Photograph of Susan Higley Leach
This photograph comes from a picture of Susan and Solomon Leach,
identified by their daughter, Susan Leach Sherman.
Photograph: Privately held by Susan Edminster, Granite Falls, Washington
Susan Higley, age 12
This old tintype was in an envelope titled “Mother at age 12″ in the handwriting
of her daughter, Susan Leach Sherman
Photograph: Privately held by Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls, Washington
Susan Higley died November 6, 1901 in Arbela, Tuscola County Michigan where she and Solomon Leach had lived and raised their family. We’re fortunate to have Susan’s funeral card and a picture of her grave marker as part of our collection…
Text on the funeral card reads:
In Loving Remembrance of Susan Leach, died Nov, 13, 1901, Age 77 years.
‘Tis hard to break the tender cord
When love has bound the heart,
‘Tis hard, so hard, to speak the words,
“We must forever part.”
Dearest loved on we must lay thee
In the peaceful grave’s embrace,
But thy memory will be cherished
‘Til we see thy heavenly face.
Note: Date of death differs from Susan’s death certificate information.
SOURCE: Funeral card, private collection: Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls, Washington
__________________________________________
Pine Grove Cemetery, Arbela Michigan
Grave Marker – Susan Higley Leach
SOURCE: Photographs, private collection: Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls, Washington
Susan Higley’s brother Milton had one child: Seth Henry Higley… here’s his picture and that of his wife Josephine.
Seth Henry Higley, son of Milton Higley
Josie Higley, wife of Seth Henry Higley
SOURCE: Two photographs, Private collection of Ken Lane. Posted with permission.
Milton Higley was born in Tolland, Massachusetts* on January 14, 1834, the sixth child of Seth Higley, Jr. and Lura Goderd. The Higley family moved from Massachusetts to Ohio sometime in the year after Milton’s birth and before the birth of his younger brother Henry, in 1835.
Milton eventually migrated to Michigan and on July 4, 1855 he married Cornelia** Beebe, daughter of Henry Beebe and Caroline Warner. Milton and Cornelia were parents to one son, Seth Henry Higley who was born April 2, 1856 in Birch Run, Saginaw County, Michigan. Milton’s profession was as a Shingle Maker.
On August 9, 1862, Milton enlisted in Company B, 23rd Regiment, Michigan Infantry, for a period of three years. He is described as being 5 ft. 6 inches tall, having a dark complexion, dark eyes and dark hair. Like many other soldiers in the War of the Rebellion Milton eventually became ill with chronic diarrhea, and he was discharged on June 18, 1864, totally disabled with a pension of “eight dollars per month.” He died less than a year later on May 8, 1865.
A sad footnote to this story: In 1869 Cornelia married Hezikiah Nelson, not knowing that he was already married, and his wife Arabella was still living in Canada. When the facts came out, Hezikiah stole a horse and buggy from Cornelia and fled to Canada where he was apprehended. He committed suicide in his cell. Cornelia then had to apply for a reinstatement of her widow’s pension in order to support herself and children Seth Higley and Harriet (Nelson) Higley (Harriet was born August 25, 1870 and was known as Harriet Higley)
* Note: The 1860 census shows a birthplace of New York.
* Note: In some records the name is “Cordelia.”
SOURCE: Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934. Database and Images, Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com, accessed 04/18/2002
SOURCE: Army of the United States Certificate of Disability for Discharge: Milton Higley, copy of document provided by Kenneth Lane.
SOURCE: State of Michigan, Circuit Court of the County of Saginaw: Annulment of Marriage of Cornelia Higley and Hezekiah Nelson. Copy provided by Kenneth Lane.
SOURCE: Michigan, Tuscola County. 1860 U.S. Census, population schedule. Digital image, HeritageQuest Online, http://persi.heritagequestonline.com, Page 673. Accessed 10/20/2005
Milton Higley
Photograph: Privately held by Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls, Washington
This this sweet picture is the wedding photo of Hattie Belle Edminster and Lewis William Koch. The wedding date was May 27, 1903.
Hattie Edminster and Lewis Koch, May 27, 1903.
Picture is the property of Betty Budil, posted with permission.
Hattie was the sister of my husband’s grandfather, Reuben Walter Edminster. She was born in Leavenworth County Kansas, October 1, 1882, Herbert Loyal and Frances Adelia Brown. Hattie died July 5, 1948.
Hattie Belle Edminster
Picture is the property of Betty Budil, posted here with permission.
This picture is of Reuben Walter Edminster, his siblings, his Mother and her second husband, presumably taken in Kansas. The year is unknown.
Back Row Left to Right: Reuben Walter Edminster, Hattie Belle (Edminster) Koch and George Clarence Edminster
Front Row: A. D. Hamilton (2nd husband of Frances Adelia (Brown) Edminster), and Frances Adelia (Brown) (Edminster) Hamilton
Picture is the property of Betty Budil, used with permission.
This picture of Lillian and Mildred Edminster as children was most likely taken in Kansas prior to 1910. Lillian was born in 1902 and appears to be under the age of 10; Mildred was born in 1906 and still a baby in the picture. Note the hand-hewn logs and makeshift porch on the building.
Lillian and Mildred Edminster, c. 1910
Picture is the Property of Betty Budil, used with permission.
Herbert Loyal Edminster’s first marriage was to Frances Adelia Brown, probably in 1979 or early 1880 since their first child was born in December of 1880. Herbert and Frances were the parents of Reuben Walter, George Clarence and Hattie Belle, and are my husband’s Great-Grandparents. Here’s their picture, we assume taken at the time of their wedding.
Herbert Loyal Edminster, Frances Adelia Brown
Picture is the property of Betty Budil, posted with permission.
