Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-06-01
JOHN HIGGINS PALS SUDDENLY DEAD.
Taken With Neuralgia Of the Heart While Off
ciating In the Capacity of Undertaken
at the Cemetery.

Never i'm the history of Medicine
Lodge were the citizens more shocked
and excited than on Saturday noon
when the information was brought
from the cemetery that Uncle John
Higgins had suddenly fallen dead.
There was no warning, no apparent
symptoms OF sickness-he simply fell q
corpse in less time than is required to
relate it. For a half hour or more all
was commotion, rigs and horsemen ran
hither and thither, all hoped that life
had not set faded away, physicians
were hurrIedly dispatched to the scene,
but all was vain; the body was lifeless.
Sorrow and panic not only pervaded the
household of relatives but every family
in the city shared the sudden grief.
The funeral services were held from
the family residence on Sunday, under
the auspices of the 1. o. D. F., A. o.
U. w. and the Knights and Ladies OF
Security. of which fraternal orders the
deceased was All old and respected MEM
Der. Rev. j. F. Irwin, pastor of the
Nj. E. Church, delivered the sermon.
The ceremonies at the house and grave
were impressive, solemn and sorry
seemed TO be indelibly visible on every
countenance. The funeral was attend
ed by all the people III Medicine Lodge
and vicinity and many came from q
distance to do the last earthly honor to
friend with whom they had assoclat.
ed for many years. The procession to
the cemetery was fully three -four.hs of
a mile long and no more than half of
the people were able to provide them.
selves with cOnveyances. This demon.
stration OF esteem in which the depart.
ed was held should be source of con.
ISOLATION to the immediate relatives who
are now overwhelmed with grief.
John Higgins was born at Rondout,
New York, October Is, 1912 and died ut
Medicine Lodge, Kansas, May %, 1898,
and was consequently 55 years, seven
months and thirteen days of age. In
boyhood life he removed from New
York to Illinois, and in May, 1851, was
married to Mary j. Morris. He served
three years In the Union army, enlist.
ing in the beginning of the year 1852 In
company L, 117th Illinois infantry of
volunteers Soon after the war he was
converted under the evangelistic labors
OF DIR. and Mrs. Palmer, and united
with the Methodist Episcopal church in
Lebanon, Illinois. On the 18th day of
March, 1880, he removed with his fami-
ly to Medicine Lodge, Kansas, and for
several years was engaged in the black
smithing business and later conducted
successful furniture and undertaking
business in which he has been engaged
up to the time of his death.
He Is survived by a wife and one
daughter, Mrs. Ambrose Allen, the on
ly child. He carried $1,000 insurance
50 900 in the A. .. U. w., and 1000
in the Knights and Ladies of Security.
Uncle John, as he was always called
here, was one of those gentlemanly
men who have the faculty of making
friends of all and enemies of none. His
business dealings have always been so
fair, so honest and so honorable that
no one has ever complained of treat
ment received at his hands. Socially
he was always pleasant, cordial and
friendly, while in public matters he
was always progressive, energetic and
liberal. He served the city for a great
many terms in the capacity of council
man and was always recognized as one
of the city's safest advisors. During
his citizenship here he was . continu-
Gus labOrer in the Masters vineyard
until on Saturday last when he was
suddenly called from the church mill
tant to the church triumphant.
The grief comes to the relatives, and
especially the wife, as it could come to
no others. A husband, father and
grandfather is called from earth to
heaven without a moments notice and
without time to say last farewell to
loved ones. And yet there is comfort
when all is said. There was no pain,
no suffering, no agony. Our friend
passed quietly and gently from earthly
tolls to his Saviour's arms and 1t is q
sublime thought to those who are lett
to mourn that the road to eternal bliss
was one of Joy instead of sorrow. Let
us hope that the dark clouds of sorrow
will be dispelled by the universal sym.
pathy which has been so freely and
sincerely extended.