Excerpts from obituary:
William O. Higgins was born in Carroll county, Iowa June 13,1869 and died at Lake City, Iowa Dec. 19, 1925 at the age of 56 years, 6 months, and 6 days.
He moved with his parents to Lake City in 1892. On July 3, 1893 he was united in marriage to Anna L. Nelson. To this union were born 11 children, two of whom passed away in infancy - Minnie May and Baby.
He leaves to mourn his departure his wife and nine children - Cleo, George, Warren, Lee, Jack, Dick, Vernon, Donald and Dorothy, all of Lake City; also one grandchild, Buddy, and two brothers, Ray of Fort Dodge and Paul of Chicago; two sisters, Mrs. Ford of Fort Dodge and Mrs. Dan McCaulley of Lake City.
Mr. Higgins spent most of his life work in Lake City. For four years he ran a dray. He spent twenty years in the employ of the Queal Lumber company, one year for the Thompson Lumber company and seven for the Joyce company. He was still employed by the Joyce company at the time of his death.
He took sick a year ago with the flu and was never well after that. He took suddenly worse on the 25tth of November and failed fast until the Lord took him home. Everything was done to relieve his sufferings that loving hands could do, but all in vain.
He was a patient sufferer and appreciated everything done for him by his friends and greatly enjoyed the flowers brought to him by them.
In his departure the whole community feels that it has lost a worthy citizen and a friend.
The funeral services were held at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon at the Baptist church, conducted by Rev. J. E. Spencer, pastor of the Presbyterian church, assisted by Rev. Throckmorton. A male quartet, Drs. Longley and McVay, Mr. Graham and F. W. Newendorp, accompanied at the organ by Mrs. A. H. Johnson, furnished touching music. Burial was in Lake City cemetery.
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Information found in the book, Past and Present of Calhoun County, Iowa:
During the past fifteen years, William O. Higgins has been a factor in the industrial activity of Lake City as manager of the J. H. Queal Lumber Co. His birth occurred at Kendall Bridge, Carroll county, Iowa in 1869, his parents being George W. and S. E. (Buttrick) Higgins, the former a native of Cass county, Michigan, and the latter of Missouri. Enos Buttrick, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was the first settler of Carroll county, this state.
William O. Higgins acquired his education in the schools of Glidden, Cottonwood, and Lake City and after putting aside his textbooks, secured a position as grocery clerk with J. O. Smith. During the past fifteen years he has been manager of the J. H. Queal Lumber Co. of Lake City and his work in this connection has proven an element in the continued growth and success of the enterprise, for he is a man of excellent business ability, sound judgment and keen sagacity.
In 1893, in Lake City, Iowa, Mr. Higgins was united in marriage to Miss Anna L. Nelson, a native of Denmark. In politics he is a democrat, loyally supporting the men and measures of that party at the polls. He has won the warm regard and esteem of all with social circles of his community.