Memorable Manitobans: Eliza May Bissett Higgins (1885-1961)

Educator.

Born at St. Thomas, North Dakota on 29 September 1885, daughter of Peter Bissett (1853-1906) and Margaret Young (1860-1945), sister of Maud A. Bissett and sister-in-law of Daniel McIvor, she moved to Winnipeg in 1901 and attended the University of Manitoba. She lived in the family residence at 957 McMillan Avenue (1913-1923) while teaching at (1911-1913) and serving as Principal (1913-1923) of Bannatyne School, after which she moved to Whitehorse, Yukon. There she worked as a teacher until, on 24 December 1927, she married civil servant Lawrence Higgins (c1885-1959) at Whitehorse. During 1943 and 1944, they were actively involved in construction of the Alaska Highway. In 1958, they moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. She died there on 12 March 1961 and was buried at the Masonic Cemetery in Burnaby.

Sources:

Marriage registrations [Maud Adeline Bissett / Dickerman], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Supplemental examinations,” Manitoba Free Press, 11 October 1904, page 4.

“New appointments university staff,” Manitoba Free Press, 6 August 1915, page 4.

“Personal and social,” Manitoba Free Press, 22 August 1916, page 17.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 22 March 1961, page 22.

Death registrations, British Columbia Vital Statistics.

Obituary [Mrs. S. O. Dickerman], Winnipeg Free Press, 23 March 1965, page 24.

Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.

We thank Nick Atkinson for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 18 January 2019

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

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