A letter was written to Amelia Higginson Thurtell probably in the 1850's
or 1860's by her brother, Samuel Higginson, who was living at Lancha
Plana, Amador County, California. In it he tells her that their mother's
maiden name was Amelia Perkins, and that she was from Currituck County,
North Carolina. She apparently died when Amelia was very young. He also
states that their father had moved from Ohio to Illinois, where he bought
a farm of 257 acres and where he lived until 1846, when "he departed this
life." It mentions that their father had made a will and that their
brother, Edward Higginson, was currently living in that area in Flora,
Clay County, Illinois. Samuel refers to Caroline, probably another
sister, who was close to Amelia in age. He also tells her that after
their father left Canada he had three children, two girls and a boy. The
oldest girl and his wife died before he left Ohio. The other girl is
married to Mr. Wade and living near Edward, and Charles (possibly another
brother) is living with him. A copy of this letter is in the possession
of Susan Thurtell Miller. The 1860 U.S. Census shows Samuel Higginson,
Amelia's brother, was a hotel keeper in Lancha Plana, Amador County,
California, aged 37 and born in North Carolina. It shows Edward
Higginson as a farmer, aged 39, born in North Carolina, in Flora, Clay
County, Illinois, with a wife and three children. Records of Woodlawn
Cemetery, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, show Caroline Higginson Goodeve was
born in 1826 and died February 11, 1909. Also buried there are her
husband, Arthur H. Goodeve, born 1821, died 1889, and the children of A.
H. and C. Goodeve, Charles Wallace, born 1856, died 1904; and Mary Jane,
born 1862, died 1865. The cemetery records show that all four of them
were living in Guelph.

The U.S. Census for Kasson Township, Leelanau County, Michigan for 1870,
shows Amelia Thurtell was age 41, born in Canada, and that both her
parents were of foreign birth. The 1880 Census for the same location
shows she was 51, born in Canada, and that her father was born in Ireland
and her mother in North Carolina.

The U.S. Census for 1900 for Michigan (Vol. 23, E.D. 41, Sheet 10, Line
27) shows Amelia Thurtell was a white female born in November 1828 in
Canada and that she was 71 years old as of June 1, 1900. It shows her
father was born in Ireland, and her mother was born in North Carolina.
She is listed as the wife of Francis Thurtell, who was born in England in
November 1830. They were living at 304 West Ninth Street, Traverse City,
Grand Traverse County, Michigan. It shows she and her husband had been
married for 47 years. Their son, Edward B. Thurtell, born in March 1855
and 45 years old, was living with them at the time of the census. This
census showed Amelia was the mother of 7 children, of whom 6 were still
living. It shows Amelia and Francis Thurtell immigrated to the United
States in 1866.

The U.S. Census for 1900 for Michigan (Vol. 23, E.D. 42, Sheet 7, Line
40) for her son, Walter Thurtell, shows that he reported that his mother
was born in South Carolina. The U.S. Census for 1900 for Illinois (Cook
County, SD 1, ED 280, Sheet 13) for her son Alfred Thurtell shows he
reported that his mother was born in Massachusetts.

The U.S. Census for 1910 for Traverse City, Grand Traverse County (SD 11,
ED 56, part of Ward 3, sheet 2A) shows she was 81, married 57 years, with
six children, five of whom were still living. It shows she was born in
Canada and that her father was born in Ireland and her mother in North
Carolina.

The 1910 U.S. Census for Chicago, Cook County, Illinois (SD 1, ED 871,
Sheet 4B) for her daughter and son-in-law, Louie and Wilbur D. Cook, show
that the mother of Louise Cook was born in Canada. The 1920 U.S. Census
for Chicago, Cook County, Illinois (SD 1, ED 1468, Sheet 9A) listing
Wilber D. Cook and Louisa Cook, also shows that Louisa's mother was born
in Canada.

Her death certificate shows her name as Amelia N. Thurtell and that she
died at 4537 Artesian Avenue, Chicago, IL. Her death certificate was
signed by Dr. W. D. Cook, 59 East Madison Street, Chicago, IL, her
son-in-law, who certified that he attended her from November 1915 until
her death October 1, 1917. The cause of death is shown as senility and
arterio sclerosis. The informant for the death certificate is E. B.
Thurtell, 817 Lorel Avenue, Chicago, IL (her son Edward Thurtell). The
death certificate shows her mother's name as unknown and her father
(almost certainly erroneously) as Alex Ferguson born in Ireland. It also
shows her place of birth (also possibly erroneously) as Ontario. It
shows her date of birth as November 19, 1829. (The year of her birth is
also erroneous, and the birthday of November 19 instead of November 16 is
probably in error as well.) Obviously she moved to Chicago, IL,
following the death of her husband since her daughter and son-in-law,
Louisa and Wilbur Cook, as well as her sons Alfred and Edward Thurtell
all lived in the Chicago area. Her place of burial is shown as Traverse
City, Michigan.

The minutes of the University of Nevada Board of Regents meeting of
January 5, 1903, show that her son, Henry Thurtell, requested and was
granted a leave of absence for the month of April 1903 to attend the
Golden Wedding of his father and mother. These minutes were added to the
Internet in 1996 (http://www.scs.unr.edu).

She is buried at Oakwood Cemetery, 1225 East Eighth Street, Traverse
City, Michigan 49686, telephone 616-922-4907, in Block 5, Lot 2, Second
Edition. Oakwood Cemetery records confirm she died October 1, 1917, at
age 88 in Chicago, Illinois.

The Traverse City Record Eagle for October 3 and 4, 1917, shows that she
was born November 16, 1828, was married to Francis Thurtell in 1852, and
came to the Traverse City region in 1865. It shows she died at the home
of her daughter, Mrs. W. D. Cook of Chicago, with whom she had been
living. Funeral services were held on October 4, 1917, at the home of
her son, Herbert Thurtell, Sixth Street, with Rev. Demas Cochlin
officiating. This minister was from the First Congregational Church,
Traverse City, Michigan, and had officiated at the marriage of Walter's
daughter, Eva Thurtell, in 1911. The obituary for Amelia Thurtell showed
she had five surviving sons, Edward and Alfred Thurtell of Chicago,
Walter and Herbert Thurtell of Traverse City, Henry Thurtell of
Washington, D. C., and one daughter, Mrs. W. D. Cook. It adds that "She
lived a long and useful life, and was greatly loved by her family,
friends, and neighbors."

 View Pictures of Francis and Amelia Higginson Thurtell

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