Kit Carson County, Colorado
Histories

Michael and Lillian (Jones) Higgins, Lillian's second husband John W. Pilling, Edith (Jones) and Robert J. Dunbar, 7S 42W
 


In 1880 Monroe County, Missouri, Lillian is 13, with parents Jas. T. 36 and Mary 31 Jones. Edith is 11, Clarence 9.
She was born March 18, 1867 in Clayton, Illinois.
James T. Jones 1843-1908 is buried in Lawrence County, Missouri, # 72134070, with Mary 1848-1924.
Michael cash-claimed a quarter in 21, 7S 42W in 1890.
In 1900 Kit Carson County, Michael M. Higgins is a hotel keeper, born April 1860 in New York, married six years to Lilly M. March 1867 Illinois, have Bertha April 1895 and Hazel April 1900.
1910 "Mrs. M. Higgins and children left Tuesday for Mt. Vernon, Missouri, where they will spend the summer the guests of relatives."

In 1910 Burlington, Michael has the hotel, Lillian the cook, with Anna B. 8, Harold 5. Bertha is living with grandmother Mary Jones in Lawrence County, Missouri.
Michael 1860-1911 is buried in Burlington # 89524067.

1911 "Mrs. J. T. Jones of Aurora, Missouri is visiting her daughter Mrs. Higgins. She is acCompanied by two daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Higgins."

Lillian, per # 33514151, then married John Willie Pilling 1861-1941 - and she's buried in Lawrence County 1867-1962 - she also died in 1962 in Carthage, Missouri. Informant was Mrs. Hazel Moore of Avilla, Missouri.

In 1920 Lawrence County, Missouri, John W. Piling is a hardware salesman 55, born in England, with Lillian, 52.
In 1930 Tampa, Florida, John W. Pilling 68, born in England, married 28 years to Lillian 63 Illinois, have no occupations, and live alone.

In 1940 Lawrence County, Missouri, John W. Pilling, 79 born in England and Lillian A. 73 born in Illinois, are living alone.
John Willie Piling, born March 21, 1861 in Ratenstall, England, a carpenter, died January 1, 1941, informant John Edward Pilling of Burlington, Colorado.

Hazel married Noble Moore, and is buried in Lawrence County (# 21967109 says she died 1962 in Carthage, Missouri.)

EDITH
In 1900 Kit Carson County, Edith , both January 1869 in Illinois, is married seven years to Robert J. Dunbar Feb 1874 Illinois, a stock raiser.
In 1910 Lawrence County, Missouri, R.J. and Edith Dunbar are farming, and Hazel Higgins, niece 10 is with them.
Still in Lawrence County in 1920, "Annie B." Higgins, niece, 17 is with them.
Edith Jones Dunbar, 1869-1953 is buried in Lawrence County # 21930417, with Robert Jefferson Dunbar 1874-1956.


JOHN EDWARD PILLING
John W. Pilling cash-claimed a quarter in 25, 1S 42W in 1890 - that's in Cheyenne County, Kansas, but very near the Colorado border.

John William Pilling, age 26, married Mattie Campbell, age 16, December 24, 1890 in St. Francis, Cheyenne County, Kansas, performed by minister J.O. Allen. They had John Edward in St Francis, Kansas in 1893.
Mattie had been in Cass County, Iowa in 1885, with Samuel and Pearly, both 49, with Cora 19, Maggie 17, Effie 14, Herbert 13, and Julia 5.
S.E. Campbell died at his home in Eureka Township, Cheyenne County, Kansas January 22, 1894.

Mattie's sister Julia, age 14, died near Grand Junction, Colorado on the road to Utah.

Wednesday, Oct. 10.--Just thirty days since we left home. This morning we left camp very early. Eight miles from Grand Junction. Mr. Oaks and myself went on ahead in a cart to hunt camping ground at Grand River, as Julia Campbell is getting worse all the time. We all got to Grand River about 10 o'clock, here we called a doctor and he said that she had the mountain fever and was dangerously ill. So we found a room and took her there. Frank Cummings and I carried her up stairs and I Could see that she was past cure, in my belief. We went down Grand River 2 miles to get camping ground. This evening I went up to see her and she was a great deal worse.

Thursday, Oct. 11.--Still laying here in camp on the Grand River. This afternoon we got word that Julia was dead. She died at half past ten this morning, so Messrs. Oaks, White, Pilling and myself went to dig her grave. We did not get it very deep as we had to dig through gravel and rock. This young lady was fourteen or fifteen years old. She leaves a mother and three sisters, of whom all are older, in our Colony. She will be buried here tomorrow at 2 o'clock.

Friday, Oct. 12.--Still in camp near Grand Junction. Very nice weather. Frank Cummings went back at midnight last night to hunt the balance of our Colony, in order to get Mr. Dreisback to preach the funeral. He found them about eight miles back and got them out and they hitched up and pulled into our camp at daylight this morning, so at present we are all together again, except Trickett, Skeen and Crossman, they got in a hurry and left us some over a week ago. The funeral services were held at the Congregational Church today at 3 o'clock. Rev. Dreisback preached the funeral. Mr. Oaks has two or three children sick and it is thought that they have the mountain fever. We went to the Seminary, a distance of two miles, there was two wagons and a buggy. It was dark before we got back to camp. Julia belonged to the United Brethren Church
An obituary was in the Grand Junction News page 4, October 13, 1894
THANKS TO THE MESA CoUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY


Page 5

In 1895 "Jack" Pilling left Cheyenne County for Utah.

By Joseph Seguine
Published in the Cheyenne County, Kansas Rustler 1895

This is a small history of our trip to Utah:

We left our home near Benkelman's ranch on Monday, Sept. 10, 1894, at half past four to meet the Colony at the Northrup school house, a distance of 12 or 14 miles. (Near St. Francis, KS) Mr. Adam Sowers and wife in the lead, we traveled till about 8 o'clock that evening and it was a fine introduction as we ran in Contact with several obstacles and bad hills and hollows on Cherry creek, but the best joke is on Mr. Sowers, that is at Cherry creek, the first thing we knew he had us Corralled inside of a pasture and no place to get out, so we had to take down the wire. When we got to the school house we attended services and received the shaking of hands and the parting good-bye. After the services were over we went to our camp and had a good night's rest.

Tuesday, Sept. 11.--Fine morning. Some wind all day, Waited till 12 o'clock for the Colony to gather. Seven teams of us started after bidding Mr. and Mrs. Sowers and my wife good-bye. We traveled to Lansing, Colo. (Yuma County), a distance of 13 miles. There we went into camp for the night; we looked back and about three miles distant saw eight more wagons in camp.

Wednesday, Sept. 12.--Broke camp at 6:30, traveled five or six miles and the balance of the Colony overhauled us, which now makes up fifteen teams and we still have several more to join us at Colorado Springs that has gone on ahead of us. We traveled until 11:30 and went into camp for dinner, No mishaps so far excepting Mr. Woodruff has lost three young turkeys. This is one mile south of Idalia. Left camp at 2 o'clock: the weather very windy, almost blew the Cover off our wagons. Traveled through the town of Friend; mailed a letter to my family. We traveled 27 miles this day and went into camp at 6 o'clock; built fire in our stove and Cooked a good supper and I think we ate more than we ever did before in our lives. I would just say right here that in our own crowd we have five grown persons, viz. Peter Shields and wife, Frank Cummings and wife, and myself. This Constitutes our crowd and I think we ate over a peck of potatoes for supper.

Thursday, Sept. 13.--Left camp at 6 o'clock; wind blew hard all day. Traveled a distance of 14 miles in a vacated Country, nobody to be seen, very hard to get water: if it hadn't been for a big rain that fell a short lime ago, we Could not have found water for our stock, but we found several lagoons full. This is a desolate Country, nothing green to be seen, not even grass. Went into camp for dinner at 11:30. Started again at 2 o'clock; came right into the sand hills--a desert looking Country. We traveled until 6:30, a distance of about 15 miles and found a wind mill and plenty of water, but very little grass. Here we went into camp for the night, and left our wagons facing the north, but before bed time we had to turn them around with the face to the south. We built fire in our stoves, ate supper which we relished very much, and rolled into bed for the night.

Friday, Sept 14.--All of us up usually early, took breakfast before day, harnessed our horses, hitched up and prepared to break camp when we learned that our leader had lost three of his horses during the night, so four or five teams started on while the rest of us held back to wait for our leader and to help find his horses. This is 9 o'clock and no horses found yet. Staid in camp all day and that night came up a shower. Did not find the horses, they belonged to Jack Pilling and were very fine Colts, two iron grays and one bay. Very nice evening, plenty water but very little grass. Mrs. Shields and Mrs. Cummings done washing while I carried water and hunted fuel for them. The fuel was just like our Cheyenne County fuel. Mr. Pilling and Mr. Cummings went east to look for the Colts and Mr. White went north and Mr. Shields south, but got no trace of them, don't know whether they strayed off or whether they were driven off. I was the only man left in camp to look after things, and when the wind blew I had my hands full looking after things. I sent the women to an empty house close by while I lariated the wagons to keep them in camp, but everything went smooth.
Mattie Bell (Campbell) Piling 1874-1899 is buried in Colorado Springs # 69467878.
Per FAG, her two sisters are also buried there, both dying in 1945.

In 1900 Colfax County, Nebraska, John W. Pilling born March 1861 in England, is widowed, with Edward J. Jun 1892 Kansas, Ester Nov 1895 Utah, Birdie May 1898 Oregon, and Martha Dec 1899 Colorado.
John W. is a nephew of Harry and Margaret Welch, both born 1842 in England, farming.

In 1910 Kit Carson County John W. Pilling is 46, a tinner in a hardware store,
His children Ester 15, Bidella 12, and Mattie 10 are stillin Colfax County, Nebraska, with Henry Welch.
John E. Pilling married Elizabeth Mary Kelley in Burlington April 30, 1918.
John W. Pilling married Lillian M. Higgins in Lawrence County Missouri November 19, 1913.

In 1920 Kit Carson County, John is 27, born in Kansas, with John Eddie Pilling 17, born in Kansas, with Elizabeth 22, Kansas, and Mary eight months old. He's farming with mother-in-law Mary A. Keeley, 60 widowed, born in Illinois and her son William 35, Illinois.

In 1930 Kit Carson County, John is farming, 37, with Elizabeth 32, J. Leslie 6, and Joseph W. 3.
William Kelly married Justyna Daniel in Burlington May 26, 1920.
Next household is William Kelley 45, now married to Augusta 32 and their two kids. Mary A. Kelley 69 is living wtih Willliam.
John Edward Pilling 1893-1959, is buried in Burlington # 89638392.
John Leslie Pilling born 1923, died 1983, buried in King County, Washington, # 114948820.

Carl Emil Heibel
On June 21, 1917, he was married to Miss Esther Pilling, daughter of John W. and Mattie Campbell Pilling. Mrs. Heibel has one brother and two sisters: J. Edward Pilling, a rancher, employed later by Montgomery Ward and Company in Denver, married Elizabeth Kelly; Birdella Pilling, wife of Arthur Ahrens; and Mattie Pilling, wife of Calvin Gertsch.
Mr. and Mrs. Heibel have two daughters: Elaine, born April 15, 1921, and Dorothy Mae, born March 11, 1924. Both girls attended the District 2 School and were graduated from Kramer High School in Columbus. Elaine is the wife of Elwood Klug and Dorothy Mae is the wife of Jerome Luckey. They both live on farms near their parents' home. Elaine and Dorothy were active in 4-H Club work, the Luther League and Sunday School. Elaine served as organist for St. John's Church.
Carl E. Heibel was engaged in farming and stock raising in Bismark Township for more than thirty years. He holds a membership in the Farmers Union Local 370 of Colfax County.

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