Other Events and Attributes:

• _AMTID: 162485317455:1030:191555462
• _FSFTID: G76C-RLV
• _UID: B5B3AF17667F42E9B91492B62CAFBA15FD20
• Census: 6 Jul 1870, Ozan Township, Hempstead, Arkansas, United States
• Census: 11 Jun 1880, Ozan Township, Hempstead, Arkansas, United States
• Occupation: 11 Jun 1880, Ozan Township, Hempstead, Arkansas, United States; printer
• Census: 19 Jun 1900, Van Buren, Crawford, Arkansas, United States
• Occupation: 19 Nov 1902, Van Buren, Crawford, Arkansas, United States; commissioned coroner
• Misc: 22 Apr 1903, Van Buren, Crawford, Arkansas, United States; got into a fight with John Buel
• Occupation: 1902–1904, Crawford, Arkansas, United States; county coroner
• Residence: 1909, Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri, United States; Address:
  1705 Jefferson
• Census: 3 May 1910, Van Buren Township, Crawford, Arkansas, United States
• Occupation: 1910–1914, Crawford, Arkansas, United States; county coroner
• Probate: 1914

Notes:

Ira T. Higgs, brother of John William Higgs, was killed when he was hit by a streetcar in Fort Smith, AR. Living in Van Buren, AR, being the coroner there for four years, he had ventured across the river to Fort Smith. As he was returning home, he was struck by a streetcar on Garrison Ave. in Fort Smith. His leg was severed and he died a few hours after the accident. Ira had been the coroner for Crawford Co.for four years when he died and he had lived in Van Buren for 20 years. According to his obituary, he moved to Van Buren from Hot Springs, AR, the home of his wife, Hattie Nash. Likewise, according to the obituary, he was born near Texarkana, AR. Other sources have reported his birthplace as Tuscumbia, AL. It is likely that Ira and Hattie were married either in Texarkana, Miller Co., AR or near Hattie's family home in near Hot Springs, Garland Co., AR. However,Hattie is found with her mother and brother in the 1880 Census of Miller Co.

According to the 1900 Census, Ira was an undertaker in Van Buren. Notation 8-6-a-0-6-3 might refer to another census schedule.

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Birth:
An obituary for Ira in the Washington Telegraph says that he was born in Washington, Arkansas.

Some sources claim that Ira was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Others claim Washington, Hempstead Co., Arkansas. However, in both the 1870 census (where he was a child) and the 1880 census (where he was a teenager), Ira is listed as from Alabama. Likewise, by 1900, he reports himself as born in Alabama. So, I suspect he was born in Alabama but grew up in Washington. The family story is that they moved to Arkansas right after the Civil War. Don't know why or when.

Census:
Ira's profession in 1900 is an undertaker. This would be why he later was coroner for the county.

Occupation:
Commissions Issued - Coroner - Ira T. Higgs, Van Buren

Misc:
Fighting was the order of the day yesterday. Ed Minor and Jim Dick pulled off the first mill in which Dick carried of second honors. The smoke and carnage had hardly cleared away when John Buel and Ira Higgs mixed without serious injury to either. These mills are entertaining and broke the monotony for the bystanders, but have proven a financial failure to the principals.

Occupation:
Ira was elected but failed to qualify. His term was served by J.H. McKenney.

Residence:
There is an Ira T. Higgs listed in the 1909 City directory for Kansas City, Missouri. He is listed as a salesman for Schrader & Toller.

This would be in between Ira's two terms as coroner for Crawford County. I am not sure that this is really our Ira, but Ira T. Higgs is a fairly uncommon name. Moreover, there are several other Higgs folks in the directory along with him. This might bear further research.

Census:
Ira is listed as a printer in the 1910 Census.

Occupation:
Ira was elected coroner again in 1910 and served two terms, until his death.

Probate:
Crawford County Probate Index
Ira T Higgs, decd
Hattie Higgs, adm
Book F, p. 323, 328

Died:
Some sources report his death as March 8 or March 24. The Death certificate records it as March 16.

Buried:
FINDAGRAVE: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=51466944

Ira married Harriet Nash on 8 Feb 1888 in Texarkana, Miller, Arkansas, United States. Harriet (daughter of Phineas Nash and Emma L.) was born in Jul 1866 in Arkansas, United States; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
At the Presbyterian church this evening, at 8 o'clock, Mr. Ira H. Higgs, one of Texarkana's successful young business men, was married to Miss Hattie Nash, one of the reigning belles of the city. An elaborate reception was given the wedded ones tonight at the residence of Hon. Paul Jones, where numerous presents were given them.

1. Ira Thomas Higgs was born on 4 Jan 1889 in Texarkana, Miller, Arkansas, United States; and died.
2. Irl Nash Higgs was born on 25 May 1894 in Texarkana, Miller, Arkansas, United States; died on 7 Dec 1962 in Newport, Pend Oreille, Washington, United States; was buried on 10 Dec 1962 in Newport, Pend Oreille, Washington, United States.

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]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _AMTID: 162485319442:1030:191555462
• _FSFTID: 94QN-FTJ
• _UID: 3FC104477DCA48BD9742D6F0DA52FBC62365
• Census: 12 Sep 1860, Iuka, Tishomingo, Mississippi, United States
• Census: 6 Jul 1870, Ozan Township, Hempstead, Arkansas, United States
• Census: 11 Jun 1880, Ozan Township, Hempstead, Arkansas, United States

Notes:

Some of the other Sartain families around Limestone county came out of Jefferson and Knox counties in Tennessee. Alfred Sartain came out of South Carolina to Alabama (Where was he in 1860, 1870, 1880?). Likewise, there were Higgs families in east Tennessee. Investigate these movements, too.

Did Mary apply for a widow's pension after Thomas died?

Consider strongly that Mary J. was part of Alfred M. Sartain's family listed in the 1850 Census. A number of trees on Ancestry all show that the Mary J. Sartain in Alfred's family died in 1874 in Tuscaloosa, AL after marrying a man named Shelton. While no proofs have been shown for this, I would suspect that this might *not* be the correct family for Mary Sartain.

There was a Sartain family was involved with a publishing firm near Philadelphia before the Civil War. They published a magazine called_Sartain's Magazine_, but were best known for fine engravings. Old Miss has an engraving of Jefferson Davis made by Sartain Publ. Co.. I have found no evidence yet to connect the Philadelphia Sartains to this line.Probably, the Sartain magazine was called Sartain's Union Magazine of Literature and Art. This magazine was published from October 1847 until August 1852 in New York and Philadelphia. It is available on Microform in Pattee Library.

We were unable to find the graves of Mary Sartain or her husband in Washington, AR. Many of the stones in the old cemetery there have been destroyed. At one point, Nannie went there with Mom and Jennie to try to find the graves. She seemed to think that the place that she recalled the graves being was in the back corner of the cemetery and could now be in the road. According to people at the Old Washington Park, many of the stones and graves have been destroyed.

Is it possible that Mary remarried after the death of T.M. Higgs?

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Some sources date birth in 1837


-- MERGED NOTE ------------

I believe this to be the Mary who married T.M. Higgs, but until I prove that, I will keep these trees separate.

Page Nichols tells that she recalls her ancestors telling her that Susannah Sartain (her great-grandmother) was Mary's sister and that Suannah lived with Mary & Thomas Higgs for a while.

There is another Mary Jane Sartain who married Benjamin Franklin Sexton in 1856 in Tuscaloosa. However, the marriage record clearly states that she is the child of Jacob Sartain, not Alfred.

That means that in addition to Jacob, father of Alfred, there is another Jacob, who is likely brother of Alfred, floating around.

Birth:
This birth date came down from Aunt Lida, I believe. I suspect that it is wrong by a couple of years.

Buried:
Mrs. Higgs of Texarkana was buried here last Sunday. She was a resident of Washington for many years and leaves a host of friends who deeply sympathize with the bereaved family.

Messrs. Will and Ira Higgs attended their mother's burial here last Sunday.

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.