Hi Everyone, The issue of September 19, 1891, was a special edition, dedicated to highlighting the business men and their businesses. There were numerous biographies, some better than others, some more advertisements than biographies. Most of these articles were complete, but some of them were not, because this paper was very old when it was microfilmed and had crumbled in places, leaving holes and gaps in some of the articles. Some of the printing had faded to beyond readable level. I transcribed everything that was readable, for every business and individual highlighted. It will take several emails to send them all, so I will send this message in parts, with three businesses highlighted in each email. Enjoy. Kathy 19 Sep 1891--SPECIAL EDITION ABOUT THE TOWN OF HIGBEE--CHARLES EVANS. A Self-Made Man--From Poverty to Wealth and Influence. Charles Evans has been a resident of the United States thirty-three years and of Higbee nine years. Mr. Evans came here twenty years ago and prospected for coal, but owing to the urgent demand for coal by the railroad company he went further south and opened what is known as the Russell mine, getting a four-foot vein of excellent coal, all of which went to supply the M K & T railway. In 1882 he opened a mine in Higbee, taking stock in a joint stock company composed of himself, Thomas Fleming, (now of Colgate,, I. T. ) John S. Elliott, of Boonville, and S. Lessley, of Higbee, Mr. Evans being the general manager and superintendent of the Higbee Coal and Mining company, the title given the enterprise. As soon as the mine was opened the business increased until when he sold his interest in 1885 there were 100 men steadily at work and who still find constant employment. Mr. Evans was born in South Wales in 1834 and entered the mines when eight years of age and has spent his lifetime in mines and mining. His whole life has been one of toil and industry. Started in the mines when but a boy in the capacity of a trapper, and advanced step by step to that of a miner, mine foreman, mine superintendent and an operator of mines, he has seen and been through all the changes to which miners are subjected. He saw his father killed when but twelve years old, and later a younger brother was killed by his side near Belleville, Ill, and he himself was taken out of the mine insensible and came near losing his life by his bravery in saving the lives of his fellow miners, after an explosion of fire damp. By the loss of his father the burdens of the parental care fell upon his shoulders which compelled him to spend his young in the mines to help support his widowed mother and fatherless brothers and sisters, so his education was neglected. He says the only school he ever had the opportunity of attending was the Sunday school, of which he made good use by learning to read. He received his first lesson in penmanship in the mines with a fellow miner for a teacher, his dinner can for a copy book and a nail for a pen. He was graduated in the deep mines of his native country and received his certificate of graduation from a practical experience and knowledge of all the modes and principles of mines and mining. He is well versed with all the gasses met with in mines, and understands all systems of ventilation. He can readily detect any defection in the distribution of air in mines and has the ability to dictate the necessary improvement. He has an excellent knowledge of all points of inspection necessary to the safety of men and to the best interest of the mine owners. He has done his part in building up the town, his first investment being the dwelling house where he now lives and which he purchased nine years ago. Since then he has built several dwellings for others upon the installment plan, thereby enabling them to own homes of their own. In 1884 he built the two-story brick business house, 22X60 feet, on the corner of Division and Railroad streets. In 1888 he erected another brick building, 24X80, beside the first one, the lower room being used by the general store of Tymony & Parrill, and the upper by Higbee lodge No. 527, A. F. & A. M. as a lodge room. This season he associated with him A. B. Johnson, his son-in-law, and they erected a brick block 44 X 80 feet, known as Evans' opera house. The entire lower floor is occupied by Adams & Bradley, and the upper story has been elegantly fitted up for an opera house and has a seating capacity of 500. It is supplied with the finest of scenery and the wood work has been finished with oil. A fine Emerson piano was also purchased from a Moberly dealer. The house was thrown open to the public on August 22nd, the Blue Beard company playing to a large audience. During the evening Mr. Evans was called upon the stage and presented with a beautiful gold-headed ebony cane by the admiring citizens as a slight testimonial of the esteem in which he is held by Higbee people for his untiring efforts to build up the city. Within the past few weeks he has built a brick oven in the rear of the corner building, the oven having a capacity of 400 loaves of bread......(The rest cut off) 19 Sep 1891--SPECIAL EDITION ABOUT THE TOWN OF HIGBEE--AN OLD CITIZEN--Has Been a Resident of Moniteau for Seventy-Two Years--Joseph W. Burton came to Randolph county with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. May Burton, in 1819, when but little more than three years of age. With the exception of a short stay in California, to which state he went by land as captain of a band of teamsters, returning by the way of the Isthmus and New Orleans, and a brief experience in the Confederate army during the last year of the war, Mr. Burton has remained on his farm, adjoining Higbee on the south, ever since his first marriage. He was married in 1839, to Miss Orpha J. Brooks, who was born in Randolph county. They lived together thirteen years before her death and of the union there were born four boys and one girl, all of whom are living and are prosperous citizens. On the 27th of June, 1852, he was married to Sarah Ann Pyle, and Mr. and Mrs. Burton have raised nine of the ten children born to them, making fourteen children living, as the fruit of both unions. Mr. Burton now owns 400 acres of the best farming land in the county, besides laying out thirty-five acres in town lots. At the beginning of the civil war his farm was well stocked and he owned nine Negroes valued at $10,000, but the results of the war left him with nothing but his farm, his stock having been confiscated and his Negroes freed. When peace was declared he went to work to retrieve his fortune and repair the damages made by the troops of both armies, and to day he is one of the wealthiest men in Randolph county. He is now seventy-five years old, but does not look to be over sixty, is hale and hearty and says he was never sick but once in his life, and that when he was a boy. In an early day he was a Whig, but when Knownothingism sprang up became a Democrat and is one still. Mr. Burton says the only person that he can remember who was grown when he was a boy is Nicholas Dysart, who was born in 1800, and was his first school teacher. Mr. Burton was one of the incorporators of Higbee and has been one of the most prominent men in the community in advancing the interest of the town. His large family of children are scattered and living in several states, but he knows where each one is and takes a fatherly interest in everything pertaining to their welfare. Mr. and Mrs. Burton are members of the Higbee Christian Church, as also are nearly all of their children. 19 Sep 1891--SPECIAL EDITION ABOUT THE TOWN OF HIGBEE--PRETTY STEADY WORK--W. A. Reid Has Not Lost a Day in Four Years.--W. A. Reid is the engineer at the Higbee coal mine. He is a native Missourian, having been born in Howard county in 1856. He has had seventeen years experience as an engineer and has worked for the Higbee Coal and Mining company four years, during which time he has not lost a single day. He is a married man, having a wife and four children. Mrs. Reid also being a native of Howard county. Mr. Reid is a sober, industrious man, a good engineer and an excellent citizen. He owns a pretty residence and is very comfortably fixed. His father, John Reid, was born in Orange county, Virginia, December 16, 1804, and came to Missouri in 1836, and now makes his home with him. The old gentlemen is eighty-six years of age and is in the enjoyment of very good health. Kathy Bowlin Additions, corrections, comments welcome.