2 Dec 1893--Born, on the 29th, to C. C. Whitmire and wife, a daughter. 2 Dec 1893--Born, in Clinton, Mo, on the 25th, to Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Simes, a son. 2 Dec 1893--Mr. Jeff Gains, aged 84, died near Cairo Saturday evening. He had been a resident of the county for 43 years. 9 Dec 1893--A colored woman, who was once a slave of Henry Clay, died at Springfield, Ill, Nov 22, aged 107 years. Her name was Mrs. Maria Todd. She was born in Kentucky, March 24, 1786, and was a slave until Lincoln's proclamation made her free. At an early age she was sold to Henry Clay, then a practicing lawyer near her birth-place. Her master was indebted to Clay for $700, and Maria was transferred to him to liquidate the debt. When she was 19 years of age, Mr. Clay sold her to Paul Christian of this place, in whose hands she remained until her race was freed. The oldest of her living children, Lucinda Perkins, now living somewhere in Missouri, in 78 years of age. Two other children are 68 and 54 years old. The old lady's mind was remarkably clear, though she had been in feeble health for several years. 9 Dec 1893--Born, on the 7th, to O. L. Fowler and wife a son. 9 Dec 1893--Uncle Nicholas Dysart living near Yates was badly shaken up Sunday by a fall while out on the porch. Mr. Dysart is 93 years old and gets around surprisingly well for one of his age. 16 Dec 1893--Wm. D. Williams, aged 80 years died near Renick the first of the week. The remains were taken to Fayette for interment. 16 Dec 1893--Miss Maude Carter, the accomplished daughter of Thos. S. Carter, of Sturgeon was married Wednesday to Mr. Frank I. Farley, of Columbia. They will make their home in St. Louis. 16 Dec 1893--At Fayette Sunday night Gus Hinchs, colored, and his family, went to church leaving the house in charge of Aunt Dolphi Brooks and old colored woman who was nearing the 100 mile post. They had not been gone long when the alarm of fire was given and the house was soon surrounded by a large number of excited people who assembled from every quarter hoping to be able to subdue the flames and save the old colored woman but their efforts were in vain. The house with all its contents was consumed. As soon as possible a search was made for the old lady. Her remains were found roasted to a crisp. Hinch says there were fifty dollars in the house at the time of the fire. 16 Dec 1893--R. H. Williams will leave here about the 15th for San Diego, Cal, where he will make his home--Paris Mercury. Mr. W. is the father of W. I. Williams of this place. 16 Dec 1893--The six-year-old daughter of W. J. Richards was fatally burned Thursday evening. Mrs. Richards had stepped across the street to a neighbor's and during her absence the little girls amused themselves by playing with a red hot poker which set fire to the oldest child's dress. She rushed out of the house into the yard screaming and attracted the attention of Miss Mary Avery, who succeeded in smothering the flames with a bed quilt. She suffered great agony until 8 o'clock yesterday morning when death came to her relief. 16 Dec 1893--DIED--We are pained to chronicle the death of Samuel Taylor Hughes, an old and highly respected citizen who died Dec. 13, 1893, in his 78th year at his home at the Central Hotel in this city and of which he was proprietor. For several years past the deceased was almost helpless, afflicted with a complication of troubles and old age, and his death was not a matter of surprise to his family and friends. The deceased was born in Georgetown, Scott county, KY, on the 21st day of October, 1816, making his age at the time of his death, 77 years, one month and twenty four days. He moved to this state to Howard county with his parents when quite young and was there reared to manhood when this country was thinly settled and a wild wilderness. He received a common English Education, the best that could be obtained at that time, in the rude back woods school house. Arriving at majority was married march 21, 1839, to Miss Elizabeth Sebree, settling on a fine farm where the little town of Fa-till (I think this should have been Fayette, but was a typo) now stands and owned by Wm. Estill. On this farm deceased lived and reared an interesting family of five or six children of which only three survive him. Losing his wife, the mother of all his children, he was again married to Miss Emma Hughes in February, 1863. One child was born to them but lived only a short time, and the mother soon followed the death of the babe. In 1869 deceased was for the third time married to Mrs. B. S. Ray, who survives him. Up to the removal of deceased from Howard to this, Randolph county, he was classed and looked upon as one of Howard county's best and most substantial citizens, taking a lively interest in county politics and county affairs. Leaving the county of his childhood and coming to Higbee an old man broken with the storms of fate he cast his lot among us and spent his last hours with a people who esteemed and respected him for his kindness and hospitality. The remains were taken to old Mt. Pleasant church one mile north of New Franklin, Howard county, yesterday, and buried with Masonic honors. 16 Dec 1893--J. F. Andrews, who has been confined to his bed and room for the past nine weeks with typhoid fever, was on our streets again Monday. He left Tuesday in company with his brother J. L. Andrews, for Burton and Myres, on a visit to his father--Fayette Democrat-Banner. 23 Dec 1893--Mrs. Albert Tarrot, ages 21 years died at Clifton Hill this week of consumption. 23 Dec 1893--John Wyott has moved to Boone county. 23 Dec 1893--Stace Truby and Miss Sallie Cross of Sturgeon, were married in Moberly on the 19th inst. 23 Dec 1893--Chas. B. Canole, a prominent farmer living near New Franklin, Howard county, died Monday after 71 years. 23 Dec 1893--John Lee of Howard county, died at his home near Kingsbury Monday. He was 77 years old and one of the wealthiest men in the county. 23 Dec 1893--Chillicothe is all worked up over the elopement of Sherman Constant with a 17-year-old sister of his wife. 23 Dec 1893--The wife of J. V. Kemper Sr, of Sturgeon, died at that place Tuesday while sitting in a chair, aged 82 years. She was the mother of Postmaster Kemper. 23 Dec 1893--Born, on the 17th, to Geo. Hearsman and wife, a daughter. 23 Dec 1893--Mrs. Alice Acre died near Renick on the 18th, of consumption. She leaves four little children, the oldest being six years and the youngest six weeks. 23 Dec 1893--Thos. (Governor) Stockton, died at his home near Clark, on the 19th inst, aged 82 years. 23 Dec 1893--Died, in Moberly, on the 18th, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Moberly, W. D. Foor, aged about 75 years. He had been a resident of Randolph county for more than fifty years. The remains were buried here last Sunday. 23 Dec 1893--The row between Mayor Ragsdale and the city council of Moberly is still unsettled. If it continues, Moberly will be one of the best advertised towns in the state, but not in a way that will add to the good name of the city or to the business interests of the merchants. The council should either impeach the offenders or resign: Such conduct is not only a disgrace to Moberly but to the whole county. 23 Dec 1893--We are called upon this week to record the death of Mrs. G. W. Lessley, who died at her residence two miles northwest of Higbee late Thursday eve, of pneumonia, aged 35 years. Two weeks ago deceased was taken with lagrip and was getting along nicely until last Monday when she concluded to drive over to her mother's, Mrs. Hulda Burton, and spend the day. She returned home in the evening and during the early part of the night was taken with a severe attack of pneumonia. Drs. Dinwiddie of Higbee, and Harvey of Roanoke, were called in and did all they could to relieve her but she continued to grow worse until relieved by death. The funeral services will be held at the Christian church at 2 o'clock to-day after which the remains will be laid to rest in the city cemetery. 23 Dec 1893--E. M. Sparrow, Superintendent of Moberly public schools, died at that place Thursday eve. 30 Dec 1893--John Galloway living near Renick, was run over by a Wabash freight Saturday night and instantly killed. It is supposed that he got drunk and went to sleep on the track. 30 Dec 1893--Married, in Higbee, on the 26th, Mr. Samuel Smith and Miss Eliza Thomas, Eld. T. D. Williams officiating. 30 Dec 1893--Thos. Snell, of St. Charles county, was here Monday, the guest of his sisters Mesdames McCausland and Whitmore. 30 Dec 1893--Died, near Mount Airy, on Dec 22, Mrs. Eliza J. Dameron, wife of Mr. G. P. Dameron, aged 28 years. Deceased was a sister of Mrs. J. J. Bradley of Higbee. 30 Dec 1893--Died, near Elliott, on the 26, Miss Lizzie, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Harvey. Kathy Bowlin, Additions, corrections, comments welcome.