We wish to acknowledge and thank everyone who has contributed to this report. In particular,
the research and talent of Greg Mander and Nancy Sneddon are especially
appreciated. This site was last updated May 24, 2008.
Descendants
of Frederick Higgin
Generation
No. 1
1. FREDERICK2 HIGGIN (?1)1 was born Bef.
1875. He married CATHERINE JANE SHARPLES1,2. She was
born Bef. 18753.
Notes for FREDERICK HIGGIN:
Frederick worked
on a small ferry that went from Toronto to Toronto Island. Perhaps he was the
Captain. Margaret Wright reports that her grandfather Frederick lived into his
70's. He lived at 38 Elmer Ave., Toronto. Margaret remembers visiting their
house often as a child, going down a long hall to the dining room where
everyone always played some kind of board game. She recalls her Aunt Blanche
was often there with her son Lennie. Also there was
Cecil, husband of Marion, with their pet ferret.
Notes for CATHERINE JANE SHARPLES:
Margaret Wright
reports that she was a very young girl, possibly 9 or 10, when her grandmother
Catherine died. Margaret said her
grandmother was the first dead person she ever saw. The body laid
in state at their home on 38 Elmer Avenue, Toronto.
Children of FREDERICK HIGGIN and CATHERINE SHARPLES are:
2. i. JOHN EDWIN3 HIGGIN, b. 19 Dec 1888,
Blackpool, England; d. 06 Jun 1982, Toronto, Ont.
Canada.
3. ii. HAROLD HIGGIN.
4. iii. BLANCHE HIGGIN.
5. iv. ETHEL HIGGIN.
v. EVELYN HIGGIN3,4, m. ART BARASS.
More
About EVELYN HIGGIN:
Cause
of Death: Pneumonia, died in her 30's.5
vi. MARIAN
HIGGIN5, m. CECIL ?5.
More
About MARIAN HIGGIN:
Cause
of Death: Cancer, died in her 30's.5
Generation
No. 2
2. JOHN EDWIN3 HIGGIN (FREDERICK2,
?1)5 was born 19 Dec
1888 in Blackpool, England, and died 06 Jun 1982 in
Toronto, Ont. Canada. He married PEARL RIDDELL6 30 Aug 1911 in
Toronto Canada7, daughter of GEORGE RIDDELL and CATHARINE BELL. She was born 24 Jan 1890 in Singhampton, Ont, Canada8,9, and died 07 Jan 1983 in Toronto, Ont. Canada.
More About JOHN EDWIN HIGGIN:
Occupation:
Sheet Metal Worker
Notes for PEARL RIDDELL:
Pearl Riddell
who was living and working in Toronto 1908-11, married John Edwin Higgin of Toronto August 30, 1911.
According to
conversations with Dorothy Roe, Pearl, who was a sister to Frank Ridell, met John Edwin Higgin
when she was Frank who was working as a waiter at the Walter J. Corby
restaurant on King Street East in Toronto.
Dorothy Roe was the daughter of Frank Riddell.
Pearl's mother,
Catharine Riddell, died in her home on Scott Street on October 3, 1927.
Catharine's Death Registration indicates that Pearl was caring for her for four
months which would be from about September to December of 1927.
More About PEARL RIDDELL:
Burial: Highlane Memory Gardens, Toronto, Ont. Canada
Religion:
Presbyterian10
More About JOHN HIGGIN and PEARL RIDDELL:
Marriage: 30 Aug
1911, Toronto Canada10
Minister: R.J.
Fallis10
Children of JOHN HIGGIN and PEARL RIDDELL are:
6. i. MARGARET PEARL4 HIGGIN, b. 30 Jul 1913,
Toronto, Ont, Canada; d. 05 Nov 2004, Mercy Manor,
Grayling, MI.
7. ii. JEAN EVELINE HIGGIN, b. 13 Oct 1914,
Born at home on Medland Crescent, Toronto Canada; d.
03 Jan 2000, Myrtle Beach, SC.
8. iii. EDWIN SHARPLES HIGGIN, b. 06 Jan 1918,
Born at home on Medland Crescent, Toronto Canada; d.
27 Apr 1993, Alliston, Ont. Canada.
3. HAROLD3 HIGGIN (FREDERICK2,
?1)11. He married ANNA ?11.
Children of HAROLD HIGGIN and ANNA ? are:
i. GEORGE4 HIGGIN11.
ii. AUDREY
HIGGIN11.
Notes
for AUDREY HIGGIN:
Margaret
Wright remembers that Audry was pregnant at the time
her husband left on a training flight with the RAF from Toronto and none of the
squadron were ever seen again. In later years Audry remarried a department store buyer.
4. BLANCHE3 HIGGIN (FREDERICK2,
?1)11. She married JOE ?11.
Child of BLANCHE HIGGIN and JOE ? is:
i. LENNIE4 BARASS11.
5. ETHEL3 HIGGIN (FREDERICK2,
?1)11,12. She married ? SMITH.
Notes for ? SMITH:
Margaret Higgin Wright remembers that Mr. Smith had TB and was in
the hospital in Hamilton for years.
Children of ETHEL HIGGIN and ? SMITH are:
i. NORMAN4 SMITH13,14.
ii. VERA
SMITH15.
Generation
No. 3
6. MARGARET PEARL4 HIGGIN (JOHN EDWIN3, FREDERICK2, ?1) was born 30 Jul
1913 in Toronto, Ont, Canada, and died 05 Nov 2004 in
Mercy Manor, Grayling, MI16,17. She married HAROLD RANSOM WRIGHT 29 May 1935 in
Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church - Detroit, MI18, son of LESTER WRIGHT and GRACE ROSE. He was born 11 Sep 1909 in Saginaw, Saginaw
County, MI, and died 13 Nov 1988 in Heart of Florida Hospital, Haines City, FL19.
Notes for MARGARET PEARL HIGGIN:
Margaret Higgin was born at home, 90 Medland
Crescent, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She was born at 5 am on July 30, 1913. In
attendance was Doctor Minerva Reid.
When Margaret
was a baby, possibly two years old, she crawled out an upstairs window onto the
roof. A neighbor, Mrs Dwyer, called her mother to
tell her that her daughter was on the roof.
When Margaret
was five years old, she remembers being outside with her friend Rita Dwyer
listening to all the horns honking and bells ringing on November 11, 1918 when
World War I was over.
Excerpt from an
e-mail written by Ken Wright to David Gustner and Lynne Greening, 4/16/2000.
"That brought to mind the wedding announcement of Mom and Dad that said
they were going to live at 463 Algonquin after their marriage, so I just called
Mom to ask about it. She said they never did live with Lester and Grace. They
rented an upstairs apartment first, on a street that she can't remember. Then
they rented a house on Eastlawn, then rented at 5039 Lakepointe, where they were when I was born (1938), then
moved to another rented house on Lakewood. Then Dad built the house on 60
Hawthorn Blvd in 1941. She could not
remember any of the street numbers, but I have a letter addressed to them at
the 5039 Lakepointe address. I had no idea that they
lived in so many places before Hawthorne, or that they were renting rather than
buying. I had just assumed that they lived in a house built by Dad and Lester.
Wrong! Another thing she mentioned that
I didn't remember is that Lester and Grace moved to Grosse Pointe after Mom and
Dad. She thought about a year, making their move from Algonquin to Hawthorn in
1942." We later learned the actual
sequence and addresses of where Harold and Margaret Lived.
1935 - 1937,
1350 E. Grand Blvd. Apt 109, Detroit
1937 - 1940,
5039 Lakepointe av., Detroit
1940 - 1941, 708
Eastlawn av., Detroit
1941 - 1941,
4327 Lakewood av., Detroit
1941 - 1954, 60
Hawthorn Blvd., Detroit
1954 - 1974,
30030 West Gate, Farmington
1974 - 1989,
6738 Dogwood Court, Gaylord
1989 - 2000, 730
S. Saginaw, Apt. 215, Lapeer (Margaret only)
2000 - 2004,
Mercy Manor, 1100 Michigan Ave, Grayling, MI
Lester and Grace
Wright also proceeded Margaret and Harold to Grosse
Pointe, actually moving to 76 Hawthorne Blvd. in 1940.
More About MARGARET PEARL HIGGIN:
Burial: 08 Nov
2004, Elmwood Cemetery, Grayling, MI20
Cause of Death:
Renal failure21
Funeral
Services: 08 Nov 2004, Sorenson Funeral Home, Grayling, MI, Donald E. Wright officiatinb.
Occupation:
Housewife
Social Security
Number: 380-48-012922
Notes for HAROLD RANSOM WRIGHT:
From
the Clio Messenger.
June 11, 1915.
"Harold, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Wright, fell into the cellar of V. B.
Butler's new home, Tuesday, and sustained one or two broken ribs."
July 14, 1916 -
"Harold, the little son of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Wright underwent an
operation in Saginaw, for the removal of his tonsils, one day last week. Following the operation the little boy was so
ill that he remained at the hospital for several days but is now recovering
nicely."
1925-08-27 -
"Lester Wright and wife and son Harold, of Detroit, were week end guests of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Carter."
1926-11-04 -
"L. A. Wright and son, Harold, of Detroit, were week
end guests of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Carter."
After their
marriage Harold and Margaret Wright first lived at 1350 E. Grand Blvd., apt.
109. In 1937 they moved to 5039 Lakepoint and in 1940
to 708 Eastlawn.
In 1941 they first moved to 4327 Lakewood av., then built a new home in
Grosse Pointe at 60 Hawthorne Blvd. In 1954 they built another new home at
30030 West Gate in Farmington.
From the
Farmington Enterprise and Observer, February 9, 1961. "Harold R. Wright,
architect and registered professional engineer, has joined the firm of Cuddie Engineers, Inc., of Birmingham, as president.
William Gillett was made office manager and Calvin J. Saari
manager of structural detailing department, in personnel changes announced by
the firm, which specializes in the field of structural engineering. Wright, a resident of Farmington, formerly
was in private practice as a consultant since 1946."
In 1974 Harold
and Margaret moved to 6738 Dogwood Court in Gaylord, MI.
From
a newspaper obituary. "Harold R. Wright, 79 of Gaylord, died of
complications from pneumonia Sunday, November 13, 1988 in Heart of Florida
Hospital, Haines City Florida. Mr. Wright was a graduate of the University of
Detroit, holding degrees in both Architectural and Civil Engineering. He
retired to Gaylord in 1974 after a career in his own firm. His contributions
include the design and building of hundreds of homes, factories, office
buildings and churches. Mr. Wright was known as a master craftsman, with
hobbies in woodworking, sculpting and painting. His devotion to family and
church was evidenced in his activities such as such as Scouting, where he
founded and served as Scoutmaster of Troop 479 in Grosse Pointe. His
contributions to several churches were donations of outstanding architectural
and engineering designs. Mr. Wright is survived by his wife of 53 years,
Margaret, sons Kenneth and Donald and 5 grandchildren."
More About HAROLD RANSOM WRIGHT:
Burial: Lakeview
Crematory, Winter Haven, FL23
Cause of Death:
Cardio Pulmonary Arrest
Cremation:
Lakeview Crematory, Winter Haven, FL
Medical
Information: Pulmonary Embolis suspected, not proven
Occupation:
Architectural and Civil Engineer
Social Security
Number: 05 Jan 1941, 363-26-464424
Marriage Notes
for MARGARET HIGGIN and HAROLD WRIGHT:
Margaret P. Higgin and Harold Ransom Wright met at the Jefferson Avenue
Baptist Church in 1934.
They were
married one year later at the church office on May 29, 1935. Harold and
Margaret spent a portion of their honeymoon at the home of Harold's uncle, Mr.
William Rose and wife. They will make
their home at 463 Algonquin Avenue in Detroit. Harold Wright is one of the
younger members of the board of Deacons of the church. Margaret's parents, Mr.
and Mrs. J.E. Higgin reside at 71 McLean Blvd. in
Toronto.
More About HAROLD WRIGHT and MARGARET HIGGIN:
Marriage: 29 May
1935, Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church - Detroit, MI25
Minister:
Wayland Zwayer
Children of MARGARET HIGGIN and HAROLD WRIGHT are:
9. i. KENNETH DALE5 WRIGHT, b. 12 May 1938,
Deaconess Hospital, Detroit, Wayne County, MI.
10. ii. DONALD EDWIN WRIGHT, b. 15 May 1943, Detroit, Wayne County, MI.
7. JEAN EVELINE4 HIGGIN (JOHN EDWIN3, FREDERICK2, ?1)26 was born 13 Oct
1914 in Born at home on Medland Crescent, Toronto
Canada, and died 03 Jan 2000 in Myrtle Beach, SC. She married LT. CLIFFORD ALBERT THOMPSON 02 Jul 1938 in Donland's United Church, Toronto, Ont.
Canada. He was born 01 Jul 1913, and
died 04 Jan 1986 in Clearwater, Florida.
Notes for JEAN EVELINE HIGGIN:
Jean worked for
some time as a proofreader for the Monroeville Times Express.
More About JEAN EVELINE HIGGIN:
Burial: Cremated
- Ashes on Gulf of Mexico
Education:
George Williams College, Chicago
Notes for LT. CLIFFORD ALBERT THOMPSON:
Cliff attended
George Williams College in Chicago in preparation for his future career with
the YMCA. He was drafted during WW2 and served overseas as a Lieutenant. He worked
for the YMCA in Ottawa, Canada before accepting a job with the YMCA in
Pittsburgh, where he started the branch in Penn Hills. After that he became a
journalist, working for Rockwell Mfg. Co, and then editor of the Monroeville
Times Express, a weekly newspaper, which he later retired from.
More About LT. CLIFFORD ALBERT THOMPSON:
Burial:
Cremated, ashes on Gulf of Mexico27
Cause of Death:
Pancreatic cancer
Education:
George Williams College, Chicago27
Military
service: Served overseas in WW2
More About CLIFFORD THOMPSON and JEAN HIGGIN:
Marriage: 02 Jul
1938, Donland's United Church, Toronto, Ont. Canada
Children of JEAN HIGGIN and CLIFFORD THOMPSON are:
11. i. PATRICIA JEAN5 THOMPSON, b. 26 Feb 1943,
Chicago, IL.
ii. PETER THOMPSON, b. 15 Nov 1949; Adopted child.
8. EDWIN SHARPLES4 HIGGIN (JOHN EDWIN3, FREDERICK2, ?1) was born 06 Jan
1918 in Born at home on Medland Crescent, Toronto
Canada, and died 27 Apr 1993 in Alliston, Ont.
Canada. He married PAM COLLE 19 Feb 1944 in
Parish Church, Chellenham, England. She was born 12 Apr 1921 in Cardiff, South
Wales, U.K., and died 02 Jan 2002 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
More About EDWIN SHARPLES HIGGIN:
Burial:
Cremated, ashes scattered
Military
service: RCAF Navigator, WWII
More About EDWIN HIGGIN and PAM COLLE:
Marriage: 19 Feb
1944, Parish Church, Chellenham, England
Child of EDWIN HIGGIN and PAM COLLE is:
