Our thanks goes to Jean ASHBROOK for most of the information on this page, and the pages of Emma and David's children.
To view pictures of this family go to the HIGGINS FAMILY picture page.
Emma B. HIGGINS is the only known child of the second marriage of Robert HIGGINS, to Serepta BROOKS.
Emma was born in Mt. Hope Township, McLean County, Illinois on 28 February 1858 or 27 February 1859. Emma died in March 1930 in Meadville, Missouri.
Although he sometimes went by the name David, his name appears to be John David STEPHEY and he was born 10 September 1854 at Cavetown, Maryland, the son of John Daniel STEPHEY and Euphemia GALLIGHER. David passed away on 14 October 1915.
From the Illinois marraige records we find the marriage of John David STEPHEY to Ida STOUT on 23 August 1877 in Tazewell County, Illinois. Their son Warren was born 21 months later and Ida must have died in child birth because from the 1880 census we know that David was a school teacher, boarding at the Nicolas BAKER residense in Minier, Tazewell County, Illinois. David is listed as Widowed. In another 1880 census record David's son Warren is living with his grandparents John Daniel STEPHEY and Euphemia GALLIGHER and their children Charles and Frank(David's brothers) in Cavetown, Washington County, Maryland.
Warren STEPHEY, born 15 May 1879 in Stanford, Illinois. His death record says his father is J.D. Stephey, born Cavetown, Maryland and his mother is Ida M. Stout, born Stanford, Illinois. His spouse is listed as Ilma.
David and Emma had 5 children:
Blanche "Babe" Stephey, born May 1885 in
Kansas per 1885 Nebraska census. Blanche died as a young child per Jean
Ashbrook.
Ferne STEPHEY, born 20 August 1888 in Ruskin, Nebraska.
Clyde STEPHEY, born 26 February 1890 in Ruskin, Nebraska.
Ethel STEPHEY, born 21 September 1896 in Fairbury, Illinois.
Deane STEPHEY died at birth.
From the June 4, 1885 Nebraska census we find David and Emma living with Emma's sister Laura Higgins Jones in Spring Creek district of Nuckolls County. David is teaching school. Emma is 26 and they have a one month old daughter born in May listed as "Babe". This is probably the "Blanche" lised above. His son Warren is not with him.
From the 1900 census we find this family living in Parson Creek, Linn County, Missouri. John D. STEPHEY is 45, birth listed as Sept 1854, Emma B. is 41, birth listed as Feb 1859, Fern is 11, birth listed as Aug 1888, Berton C. is 10, birth listed as Feb 1890 and Ethel T is 3, birth listed as Sept 1896.. Their marriage year is listed as 1882. John D. STEPHEY is a farmer.
From the 1910 census this family is still in Parson Creek, John D
is 55, Emma B is 51, Fern is 21, Clyde is 20 and Ethel is 13. John is a
farmer and Clyde is a fam laborer.
David STEPHEY was a school teacher for many years, then moved to Missouri where he was a farmer. He died in 1915 of the flu.
Return to: Robert HIGGINS page.
This page was last updated on 8 May 2013