Wrenacres
Ancestors and Family of Brian Scott Dickson and Kathleen Ann Boyle Dickson
Jere Will Higgs
1893 - 1952 (59 years)-
Name Jere Will Higgs Nickname Jere Will Birth 5 Jun 1893 Alma, Crawford, Arkansas, United States [1, 2, 3, 4] Gender Male Census 25 Jun 1900 Van Buren, Crawford, Arkansas, United States [5] Census 5 May 1910 De Queen, Sevier, Arkansas, United States [6] Education 1914 Fayetteville, Washington, Arkansas, United States [7] at the University of Arkansas Occupation 14 May 1914 Louisiana, United States [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, Oklahoma, United States [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, Oklahoma, United States [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, Oklahoma, United States [10] visited his parents - J.W. Higgs jr. spent Sunday in the city visiting his parents.
Misc 1 Jul 1915 Idabel, McCurtain, Oklahoma, United States [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, Arkansas, United States [12] Misc 16 Dec 1915 Idabel, McCurtain, Oklahoma, United States [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, Oklahoma, United States [2, 13, 14] enlisted 87th Division, 334 Field Artillery Military 25 May 1917 Idabel, McCurtain, Oklahoma, United States [15] registered for the World War I draft, 2nd Lt, 334 Field Artillery, Military 27 Jun 1917 Pulaski, Arkansas, United States [16, 17] listed in roster of First Battery reserve officers training camp Address:
Ft. Logan H. Roots- The following roster of the men in the First Battery, reserve officers training camp, Fort Roots was obtained from the headwquarters of the battery: Jere W. Higgs, Idabel Okla.
Military 24 May 1919 [2] honorably discharged, 334 Field Artillery, 2nd Lt. Misc 25 Sep 1919 Fayetteville, Washington, Arkansas, United States [18] arrived for his senior year Address:
University of ArkansasCensus 9 Jan 1920 Idabel, McCurtain, Oklahoma, United States [19] 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, Oklahoma, United States [20] - 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.
Misc 27 Mar 1920 Fayetteville, Washington, Arkansas, United States [21, 22, 23] graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelors of Civil Engineering degree Address:
University of ArkansasResidence Dec 1921 Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas, United States [24] Residence 1924 Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States [25] Address:
4806 JuniusResidence 1925 Shreveport, Caddo, Louisiana, United States [26] Address:
2501 W. CollegeResidence Jun 1926 Big Spring, Howard, Texas, United States [27] Residence 1930 Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States [28] Address:
714 Hillcrest St.- 714 Hillcrest is now 714 Huntley
Census 14 Apr 1930 Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States [29] 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, Texas, United States [30, 31] Residence 1932 Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States [32] Address:
2202 Michigan AveResidence 1934 Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States [33] Address:
1606 CascadeResidence 1 Apr 1935 Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States [34] Census 10 Apr 1940 Irving, Dallas, Texas, United States [34] - The 1940 census records Jere as divorced.
Military 27 Apr 1942 Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States [4] registered for WWII draft Residence 27 Apr 1942 Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States [4] Address:
708 N. GlasgowResidence Nov 1952 Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States [35] Address:
9836 Hathaway_AMTID 162485317459:1030:191555462 _FSFTID L5NQ-KN5 _UID 652A266FF5D749198E48F8A377D887B44D7E Death 30 Nov 1952 Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States [1, 2, 3, 35, 36, 37] - DEATH: Died in a private plane crash.
Burial Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States [1, 2, 35] Address:
Garden of Eternity, Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial ParkPerson ID I3531 Scott Dickson Last Modified 25 Nov 2022
Father John William Higgs, b. 7 Apr 1859, Magnolia, Columbia, Arkansas, United States d. 2 Mar 1918, Idabel, McCurtain, Oklahoma, United States (Age 58 years) Mother Eliza Johnson (Lida) Cason, b. 24 Jun 1868, Carrollton, Pickens, Alabama, United States d. 7 Mar 1941, Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States (Age 72 years) Marriage 3 Mar 1889 Arkadelphia, Clark, Arkansas, United States [38] Family ID F258 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 1 Grace Clowdis, b. 22 Oct 1889, Arkansas, United States d. 25 Aug 1927, Big Spring, Howard, Texas, United States (Age 37 years) Marriage License 21 Jun 1926 Idabel, McCurtain, Oklahoma, United States [39] - Interestingly, Tom Finney applied for the marriage license on Jere Will's behalf.
Marriage 22 Jun 1926 Idabel, McCurtain, Oklahoma, United States [27] - 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, Texas, United States d. 15 Feb 1972, Alexandria, Rapides, Louisiana, United States (Age 44 years) Family ID F450 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 31 Dec 2023
Family 2 Mary Pauline Langley, b. 1895 d. Yes, date unknown Marriage 29 Oct 1931 Ardmore, Carter, Oklahoma, United States [31, 40] - From Big Spring Daily Herald:
Friends have received and announcement of the marraige of Jere Will Higgs, formerly a resident of this city, to Miss Mary Pauline Langley, of Ardmore, Okla. The ceremony occurred last Thursday. mr. and Mrs. Higgs will make their home in Dallas.
Marriage License 29 Oct 1931 Ardmore, Carter, Oklahoma, United States [31] Family ID F3572 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 31 Dec 2023
Family 3 Vesta Estelle Harrison, b. 1907, Texas, United States d. 5 Aug 1983, Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States (Age 76 years) Family ID F3573 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 31 Dec 2023
Family 4 Florence Perkins, b. 18 Feb 1904, Texas, United States d. 25 Jun 1982, Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States (Age 78 years) Marriage 17 Feb 1943 Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States [41] Marriage License 17 Feb 1943 Grayson, Texas, United States [41] Family ID F1884 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 31 Dec 2023
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Event Map = Link to Google Earth
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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 !?
- In the 1920 census, he may be enumerated as J. Wills Higgs in the household of Viola Stepp, Idabel, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma.
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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] Ancestry - 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.
- [S1458] Newspapers.com Arkansas Democrat, 150 U. of A. Men Have Enlisted in Military Branches; 24 September 1917; 17 January 2022.
Over 150 students, alumni, and members of the faculty of the University of Arkansas have answered the call to the colors. They have gone into all branches of the service, regular army, navy, marines, aviation,and a large number hold comissions as a result of their work at the officers' training camps.
Field Artillery: Second Lieutenants, Officers Reserve Corps: Jere W. Higgs, DeQueen - [S1458] Newspapers.com Arkansas Democrat, Partial List of U. of A. Graduates and Former Students Now Fighters; 22 January 1918; 17 January 2022.
- [S705] Ancestry, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, 11 August 2012; Oklahoma, McCurtain Co, Higgs, Jere Will.
- [S1458] Newspapers.com Arkansas Democrat, First Battery List Compiled; 27 June 1917; 17 January 2022.
- [S1459] Newspapers.com The Daily Arkansas Gazette, First Battery, O.R.C; 29 June 1917; 17 January 2022.
- [S1844] NewspaperArchive.com The Fayetteville Democrat, 25 September 1919; 17 January 2022.
J.T. McGill of Chidester, junior, and J.W. Higgs of Van Buren, senior, arrived Wednesday and are at dormitory for the college year. - [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.
- [S1458] Newspapers.com Arkansas Democrat, Commencement at U. of A. June 12-15; 27 March 1920; 17 January 2022.
- [S1459] Newspapers.com The Daily Arkansas Gazette, 62 Will Graduate from University; 6 June 1920; 17 January 2022.
- [S1458] Newspapers.com Arkansas Democrat, 86 Degrees Are Given University Graduates; 15 June 1920; 17 January 2022.
- [S1928] Newspapers.com McCurtain Gazette, Additional Locals; Local News; 21 December 1921; 25 November 2022.
- [S688] Ancestry, U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, 11 August 2012; Dallas, Texas, City Directory, 1924, Lida Higgs.
- [S688] Ancestry, U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, 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] Ancestry, U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, 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] Ancestry, U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, 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] Ancestry, U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, 11 August 2012; Dallas, Texas, City Directory, 1932, Lida Higgs.
- [S688] Ancestry, U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, 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] Ancestry, Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982, 27 March 2017; Jere Will Higgs, d 30 Nov 1952, Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas.
- [S714] Ancestry, Texas U.S., 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.
- [S1828] Newspapers.com Big Spring Daily Herald, Former Resident Married; 10 October 1931; 17 January 2022.
- [S1108] Ancestry - Texas, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1837-1965, 30 May 2018; Grayson Co, Texas, 17 Feb 1943, Jere W Higgs to Florence Hill.
- [S641] Find A Grave, 25 November 2014; Jere Will Higgs; Jere Will Higgs; 137358420; Sherry.