The Daily Missoulian., 1909-04-17
GEORGE c. HIGGINS SUCCUMBS
TO LONG G-srANDINe ILLNESS
AT LOS ANGELES.
TELEGRAM TELLS NEWS
Former Resident, Business Man and
County Official Passes Away After
Years of Sufferins-His Career Iden-
titled With the History of the Gar
den City of Montana.

George c. Higgins died in Los An
gees yesterday afternoon at o'clock.
A telegram received here by Arthur
Higgins conveyed this news, which
was not unexpected; The Missoulian
| yesterday morning gave the news of
/ the serious condition OF the man who
had suffered so many years. AL
| thought not unexpected, the news was
/ sorroWfully received, for there is not
"A man in Missoula who was unfriend-
| y to George Higgins during his life
here; he was an honorable man, fair
in his dealings with others, and true
to his friends TO the limit. He was
generous and open hearted, and there
lives no man who can truthfully say
that George Higgins ever did him
wrong.
Though no definite information was
received yesterday, it is expected that
the mother and brother will leave Los
Angeles today for home with the
body, and the funeral win probably
be held here Tuesday. Arrangements
were made yesterday with Charles II.
Marsh to take charge of the funeral
arrangements, and further information
Is expected today from Mrs. Higgins.
George c. Higgins was born in Mis-
soula in June, 1868; he was the third
of the family; Frank and John, the
older brothers, are dead, He went
from Mssoula to Phillips Exeter
academy in 1854 and graduated from
that institution in June "a The follow
ing year He attended De Fauw uni
versity the next year, and went from
| m w a
his bachelors degree in 1888. He
came at once to Montana and entered
the banking business, securing a posi-
tiOn in the old First National at Hell
ena. He remained there until the
early part of 1889, when he came to
Missoula, where his father had es-
tablished the C. P. Higgins bank, and
became at once associated in the
business of this institution.
In the fall of 1889 Captain Higgins
died and the management of the bank
devolved upon the three brothers,
Frank, John and George. Johns
death followed shortly and Frank and
George continued the banking busi-
ness until the crash of 1893 caused
the suspension of their bank.
Georges time was then devoted to
the management of the estate until
March 4, 1896, when he was appointed
by the county commissioners to COM
plete the term of Frank Mcconnell
as clerk of the district court. Upon
the completion of his term, which he
served with distinct credit to himself
and with marked ability and fidelity,
he was nominated by the democrats
for the office of county treasurer, and
was handsomely elected. He succeeded
himself in this office, his second term
expiring in 1902.
It was while he was clerk of the dis
trict court that he suffered his first
attack of the disease which ultimately
caused his death. While on visit to
Anaconda he was stricken with a
fainting spell, and these attacks in
later years became of such frequency
that he was a confirmed invalid. He
had consulted specialists on both
coasts; his ailment had been diagnosed
as the result of heart trouble by
some and as epilepsy by others. Last
year he went to a hospital in Port
land, and there he improved to a
marked degree. few months ago
he was well enough to go south, and
he spent the winter in Los Angeles.
During the winter months he had
been visited by many Missoula people,
and all of them brought home the
word that George was greatly i'm
proved in health. 1t had been ex
pected that he would soon return
home, cured, until the telegram came
| Thursday, which said he was ser-
Ously i'll again He survived this last
attack only about "a hours. Death
came as a relief to years of suffering.