Jere Will Higgs

1893 - 1952  (59 years)

• Name	Jere Will Higgs
  Nickname	Jere Will
  Born	5 Jun 1893	Alma, Crawford Co., Arkansas   [1, 2, 3, 4]
  Gender	Male
  Census	25 Jun 1900	Van Buren, Crawford Co., Arkansas   [5]
  Census	5 May 1910	DeQueen, Sevier Co., Arkansas   [6]
  Education	1914	Fayetteville, Washington Co., Arkansas   [7]
  	at the University of Arkansas
  Occupation	14 May 1914	Louisiana   [8, 9]
  	Address: civil engineer for the Kansas City & Southern Railway
  	J.W. Higgs Jr., an attache of civil engineering corps of the K.C.S. Ry., now in charge of the concrete work, a great deal of which is being done in Louisiana, was visiting his parents Sunday. At the urgent request of some of the citizens, he agreed to make an examination of and report on the concrete work being done here.
  Misc	17 Sep 1914	Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma   [7]
  	visited his parents
  	J.W. Higgs jr. who has been visiting his parents for a week, left Tuesday for Leesville, La. where he will complete his work with the civil engineering corps of the KCS preparatory to returning to the University at Fayetteville, Ark. to complete his course.
  Misc	24 Dec 1914	Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma   [9]
  	arrived for a visit
  	J.W. Higgs jr. arrived in the city from Louisiana where he holds an important position in the civil engineering dept. of the Kansas City Southern railway to spend Christmas with his parents.
  Misc	8 Apr 1915	Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma   [10]
  	visited his parents
  	J.W. Higgs jr. spent Sunday in the city visiting his parents.
  Misc	1 Jul 1915	Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma   [11]
  	visted from Texarkana
  	J.W. Higgs jr. came over Thursday from Texarkana but returned on Friday. His mother, brother, and two little sisters accompanied him to Texarkana to visit with him for a while.
  Residence	Dec 1915	Texarkana, Miller Co., Arkansas   [12]
  Misc	16 Dec 1915	Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma   [12]
  	visited his family
  	J.W. Higgs jr., who is the senior transit man on the south end of the KCS with headquarters in Texarkana, arrived at home today to spend the holidays with his parents.
  Military	12 May 1917	Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma   [2]
  	enlisted 87th Division, 334 Field Artillery
  Military	25 May 1917	Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma   [13]
  	registered for the World War I draft, 2nd Lt, 334 Field Artillery,
  Military	24 May 1919  [2]
  	honorably discharged, 334 Field Artillery, 2nd Lt.
  Census	9 Jan 1920	Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma   [14]
  	Address: Fifth Street
  	Jerry Will Higgs is listed in this family but then crossed out. Perhaps, he was visiting or a farm hand or boarder.
  Census	14 Jan 1920	Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma   [15]
  	It appears that J. Wills Higgs, same age as Jere Will, is our man. He appears to be enumerated in two places. The census taker seems to have been really sloppy in Idabel at this time.
  Residence	1924	Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas   [16]
  	Address: 4806 Junius
  Residence	1925	Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana   [17]
  	Address: 2501 W. College
  Residence	Jun 1926	Big Spring, Howard Co., Texas   [18]
  Residence	1930	Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas   [19]
  	Address: 714 Hillcrest St.
  	714 Hillcrest is now 714 Huntley
  Census	14 Apr 1930	Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas   [20]
  	Address: 714 Hillcrest St.
  	In 1930, it appears that Robert W. Everett owned the house at 714 Hillcrest. He rented an apartment to Jerry Higgs and his mother. There were two servants in the house, presumably working for the Everetts.
  Residence	1931	Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas   [21, 22]
  Residence	1932	Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas   [23]
  	Address: 2202 Michigan Ave
  Residence	1934	Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas   [24]
  	Address: 1606 Cascade
  Residence	1 Apr 1935	Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas   [25]
  Census	10 Apr 1940	Irving, Dallas Co., Texas   [25]
  	The 1940 census records Jere as divorced.
  Military	27 Apr 1942	Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas   [4]
  	registered for WWII draft
  Residence	27 Apr 1942	Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas   [4]
  	Address: 708 N. Glasgow
  Residence	Nov 1952	Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas   [26]
  	Address: 9836 Hathaway
  Died	30 Nov 1952	Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas   [1, 2, 3, 26, 27, 28]
  	DEATH: Died in a private plane crash.
  Buried	Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas   [1, 2, 26]
  	Address: Garden of Eternity, Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park
  	FINDAGRAVE: http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=137358420
  Person ID	I3531	Scott Dickson's Family
  Last Modified	4 May 2019

  
  

  Father	John William Higgs,   b. 7 Apr 1859, Magnolia, Columbia Co., Arkansas ,   d. 2 Mar 1918, Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma  (Age 58 years)
  Mother	Eliza Johnson (Lida) Cason,   b. 24 Jun 1868, Carrollton, Pickens Co., Alabama ,   d. 7 Mar 1941, Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas  (Age 72 years)
  Married	3 Mar 1889	Arkadelphia, Clark Co., Arkansas   [29]
  Family ID	F258	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Grace Clowdis,   b. 22 Oct 1889, Arkansas ,   d. 25 Aug 1927, Big Spring, Howard Co., Texas  (Age 37 years)
  Marriage License	21 Jun 1926	Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma   [30]
  	Interestingly, Tom Finney applied for the marriage license on Jere Will's behalf.
  Married	22 Jun 1926	Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma   [18]
  	Interestingly, Tom Finney got the marriage license instead of Jere Will. He and Morton Higgs were witnesses to the marriage.
  Children	1. Jere Will Higgs, Jr.,   b. 22 Aug 1927, Big Spring, Howard Co., Texas ,   d. 15 Feb 1972  (Age 44 years)
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2020
  Family ID	F450	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Mary Pauline Langley,   b. 1895,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	29 Oct 1931	Ardmore, Carter Co., Oklahoma   [22]
  Marriage License	29 Oct 1931	Ardmore, Carter Co., Oklahoma   [22]
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2020
  Family ID	F3572	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 3	Vesta Estelle Harrison,   b. 1907, Texas ,   d. 5 Aug 1983, Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas  (Age 76 years)
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2020
  Family ID	F3573	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 4	Florence Perkins,   b. 18 Feb 1904, Texas ,   d. 25 Jun 1982, Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas  (Age 78 years)
  Married	17 Feb 1943	Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas   [31]
  Marriage License	17 Feb 1943	Grayson Co., Texas   [31]
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2020
  Family ID	F1884	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 5 Jun 1893 - Alma, Crawford Co., Arkansas Census - 25 Jun 1900 - Van Buren, Crawford Co., Arkansas Census - 5 May 1910 - DeQueen, Sevier Co., Arkansas Education - at the University of Arkansas - 1914 - Fayetteville, Washington Co., Arkansas Occupation - Address: civil engineer for the Kansas City & Southern Railway - 14 May 1914 - Louisiana Misc - visited his parents - 17 Sep 1914 - Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma Misc - arrived for a visit - 24 Dec 1914 - Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma Misc - visited his parents - 8 Apr 1915 - Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma Misc - visted from Texarkana - 1 Jul 1915 - Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma Residence - Dec 1915 - Texarkana, Miller Co., Arkansas Misc - visited his family - 16 Dec 1915 - Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma Military - enlisted 87th Division, 334 Field Artillery - 12 May 1917 - Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma Military - registered for the World War I draft, 2nd Lt, 334 Field Artillery, - 25 May 1917 - Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma Census - Address: Fifth Street - 9 Jan 1920 - Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma Census - 14 Jan 1920 - Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma Residence - Address: 4806 Junius - 1924 - Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas Residence - Address: 2501 W. College - 1925 - Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana Residence - Jun 1926 - Big Spring, Howard Co., Texas Marriage License - 21 Jun 1926 - Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma Married - 22 Jun 1926 - Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma Residence - Address: 714 Hillcrest St. - 1930 - Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas Census - Address: 714 Hillcrest St. - 14 Apr 1930 - Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas Residence - 1931 - Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas Married - 29 Oct 1931 - Ardmore, Carter Co., Oklahoma Marriage License - 29 Oct 1931 - Ardmore, Carter Co., Oklahoma Residence - Address: 2202 Michigan Ave - 1932 - Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas Residence - Address: 1606 Cascade - 1934 - Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas Residence - 1 Apr 1935 - Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas Census - 10 Apr 1940 - Irving, Dallas Co., Texas Military - registered for WWII draft - 27 Apr 1942 - Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas Residence - Address: 708 N. Glasgow - 27 Apr 1942 - Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas Married - 17 Feb 1943 - Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas Marriage License - 17 Feb 1943 - Grayson Co., Texas Residence - Address: 9836 Hathaway - Nov 1952 - Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas Died - 30 Nov 1952 - Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas Buried - Address: Garden of Eternity, Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park - - Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Jere Will Higgs - WWI
  		Jere Will Higgs - Jere Will
  		Will Higgs Family Will Higgs, Jere Will Higgs, Lida Cason Higgs

  
  

• Notes

  In the 1920 census, he may be enumerated as J. Wills Higgs in the household of Viola Stepp, Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma. From Mary Higgs Thompson Hi Scott! Good to hear from you. Oddly enough, I have some old letters from Lida Higgs (Granny) to "My dear Ida" that I have been intending to transcribe in my retirement, but of course my retirement has been so busy I haven't had time to even read them all closely. But there is one from May 4, 1932 saying that Jere Will's marriage to Miss Langley had been a "ghastly mistake." He had all along intended for his mother to stay with him and take care of "the baby" Jere and this caused no small amount of havoc in the household -- so they got divorced. AND. there was another marriage, to Mrs. Vesta Littlefield. They got married after meeting at Sulphur Springs (Texas?). Her husband was killed about 2 years before and she had three children ranging in age from 8 to 5. This letter was dated Feb. 5, 1936. She was apparently quite sickly with kidney and "female" troubles, but I don't have anything about what happened to her. And yes, Florence had been married to Mr. Hill. He was the father of Florence's two girls, Daisy and Judy. Judy is still alive, but Daisy died a while back. I don't know anything about him except my cousin Cindy Clendenen, Daisy's daughter, says he was not a nice man, so maybe he and Florence got divorced. I also always wondered if he was a Hill that was connected with Gifford Hill, the company that Jere Will worked for? Anyway, Granny did love to write long interesting letters! I am still planning to transcribe them, turn them into a screen play !?

  
  

• Sources

  [S641] Find A Grave, 25 November 2014; Jere Will Higgs; Jere Will Higgs; 137358420; Sherry. [S836] U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963, 23 December 2014; Jere Will Higgs, 1952. [S1057] U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, 27 March 2017; Jere Will Higgs, SSN 457017357. [S706] U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, 27 March 2017; Jere Will Higgs, Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas, b 5 Jun 1893. [S591] 1900 US Federal Census, Crawford Co, AR, Van Buren; ED 63; sheet 7A; dwelling 363, family 366; JW Higgs. [S573] 1910 US Federal Census, Sevier Co, AR, Bear Creek Twp, DeQueen; ED 171; sheet 17B; dwelling 291, family 301; John W. Higgs. [S981] McCurtain Democrat Record, Local and Personal; 17 September 1914; Held on Microfilm at the Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. [S980] McCurtain Democrat Record, Local and Personal; 14 May 1914; on Microfilm at the Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. [S981] McCurtain Democrat Record, Local and Personal; 24 December 1914; Held on Microfilm at the Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. [S981] McCurtain Democrat Record, Local and Personal; 8 April 1915; Held on Microfilm at the Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. [S981] McCurtain Democrat Record, Local and Personal; 1 July 1915; Held on Microfilm at the Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. [S981] McCurtain Democrat Record, Local and Personal; 16 December 1915; Held on Microfilm at the Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. [S705] U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, 11 August 2012; Oklahoma, McCurtain Co, Higgs, Jere Will. [S716] 1920 US Federal Census, McCurtain Co., OK, Idabel; ED 157; Sheet 12-B; Dwelling 177, Family 264; Thomas Butler. [S716] 1920 US Federal Census, McCurtain Co., OK, Idabel; ED 157; Sheet 27; Dwelling 397, Family 564; Viola Stepp. [S688] U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989, 11 August 2012; Dallas, Texas, City Directory, 1924, Lida Higgs. [S688] U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989, 11 August 2012; Shreveport, Louisiana, City Directory, 1925, Lida Higgs. [S1069] Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995, 27 March 2017; Jere Will Higgs to Grace Clowdis, 22 Jun 1926, Idabel, McCurtain Co, Oklahoma. [S688] U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989, 11 August 2012; Dallas, Texas, City Directory, 1930, Lida Higgs. [S565] 1930 US Federal Census, Dallas Co., TX, Dallas; ED 57-38; sheet 18 B; dwelling 339, 714 Hillcrest St.; Jerry W. Higgs. [S688] U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989, 11 August 2012; Dallas, Texas, City Directory, 1931, Lida Higgs. [S1069] Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995, 28 May 2018; 29 Oct 1931, Jere Will Higgs to Mary Longley, Carter County. [S688] U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989, 11 August 2012; Dallas, Texas, City Directory, 1932, Lida Higgs. [S688] U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989, 14 April 2018; Dallas, Texas, City Directory, 1934, Jere W Higgs. [S715] 1940 US Federal Census, Dallas Co., TX, Irving; ED 57-58; sheet 9 B; household 190, Lucille St.; Jere W. Higgs; 11 August 2012. [S1097] Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982, 27 March 2017; Jere Will Higgs, d 30 Nov 1952, Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas. [S714] Texas Death Index, 1903-2000, 11 August 2012; Jere W. Higgs, 30 Nov 1952. [S940] Texas Death Certificate, Jere W Higgs; Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas; File 59078; 30 November 1952. [S606] Arkansas County Marriages Index - 1837-1957, 11 August 2012; Lida Cason to J. W. Higgs. [S1069] Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995, 28 May 2018; Jere Will Higgs, Idabel, McCurtain Co., Jun 1926. [S1108] Texas, Select County Marriage Records, 1837-2015, 30 May 2018; Grayson Co, Texas, 17 Feb 1943, Jere W Higgs to Florence Hill.