they may connect with.

Census:
Thomas and family are enumerated with the family of John Waldrup. It appears that since both Waldrup and Higgs are listed as shoemakers, Thomas must have been either a partner or an apprentice to Waldrup.

Military:
inducted into the Confederate Army

Thomas M. Higgs served in the Confederate Army, Company E of the 17th Mississippi Infantry. He held the rank of 4th Seargent and served under Capt. M.D. Moreland. He enlisted at the age of 23 in Corinth, MS on 27 May 1861 for a period of 12 months. He had traveled a distance of 14 miles to muster into the Army. His discharge papers record him as a shoemaker, born in Limestone Co., AL, and residing in Burnesville, MS. He was discharged from the army on 10 Jan 1862 after being admitted to the hospital. The reason for his early discharge was "general disability due to pneumonia and erysiphelas", recorded on 20 Feb 1862. Other notes record his disability as pneumonia and rhematism, etc. He was 5'10" tall, of fair complexion, and with gray eyes and dark hair.

Easily confused with T.M. Higgs are a T.N. Higgs / P.N. Higgs who served with Roddey's 4th Regt. Alabama Cavalry. But since all of these records post-date T.M. Higg discharge for disability, it is unlikely to be the same person.

Military:
discharged from the Confederate Army

Thomas married Mary J. Sartain on 25 Dec 1857 in Athens, Limestone, Alabama, United States. Mary was born on 27 Jun 1834 in Decatur, Morgan, Alabama, United States; died on 29 Oct 1887 in Texarkana, Miller, Arkansas, United States; was buried on 30 Oct 1887 in Washington, Hempstead, Arkansas, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Thomas M. Higgs and Mary J. Sartain were married at the home of William H. Oglesby in Athens, AL by Jn. Turrentine, J.P. on Christmas Day, 1857.

1. John William Higgs was born on 7 Apr 1859 in Magnolia, Columbia, Arkansas, United States; died on 2 Mar 1918 in Idabel, McCurtain, Oklahoma, United States; was buried in Idabel, McCurtain, Oklahoma, United States.
2. Ira Thomas Higgs was born on 9 Oct 1865 in Tuscumbia, Colbert, Alabama, United States; died on 19 Mar 1914 in Fort Smith, Sebastian, Arkansas, United States; was buried in Fort Smith, Sebastian, Arkansas, United States.