Finds from Chilton Union Banner newspaper archive: Smith and Higgins

I have found Facebook to be a great resource for genealogy.  There are many pages specific to the history of  certain surnames and places.  One that I have been following is the Chilton County (Alabama) Historical Society page. My husband's maternal grandmother is from Clanton, Alabama.

A recent post was in regards to the newspaper archive of the Chilton Union Banner provided by the University of Montevallo.  It can be accessed through their website here:  W. M. "Mack" Wyatt Digital Archive and through Archive.org. 

 From this archive I came across some great finds!

The death notice of my husband's third great grandmother Josephine Smith Higgins (1845-1913).  This is from the issue dated May 8, 1913.

Also the wedding announcement of his great grandparents Milton Smith and Inez Higgins.  This is from the issue dated April 7, 1921. 

I spent a day or two trying different search methods to locate the information I wanted.   Since I already knew the death date and the wedding date, I went to the issue immediately after the event I was interested in.  Opening up that issue, I could search within that issue for the name I was looking for. 

For a more broader search, I used the Google site search of Archive.org with the name Union Banner in quotes followed by a full name or surname.   I came up with several articles that mentioned my husband's ancestors or family. 

Higgins Family Cemetery, Chilton County, Alabama

While doing genealogy searches I came across the Lake Mitchell Home Owners and Boat Owners Association.  Located in Chilton County, Alabama, Lake Mitchell is near the town of Clanton.  A local resident with an interest in the history of the area posted an article about the nearby Higgins Family cemetery.  One of the photos is the headstone of Benjamin Franklin Higgins and Josephine Smith.

B F and Josephine Higgins are my husband's 3rd great grandparents.  Look here to read the article and see the photo of their headstone: Higgins Family Cemetery article and photos

Smiths and Higgins about 1930

From left to right:
Joe FrankHiggins
Joe Higgins holding Sims
Grace Higgins
Annie Cordelia Smith in front of Alice Higgins Smith
Annie White Higgins
Frances Smith in front of Benjamin Franklin Higgins
Robert Flem Higgins Jr.in front of Mayme Smith
Flem Higgins

Alice Higgins Smith

Alice Inez Higgins

Alice Inez Higgins
born July 24, 1900
died June 24, 1942 in Clanton, Alabama
married Milton Smith April 3, 1921

Benjamin and Annie Higgins

Over the weekend I was able to scan some pictures from my mother-in-law's family. This is one of the older pictures. This is Benjamin Franklin Higgins and his wife Annie Mizelle White Higgins. Benjamin was born Oct 8, 1872 in Alabama and died April 23 1960. Annie White Higgins was born February 20, 1880 and died August 1, 1968 in Alabama.

These are my husbands great great grandparents on his mother's mother's side.