6 Feb 1903--Geo Morlee and wife, of Illinois are here visiting relatives. 6 Feb 1903--Born, on the 1st, to Wm. Durnill and wife, a daughter. 6 Feb 1903--Married at the residence of and by Rev. Notley Magruder, near Myers, on January 29, 1903, Mr. Robert Edwards and Miss Cora Griffith, both of near Higbee. We join their friends in wishing them a happy life. 6 Feb 1903--Uncle Squire Green who died near Clark recently at the age of 92 years, had lived on the farm upon which he died for 71 years and had carefully preserved his tax receipts for all those years. There are few men who use such care in their business affairs. 6 Feb 1903--Mrs. Robert Harris received word from Colorado Tuesday that her nephew, Clyde Belcher, aged about 16 years, was killed while at work in a mine at Primrose, that state, a few days ago. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Belcher who moved from Higbee to that state about four years ago. Their friends here will regret to learn of their loss. 6 Feb 1903--Mrs. J. R. Stevenson, died at her home near Higbee, Monday, Feb 2, 1903, aged 54 years. Two or three years ago she had a stroke of paralysis and continued from that time on in poor health. She leaves a husband, seven sons and four daughters to mourn her loss. The remains were laid to rest at Fairview church Wednesday. The family have the sympathy of the community. 6 Feb 1903--Mr. W. Burch Dougherty, son of ex-Public Administrator, James L. Dougherty, of Myers, and Miss Leona Andrews, the pretty daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Andrews, of this city, were quietly married last Monday morning at 10 o'clock, at the residence of the officiating minister, Elder E. M. Richmond, in this city. The ceremony that shall henceforth bind these two hearts in the holy relation of husband and wife, was witnessed by the minister's family, and Miss Kate Lewis, and at its conclusion the happy Mr.. and Mrs. Dougherty left for a brief visit to friends in Kansas City before going to their future home in Winslow, Arizona. Both the bride and groom are members of excellent families, and count their friends by the number of their acquaintances, all of whom wish them happiness and prosperity through life--Fayette Globe. 13 Feb 1903--Mrs. Etta Ragsdale of Lagoda, Indiana, is visiting her sister, Elizabeth Lloyd. (Note: this statement has several errors, Etta was not a Mrs., she was a Miss; the town was Ladoga, In; and her sister was Eliza not Elizabeth. There was an Elizabeth Ragsdale who was Eliza's older sister.) 13 Feb 1903--WILLIAMS-WATTS--Married, in Moberly, on Thursday, Feb 12, 1903, at the residence of and by Rev. J. Edgar Davis, pastor of the Baptist church, Dr. W. E. Williams, of Myers, and Miss Addie Watts, of Brownwood, Mo. The bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Watts, formerly of Higbee, and granddaughter of Mrs. William Terrill, whom she has been visiting for the past year. The groom is a most excellent young man and is well known in this community, having been born and raised at Renick. The News joins other friends in wishing them a happy and prosperous journey through life. 13 Feb 1903--Joe Cline and his sisters, Mrs. Wm. Edwards, Mrs. Maggie Noel and Mrs. Dougherty of Burton, left here Wednesday for Thayer, MO, to visit their brother, L. W. Cline, who was seriously hurt while at work in a saw mill at that place Friday. 20 Feb 1903--Born, on the 15th, to Fred Laight and wife a son. 20 Feb 1903--Miss Ollie Edwards, who was sent to the Fulton insane asylum from the north part of the county fifteen months ago, died at that place Monday. 20 Feb 1903--Ed Hall, until recently a prominent hardware dealer at that place Monday after an illness of one week, aged 37 years. Deceased was born and raised near Roanoke. 20 Feb 1903--MRS. R. G. DUNCAN DEAD--In this week becomes the NEWS' painful duty to chronicle the death of another of Higbee's noble and Christian woman--Mrs. R. G. Duncan, who died at her home at 6:30 Wednesday evening, February, 18, 1903, of a complication of diseases, after a lingering illness of a year's duration, aged 45 years. She was taken to Kansas City several months ago by her devoted husband and placed under the care of specialists in the hope of regaining her health, but her case was beyond the reach of medical skill and she returned home several weeks ago knowing there was no hope, but as she had long since made peace with her God, the future had no terrors for her save the intense suffering she knew she must endure. Her sufferings were extreme and death came as a welcome relief. In her death Higbee loses one of its noble and Christian women, her husband and little son a devoted wife and loving mother. Besides these she leaves to mourn her death two brothers and three sisters--W. H. and Wesley Alexander and Mesdames Lou Stark, Wm. Stark and Kate Kirkpatrick, and a legion of friends. Funeral services will be conducted at the family residence to-day by Rev. E. C. Surface of the Cumberlain Presbyterian church, of which she was a member, after which the remains will be taken to the Rennold's family burying ground near town and laid to rest. To the heart broken family the NEWS extends its warmest sympathy. 20 Feb 1903--Rees Beddow, of Gallup, New Mexico, who was called to Huntsville last week by the death of his mother, was the guest of his daughter, Mrs. Walter Brodie, here Saturday. He returned home Sunday. 20 Feb 1903--Mrs. B. F. Kirby met with a very painful accident last Friday. She was making tea in a small bucket with a tight fitting top and had just stepped up to the stove to remove the lid when the accumulation of steam in the bucket blew the top off, the boiling hot tea badly scalding her neck and face. Dr. Burkhalter dressed the burns and pronounced them painful but not serious. 20 Feb 1903--Married, on February 18, 1903, at the residence of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Rennolds of near town, Mr. Arthur Holtzclaw and Miss Kizzie Rennolds, Elder Edgar Richmond of Fayette officiating. A large number of relatives and friends were present to witness the ceremony and partake of the elegant supper served. This is a most estimable and worthy young couple and the NEWS joins their many friends in wishing them a long and prosperous life. 20 Feb 1903--Last Week we unintentionally failed to mention the birth of a son to Ike Jones and wife, which occurred Feb 6. 20 Feb 1903--Died, at her residence in this city, Sunday, February 8, 1903, with a complication of diseases, Mrs. Rachel Evans. She was born in South Wales, December 3, 1839, consequently being 64 years, 2 months and 5 days old. Mrs. Evans came to America in 1855 and to Huntsville in 1873. She was married three times, first to Richard Jones, in 1854, second to Reese Beddow in 1858, and third to Samuel Evans in 1898. She professed Christ in Huntsville about 12 or 14 years ago and united with the First Baptist church. She leaves three sons and three daughters to mourn her death. Funeral was conducted from First Baptist church Wednesday, February 11th, at 2:30 p.m., Rev. G. V. Tilley preaching the sermon, interment in Huntsville cemetery. She was a consistent and devoted Christian old lady, and well liked by all who knew her.--Huntsville Herald. 27 Feb 1903--Born, on the 20th, to Robert Hursman and wife, a son. (Note: This child is Warnie Lee Hurshman) 27 Feb 1903--Born, at Elliott, on the 19th, to Dick Atkinson and wife, a son. 27 Feb 1903--Born, at Elliott, on the 20th, to John Garrett and wife, a daughter. 27 Mar 1903--Quite a crowd of friends were entertained at the home of J. E. Wyatt and wife Tuesday night in honor of the birthday of their daughter, Miss Rosa, who was the recipient of many nice presents. All did ample justice to the nice supper served. 27 Feb 1903--IN MEMORIAM--Mrs. Martha Ellen Duncan, wife of R. G. Duncan, of Higbee, MO, was born May 27, 1858, and died at her home, Feb 18, 1903. She leaves a husband and son to mourn their great loss which is to her an eternal gain. Sister Duncan joined the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Higbee at the time of its organization, a number of years ago, but later she made a bright profession of religion at a meeting held by Rev A. M. Buchanan. On Nov 11, 1894, she and her little son Carl were baptized at her home by Rev. J. T. Bacon who was then the pastor. She was treasurer of the Orphans' Home Society, a local organization, and in this as well as in all of her church work she was earnest and faithful. Her home life was sweet and beautiful and though she had been a great sufferer for a number of years yet she was patient and sweet spirited--so trustful, so sympathetic. She died peacefully and triumphantly. At her request the funeral services were conducted at the home by the writer, who was formerly her pastor and then the loved remains were placed quietly to rest, her gentle spirit having taken its immortal flight unto God who gave it. Sister Duncan was a true-hearted, noble-minded Christian woman,--so gentle in her strength, so strong in her gentleness. The home, so long made beautiful and fragrant by her gentle presence is sad now as the bereaved father, the aged grandmother, and the little son are left alone in their extreme loneliness; but with a resignation that is true and sacred they look up with the comforting assurance that...(poem follows) We commend them to the tender watchful care of our loving, Heavenly Father, who is too wise to make a mistake and too good to do wrong. He has prepared a home for all of His children and one by one He calls them and they are being gathered unto Himself. 27 Feb 1903--Mrs. Jas. R. Lyon died at her home near town last Saturday morning, Feb 21, 1903, after a lingering illness from stomach trouble, aged 57 years. Funeral services were conducted at the residence Sunday by F. H. James after which the remains were tenderly laid to rest in the Botts family burying ground. She was an exemplary Christian woman. The News joins other friends in extending sympathy to the bereaved family. 27 Feb 1903--Born, at Elliott, on the 19th, to Dick Atkinson and wife, a son. (Author's note: I think this was supposed to be Dick Atkins) 27 Feb 1903--Born, at Elliott, on the 20th, to John Garrett and wife, a daughter. 27 Feb 1903--O. S. Pitney and wife, of near Burton, were in town trading Saturday. Mr. Pitney says his son who was shot in Arkansas last December by a drunken Negro is improving but that his arm is very weak. 27 Feb 1903--Jas. Turner, one of the oldest citizens of the county, died at his home near Huntsville, Tuesday, of pneumonia, aged 85 years. He was a great uncle of Mrs. Thos. H. Walton of this place. 27 Feb 1903--While John Mobley was moving from the Duncan farm north of town to the Hardin farm east of town Wednesday, his mother, Mrs. Mobley, fell from the wagon and was pretty badly hurt. She was helped back into the wagon and another start was made but had gone a short distance, when the horse ridden by Ben Hardin, aged 14, who was helping Mr. Mobley move, fell, breaking the young man's arm in two places. Dr. Dinwiddie was called and set the broken limb. 27 Feb 1903--Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Daniels were called to Belleville, Ill, Wednesday by the death of the latter's mother, Mrs. Betty Flaircloth, who died at her home in that city. Tuesday as a result of a fall the first of the year, in which she broke her hip. She was a little over 96 years old at the time of her death. 27 Feb 1903--Miss Gertrude Magruder who had been suffering from consumption for the past year, died at the residence of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Magruder, in this place at 7 p.m., Tuesday, February 24, 1903, aged 17 years, 10 months and 1 day. Funeral services were conducted at the Methodist church Thursday evening, after which the remains were taken to Log Chapel cemetery, Howard county, and tenderly laid to rest. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire community. 27 Feb 1903--OBITUARY--Published by request--Mrs. Mary E. Crews, of New Franklin, died in the Baptist sanitarium in St. Louis 7 a.m. Tuesday, January 27. Death was caused by apoplexy, following a few hours after an operation for tumor. Mrs. Crews had been suffering from this malady since early spring of 1902. The trouble developed very rapidly, until recently, her physicians decided that unless an operation were performed her life could be only a matter of days. She was taken to the hospital last week. Monday the operation took place. She seemed to stand the ordeal well, and was apparently on the road to recovery, when suddenly her life ended by failure of heart action. Mrs. Mary E. Crews was born February 2, 1893; the daughter of Basewell and Martha Maxwell. Mr. Maxwell was, in his day, a man of great influence and prominence in the county. He established the Maxwell mills, about five miles east of this city. Of these, nothing but the mill site now remains, but for generations it was a leading point in the business of the community. The homestead, where Mrs. Crews was born, and the farm, are now owned by Mr. J. A. Maxwell, the only remaining member of the family who bears the name. In May 1857 the subject of this sketch was married to Enoch Crews of this county. Mr. Crews, in the course of time, succeeded Mr. Maxwell in the management of the mills. Here the family lived for years. The old home still stands just south of the mill site. Ten children were born to them, six of whom survive the mother: Mrs. Mattie Martin and Mrs. Annie Robb, of Higbee; Mrs. Ora Sparks, H. E. Crews, Tyre D. Crews and Mollie E. Crews, of New Franklin. The deceased also leaves a brother, J. A. Maxwell, and a sister, Mrs. Wm. McBee. Some twenty years ago Mr. Crews moved to this city and became the owner of the New Franklin mill, another enterprise which now exists only in the history of the community. Mr. Crews died April 16, 1895. Mrs. Crews joined the Christian church at Ashland, MO, in 1874. From that time she was a sincere, devoted member. The old family bible gives evidence of many a faithful hour spent in the study of God's Word. All who knew her were her friends. Many will learn of her death with deep regret and cherish ever an enduring memory of her. We all deplore the death of one who has lived long among us and been so much to many of us--New Franklin News. 27 Feb 1903--Wm. Poor, for eighteen years a switchman for the Wabash at Moberly, was run down and killed by a train at that place late Saturday evening. He had severed his connection with the company that day and was on his way to his farm just north of Moberly on a velocipede where he expected to spend the remainder of his days, when death overtook him. Kathy Bowlin, Additions, corrections, comments welcome