Extract from the 1870 Census:
Name: Mary J Van Schoyck
Age in 1870: 9
Estimated birth year: 1861
Birthplace: Illinois
Race: white
Sex: female
Relation to head-of-house: daughter
Parents: James and Nancy Van Schoyck, ages 55 and 52
Home in 1870: Empire, McLean, Illinois
Post office: LeRoy
Education: able to speak English
Education: able to read and write
Father's birthplace: Ohio
Mother's birthplace: Ohio
Father's occupation: farmer
Occupation: attending school
Siblings living at home: Leyelia A (age 29), John (26), James M (24), David M (22), William N (20), Amas (19), Robert S (15), and Isaac (12)
Census place: Empire, McLean, Illinois; Roll: M593_259; Page: 392; Image: 231
Date: 12 Jul 1870

Extract from the 1880 Census:
Name: Mary Van Schoyck
Age: 18
Estimated birth year: 1862
Birthplace: Illinois
Race: white
Sex: female
Relationship to head-of-household: daughter
Parent: Nancy Van Schoyck, age 60; widow
Home in 1880: Ludlow, Champaign, Illinois
Marital status: single
Occupation: keeping house
Siblings living at home: William (age 30), Robert S (25), and Isaac (23)
Census place: Ludlow, Champaign, Illinois; Roll: T9_179; Family History Film: 1254179; Page: 161.3000; Enumeration District: 13; Image: 0323
Date: 9 Jun 1880

Extract from the 1900 Census:
Name: Mary Higdon
Age at last birthday: 38
Date of birth: Jul 1861
Birthplace: Illinois
Race: white
Sex: female
Relationship to head-of-house: wife
Home in 1900: Pigeon Grove, Iroquois, Illinois
Marital status: married
Number of years of marriage: 14
Number of children: 6
Number of children living: 6
Able to read, write and speak English: yes
Father's birthplace: Ohio
Mother's birthplace: Ohio
Occupation: none
Census place: Pigeon Grove, Iroquois, Illinois; Roll T623_308; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 26
Date: 12 Jun 1900

Extract from the 1910 Census:
Name: Mary J Higdon
Age in 1910: 47
Estimated birth year: 1863
Birthplace: Illinois
Race: white
Sex: female
Relationship to head of family: wife
Home in 1910: Button, Ford, Illinois
Marital status: married
Number of years of present marriage: 24
Number of children: 8
Number of children now living: 8
Able to speak English: yes
Able to read and write: yes
Father's birthplace: Ohio
Mother's birthplace: Ohio
Occupation: none
Census place: Button, Ford, Illinois; Roll: T624_235; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 2; Image: 229
Date: 21 Apr 1910

Extract from the 1920 Census:
Name: Mary Higdon
Age: 58
Estimated birth year: 1862
Birthplace: Illinois
Race: white
Sex: female
Relationship to head of house: wife
Home in 1920: Boone, Hancock, Iowa
Address: farm
Marital status: married
Able to speak English: yes
Able to read and write: yes
Father's birthplace: Illinois [sic]
Mother's birthplace: Illinois [sic]
Occupation: none
Census place: Boone, Hancock, Iowa; Roll: T625_492; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 142; Image: 86
Date: not listed

Extract from the 1925 Iowa State Census:
Name: Mary Joyce Higdon
Age: 63
Estimated birth year: 1862
Birth location: Illinois
Race: white
Gender: female
Residence county: Hancock
Residence state: Iowa
Relation to head of house: wife
Marital status: married
Highest grade completed: 12
Father: James Van Schoyck
Father's age: not listed
Father's birth location: Ohio
Mother: Nancy Johnson
Mother's age: not listed
Mother's birth location: Ohio
Parents' marriage location: Ohio
Religion: Protestant
Census date: 1 Jan 1925
Roll: IA1925_1738
Line: 20

Extract from the 1930 Census:
Name: Mary Higdon
Age: 68
Estimated birth year: 1862
Birthplace: Illinois
Race: white
Sex: female
Relation to head-of-house: wife
Home in 1930: Boone, Hancock, Iowa
Marital status: married
Age at first marriage: 24
Education: able to speak English
Education: able to read and write
Father's birthplace: Ohio
Mother's birthplace: Ohio
Occupation: none
Census place: Boone, Hancock, Iowa; Roll: 657; Page: ; Enumeration District: 8; Image: 672.0
Date: 10 Apr 1930

Obituary from the "Globe-Gazette" of Mason City, Iowa dated 19 Apr 1934:
Mrs. Higdon Funeral
Conducted at Britt;
8 Children Survive
Britt, April 19 - Funeral services for Mrs. Benjamin Higdon were held Tuesday afternoon at the Methodist church with the Rev. G. W. Eggleston in charge. Burial was made in the Evergreen cemetery.
Mary Jane Vanschoyck was born at Le Roy, Ill., July 4, 1861. On March 21, 1886, she was married to Benjamin Higdon and to this union were born eight children who with the husband survive.
They are the Rev. E. K. Higdon, Manila, P. I., E. E. Higdon of Eureka, Ill., Mrs. Paul E. Million of Shelbyville, Ind., R. H. Higdon of Britt, Claude L. Higdon of Hebron, Ill., Benjamin F. Higdon, Jr., of Britt, Mrs. Floyd R. Nelson of Cody, Wyo., and Mrs. H. A. Raw of Red Wing, Minn.

Obituary from the "Record" of Paxton, Illinois dated 26 Apr 1934:
Higdon Family
Is Bereaved
- - - - - - -
The Britt (Ia.) News-Tribune,
April 18, 1934.
Mrs. B. F. Higdon, after being bedfast since last August suffering from arthritis and heart trouble, died at her home southwest of Britt on Sunday morning at 4:00 o'clock. She had been helpless for a long time and loved ones cared for her constantly.
Mary Jane Vanschoyck, daughter of David and Nancy Vanschoyck, was born at LeRoy, Ill., July 4, 1861, and passed quietly away at her home near Britt on April 15, 1934.
She lived in this central Illinois community during the years of her childhood. As a young woman she united with the Methodist church at Ludlow, Ill.
She was united in marriage to Benjamin Higdon on the 21st day of March, 1886, at Little Rock, Kans., where her family lived for a short time. To this union were born eight children, who with the husband survive. The children are Rev. E. K. Higdon, Manila, P. I.; Prof. E. E. Higdon, Eureka, Ill.; Mrs. Paul E. Million, Shelbyvllle, Ind.; R. H. Higdon, Britt; Claude L. Higdon, Hebron, Ill.; Benjamin F. Higdon, Jr., Britt; Mrs. Floyd R. Nelson, Cody, Wyo.; Mrs. H. A. Raw, Red Wing, Minn. All of the children with the exception of Mrs. Raw and Rev. E. K. Higdon arrived to attend the funeral. They were unable to come on account of illness and distance. Ten grandchildren also survive.
Mrs. Higdon was the youngest in a family of nine children, two sisters and six brothers, all of whom have preceded her in death.
After her marriage and while her children were young, she transferred her church membership to the Mt. Olivet Christian church, near Paxton, Ill., where practically all her growing family united with the church. Her deep interest in the Christian religion and her Christian character was felt as an uplifting influence in the lives of all her children.
In the spring of 1919 the family moved from Paxton, Ill., to their present home near Britt.
During recent years, due to falling health, she spent most of her time in her home, which was always her chief interest and where she made her finest contribution.
Funeral services were held at the First Methodist church in Britt on Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, conducted by the Rev. G. W. Eggleston. Burial was made in Evergreen cemetery, Britt.
Paxton friends, who will be deeply grieved to learn of the passing of Mrs. Higdon, join with the Record in extending sympathy to the heartbroken family.

Children:
(1) Elmer Higdon b. Nov 1887 in Illinois
(2) Ernest Higdon b. Oct 1889 in Illinois
(3) Goldie Higdon b. Jun 1892 in Illinois
(4) Raymond Howard Higdon b. Mar 1896 in Illinois
(5) Claude Higdon b. Mar 1898 in Illinois
(6) Benjamin F Higdon b. Oct 1899 in Illinois
(7) Gladys Mae Higdon b. 8 Feb 1903 in Illinois
(8) Mildred Higdon b. about 1908 in Illinois.