HIGGINS, Harry - Putnam

Harry Higgins was the only son of John T. and Elizabeth Sellers Higgins and was born on the old home farm near New Maysville in Putnam County, Indiana on the third day of March, 1880.

His life for the first ten years differed little from that of the usual healthy, alert, vigorous American boy, loving and loved by his family and friends; but at the age of ten years a protracted attack of typhoid-pneumonia which was repeated a year later and came yet again the following year left a weakness in his physicial constitution which no amount of treatment could ever entirely repair. This fact was unknown to many of friends because of his buoyant optimistic temperament and his inherent reluctance to complain and inflict on others the burden of his own misfortune. He was far more inclined to lighten rather than to increase the burdern of others.

As he wa sjust entering upon young manhood's estate, at age 16, he was impressed by the claims of the gospel upon him and rendered a prompt and cheerful obedience to its commands identifying himself with the Christian Church at New Maysville. His brethren soon payed to his Christian chracter the high tribute of selecting him to serve the congregation in the capacity of deacon, which service he continued to render until he removed from the vicinity of the church. Although for some years his residence had been in Danville, he preferred not to move his name from the roll of the old congregation where his Christian life first found expression and with which the family name has been so long and so intimately associated.

He was married Oct 29, 1903 to Chloe Vivian Patrick also of the New Maysville neighborhood and daughter of Elisha and Florence Patrick. FOur children came to bless this union of whom Herbert E, aged 12 and Florence Elizabeth 18 months old, survive their father. A baby boy died in infancy and Herschell T. preceded his father to the great beyond two years and more ago.

Some months ago he contracted a case of that fatal disease - flu - from which he seemed to not recover and soon, declining strength warned him to forsake the rigors of our recent winter and seek a climate that was more congenial to feeble strength and at the earnest soliciation of his physician and family he made the trip to Florida. But his and their hope was doomed to disappointment and as he realized that the tide of life was ebbing, his thoughts and heart turned to home and loved ones. His strength was thought hardly equal to the strain of the long trip but that resolution which was a prominent trait of his character and the devoted attention of his only sister who came at once to his assistance, enabled him to reach home and spend his few remaining days in the midst of his own loved ones. For several weeks he fought a brave but what was soon apparent to all a losing fight. On Saturday April 23, a little more than a week before the end came he displayed a clear relaization of his condition, made some final requests for the disposition of his affairs, gave some wholesome advice and admonition to his son, Herbert, and spoke clamly and comfortably to his wife and family, of his approaching departure.

At 5 o'clock in the afternoon on the Lord's Day, May second he looked up at his mother, then he turned his eyes to the face of his wife, with a calm and resolute look that said, "All is well," and he immediately went quietly and peacefully to sleep.

He leaves surviving to mourn his loss and cherish his memory, a wife, mother, father, sister, son and infant daughter and many friends.

He was a member of the Masonic Fraternity at both Groveland and Danville and was a member of the Groveland Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star also the tribe of Ben Hur at Crawfordsville   --- transcribed by kbz