Notes for Amelia HIGGINSON

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Notes for Amelia HIGGINSON

The 1963 Thurtell Family History, and the History of the Thurtell Family done by Susan Persia Thurtell about 1968 show Amelia Higginson was born in Boston. The book "Who's Who in the Nation's Capitol, 1929-1930" lists her place of birth as South Carolina in the biography of her son, Henry Thurtell.

A letter was written to Amelia Higginson Thurtell probably in the 1850's or 1860's by her brother, Samuel Higginson, who was living at Lancha Plana, Amador County, California. In it he tells her that their mother's maiden name was Amelia Perkins, and that she was from Currituck County, North Carolina. She apparently died when Amelia was very young. He also states that their father had moved from Ohio to Illinois, where he bought a farm of 257 acres and where he lived until 1846, when "he departed this life." It mentions that their father had made a will and that their brother, Edward Higginson, was currently living in that area in Flora, Clay County, Illinois. Samuel refers to Caroline, probably another sister, who was close to Amelia in age. He also tells her that after their father left Canada he had three children, two girls and a boy. The oldest girl and his wife died before he left Ohio. The other girl is married to Mr. Wade and living near Edward, and Charles (possibly another brother) is living with him. A copy of this letter is in the possession of Susan Thurtell Miller. The 1860 U.S. Census shows Samuel Higginson, Amelia's brother, was a hotel keeper in Lancha Plana, Amador County, California, aged 37 and born in North Carolina. It shows Edward Higginson as a farmer, aged 39, born in North Carolina, in Flora, Clay County, Illinois, with a wife and three children. Records of Woodlawn Cemetery, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, show Caroline Higginson Goodeve was born in 1826 and died February 11, 1909. Also buried there are her husband, Arthur H. Goodeve, born 1821, died 1889, and the children of A. H. and C. Goodeve, Charles Wallace, born 1856, died 1904; and Mary Jane, born 1862, died 1865. The cemetery records show that all four of them were living in Guelph.

The U.S. Census for Kasson Township, Leelanau County, Michigan for 1870, shows Amelia Thurtell was age 41, born in Canada, and that both her parents were of foreign birth. The 1880 Census for the same location shows she was 51, born in Canada, and that her father was born in Ireland and her mother in North Carolina.

The U.S. Census for 1900 for Michigan (Vol. 23, E.D. 41, Sheet 10, Line 27) shows Amelia Thurtell was a white female born in November 1828 in Canada and that she was 71 years old as of June 1, 1900. It shows her father was born in Ireland, and her mother was born in North Carolina. She is listed as the wife of Francis Thurtell, who was born in England in November 1830. They were living at 304 West Ninth Street, Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. It shows she and her husband had been married for 47 years. Their son, Edward B. Thurtell, born in March 1855 and 45 years old, was living with them at the time of the census. This census showed Amelia was the mother of 7 children, of whom 6 were still living. It shows Amelia and Francis Thurtell immigrated to the United States in 1866.

The U.S. Census for 1900 for Michigan (Vol. 23, E.D. 42, Sheet 7, Line 40) for her son, Walter Thurtell, shows that he reported that his mother was born in South Carolina. The U.S. Census for 1900 for Illinois (Cook County, SD 1, ED 280, Sheet 13) for her son Alfred Thurtell shows he reported that his mother was born in Massachusetts.

The U.S. Census for 1910 for Traverse City, Grand Traverse County (SD 11, ED 56, part of Ward 3, sheet 2A) shows she was 81, married 57 years, with six children, five of whom were still living. It shows she was born in Canada and that her father was born in Ireland and her mother in North Carolina.

The 1910 U.S. Census for Chicago, Cook County, Illinois (SD 1, ED 871, Sheet 4B) for her daughter and son-in-law, Louie and Wilbur D. Cook, show that the mother of Louise Cook was born in Canada. The 1920 U.S. Census for Chicago, Cook County, Illinois (SD 1, ED 1468, Sheet 9A) listing Wilber D. Cook and Louisa Cook, also shows that Louisa's mother was born in Canada.

Her death certificate shows her name as Amelia N. Thurtell and that she died at 4537 Artesian Avenue, Chicago, IL. Her death certificate was signed by Dr. W. D. Cook, 59 East Madison Street, Chicago, IL, her son-in-law, who certified that he attended her from November 1915 until her death October 1, 1917. The cause of death is shown as senility and arterio sclerosis. The informant for the death certificate is E. B. Thurtell, 817 Lorel Avenue, Chicago, IL (her son Edward Thurtell). The death certificate shows her mother's name as unknown and her father (almost certainly erroneously) as Alex Ferguson born in Ireland. It also shows her place of birth (also possibly erroneously) as Ontario. It shows her date of birth as November 19, 1829. (The year of her birth is also erroneous, and the birthday of November 19 instead of November 16 is probably in error as well.) Obviously she moved to Chicago, IL, following the death of her husband since her daughter and son-in-law, Louisa and Wilbur Cook, as well as her sons Alfred and Edward Thurtell all lived in the Chicago area. Her place of burial is shown as Traverse City, Michigan.

The minutes of the University of Nevada Board of Regents meeting of January 5, 1903, show that her son, Henry Thurtell, requested and was granted a leave of absence for the month of April 1903 to attend the Golden Wedding of his father and mother. These minutes were added to the Internet in 1996 (http://www.scs.unr.edu).

She is buried at Oakwood Cemetery, 1225 East Eighth Street, Traverse City, Michigan 49686, telephone 616-922-4907, in Block 5, Lot 2, Second Edition. Oakwood Cemetery records confirm she died October 1, 1917, at age 88 in Chicago, Illinois.

The Traverse City Record Eagle for October 3 and 4, 1917, shows that she was born November 16, 1828, was married to Francis Thurtell in 1852, and came to the Traverse City region in 1865. It shows she died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. D. Cook of Chicago, with whom she had been living. Funeral services were held on October 4, 1917, at the home of her son, Herbert Thurtell, Sixth Street, with Rev. Demas Cochlin officiating. This minister was from the First Congregational Church, Traverse City, Michigan, and had officiated at the marriage of Walter's daughter, Eva Thurtell, in 1911. The obituary for Amelia Thurtell showed she had five surviving sons, Edward and Alfred Thurtell of Chicago, Walter and Herbert Thurtell of Traverse City, Henry Thurtell of Washington, D. C., and one daughter, Mrs. W. D. Cook. It adds that "She lived a long and useful life, and was greatly loved by her family, friends, and neighbors."

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