Stone Cutter Peter Higgins

Willow & Urn ornament, Old Dimmick Cemetery, Milford PA, 1861

Among the stone cutters active in the Upper Delaware River Valley during the period 1860 -1870 was Peter Higgins, a native of Ireland. It is likely Higgins arrived in the US via Canada sometime in the late 1840s for the 1850 census finds the family in New York City.  By 1860 they've moved to Deerpark, and by 1870 Higgins had established his firm on Jersey Avenue in Port Jervis, NY.

for James Suiter, 1861

The above crisp example of his distinctive Willow and Urn ornament is from the James Suiter tombstone which is presently in storage, protected from the ravages of weather.

19th century marble and stone cutters advertised their wares with a signature on the tombstone, typically in the lower right hand corner.

1870 Census, Deerpark, Orange Co NY

The Evening Gazette, Port Jervis, NY, October 1, 1874

Peter's only known son, John F. Higgins, apprenticed with his father but would leave the trade after Peter died to attend St Francis Xavier College. He later returned to Port Jervis to practice medicine.

Shohola-Worzel Cemetery, Pike Co PA, 1862

 The Higgins' tombstone carvings are noted for the use of mixed fonts in the lettering, the distinctive shape of the upper portion of the stone, and the frequent use of the Willow or Willow & Urn ornament.

Eldred Cemetery, Sullivan Co NY, 1861

In Memory of
James Collard
Who Died Feb. 8, from
wounds received on the
N. Y. and E. R. R., Jan. 29, 1861
Aged 24 years
7 mo & 3 D's
None knew him but to love

Higgins, Port Jervis 

Willow & Urn ornament, Delaware Cemetery, Dingmans Ferry, Pike Co PA, 1866

The Joseph H Albright tombstone bears the signature of Higgins, Port Jervis in the lower right hand corner.

German Hill Cemetery, Pike Co PA, 1864

This Civil War veteran's tombstone by Higgins is unusual in the tri-state area for its depiction of a standing soldier.

John 

son of 

Francis & Christine Kreiter

of the 56th Regiment of the New York Volunteers

Died Aug. 21, 1864

N Beauford, South Carolina

Aged 21 years

& 7 months

Higgins

Port Jervis

Willow & Urn ornament, Van Tuyl Cemetery, Pond Eddy NY, 1861

The Higgins signature is visible on the lower portion of this broken stone for Levi Middaugh.

 

Higgins Tombstones

Parker, Charles M (signed)

b. July 12, 1836 d. Aug 12, 1864

Barryville Congregational Churchyard, Barryville, Sullivan Co NY 

Albright, Joseph H (signed)
b. Oct. 13, 1807 d. Jan. 27, 1866
Delaware Cemetery, Dingmans Ferry, Pike Co PA

Collard, James (signed)
b. Jul. 5, 1836 d. Feb. 8, 1861
Eldred Cemetery, Eldred, Sullivan Co NY

Mapes, Kezia Oakley 

b. 1792 d. Feb. 23, 1861
Eldred Cemetery, Eldred, Sullivan Co NY

Kreiler, John (signed)
d. Aug. 21, 1864    
German Hill Cemetery, Shohola, Pike Co PA

Meginnis, Joseph W (signed)

d. March 17, 1859

Laurel Grove Cemetery, Port Jervis, Orange Co NY

McCarty, Amanda (signed)
b. Nov. 28, 1833 d. Nov. 8, 1860
Milford Cemetery, Milford, Pike Co PA

Van Etten, Oliver P (Willow & Urn ornament)
b. Nov. 29, 1816 d. Dec. 18, 1864
Milford Cemetery, Milford, Pike Co PA

Suiter, James (signed)
b. Mar., 1781 d. May 2, 1861    
Old Dimmick Cemetery, Milford, Pike Co PA

Brink, Elizabeth (Willow & Urn ornament)
b. Jan. 18, 1837 d. Nov. 25, 1864
Rowlands Cemetery, Rowland, Pike Co PA

Terwilliger, Roxy S Brink (Willow & Urn ornament)
b. Feb. 8, 1834 d. Jul. 30, 1867
Rowlands Cemetery, Rowland, Pike Co PA

Hehn, Anna Maria (signed)
b. Apr. 13, 1862 d. Sep. 13, 1862
Shohola-Worzel Cemetery, Shohola, Pike Co PA

Covart, Sarah C. 

d. Oct. 16, 1864
Upper Mongaup Cemetery, Upper Mongaup, Sullivan Co NY

Middaugh, Levi (signed)

b. Jul. 7, 1786 d. Sep. 13, 1861
Van Tuyl Cemetery, Pond Eddy, Sullivan Co NY

Middaugh, Margaret Van Aken (Willow & Urn ornament)

(In the style of Peter Higgins, likely lettered after his death from stock on hand when the business was sold in 1874.)
b. Feb. 26, 1793 d. Oct. 11, 1876
Van Tuyl Cemetery, Pond Eddy, Sullivan Co NY

A virtual cemetery of Higgins tombstones, photos from various contributors.