Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--SMALLPOX IN LIGHT FORM--Smallpox, we are sorry to say, has again broken out in this community, but in a very light form, and no serious consequences are feared. So far, but four cases have developed, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Bradley and son, Freddy, of near town, and Will Reed. The disease is supposed to have been brought here by Freddie Bradley, who recently returned from Colorado, but who was not sick when he came home, and who had no idea that he had been exposed to the disease. The latter is now fully recovered. A strict quarantine is being maintained, and every precaution taken to prevent any further spread of the disease. Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--(Kathy's notes: There was an article that stated the Attorney General was Directed by Governor Gardner to send a Special Prosecutor to Moberly to investigate the recent lynching.) Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--R. R. Jones of Independence is the guest of his sons, Isaac and Richard, and families. Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--Will Longdon returned Saturday from a visit with relatives in Springfield, Ill. Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--IN REMEMBRANCE--of our loving little darling daughter and sister, Cleta Bernice Roberts. Just a year ago, Nov. 29, Our darling daughter, you were called away; Though your sweet voice is silent, we have heard it every day; But in our saddest moments, Our happy thoughts hold sway We will meet once more, little darling, And be happy again some day. O, we miss our blue-eyed darling, As she sleeps her dreamless sleep, But we know she is safe with Jesus, And the angels watch will keep, Sadly missed by father, mother, sisters and brothers. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Roberts. Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--The editor of the NEWS, through its columns as well as personally, has always stood up for old Higbee and her people, and boasted of the latter as being the most kind hearted, generous and sympathetic of any people on earth. We are of the same opinion still, but have been brought to a realization of the fact by the visit of the Death Angel to the family circle, that we have underestimated their kindness of heart ten thousand times ten thousand. Deserved or not, no family anywhere ever found more kind, true or sympathetic friends than Higbee raised up for the NEWS family on the occasion of the last illness and death of W. H. Welch. It is such friends as these--real people with hearts such as God intended His children to have--that make life worth the living. To those who anxiously watched with us night and day; who assisted us with heart and hands; who made solicitous inquiries from day to day; who clasped our hands in mute sympathy when the spirit of husband and father had returned to God who gave it; who sent flowers and who furnished cars for the sad journey to the Silent City, we extend our sincere, heartfelt and grateful thanks, and pray the Almighty Father of us all that when the same silent messenger shall enter your home that He will raise up such dear, dear friends for you. Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--W. W. FERGUSON DEAD--W. W. Ferguson, one of the county's best known citizens, as well as one of its very best men, died at his home west of Clark, Thursday, Nov. 20, following an illness of several months. He was 77 years old, and is survived by his widow and two children. Mr. Ferguson had many friends here who were pained to learn of his death. Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--WALKER HIGDON RETURNED HOME--In the last issue of this paper we gave a report of a message having been received here stating that Walker Higdon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Finis Higdon of Roanoke had been missing from camp in Wyoming two days and the supposition was that he had gotten lost and had frozen to death. The telegram sent was a bogus one; and there was no truth in the report. Young Higdon arrived home on the 10:39 train Friday morning and was sound as a dollar and looking fine. The first thing that the young man knew of his reported death, was when he arrived in Kansas City from the West and went to the rooming house of his brother, and there he found telegrams telling of his death. He at once telephoned his parents and came on home as above stated. Walker, it is reported, said that he did get lost in the mountains last August, but there was not truth in the report that he had been lost lately. The many friends of the young man were glad to hear that the report of his death was all a mistake, and of course the parents and brothers and sisters were overcome with joy when the good news was received--Armstrong Herald. Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--County Court Proceedings--Huntsville, Mo, Nov 24. (condensed.) Now at this time comes Dr. S. C. Adams and files information in writing that Joseph Phipps is a person of unsound mind and that his insanity is less than one year's duration, that he has not estate sufficient to support him at the State Asylum and is a resident of Randolph County. Court makes an order permitting said Joseph Phipps to be sent to Hospital No. 1, Fulton, Mo., as a county patient. Warrant ordered drawn for six months support $108. Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--NEW K. & P. OFFICERS--At the regular meeting of the Higbee Knights of Pythias lodge Monday evening, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Thos. Forsythe, C. C.; J. O. Humphrey, V. C.; George Lloyd, Prelate; W. T. Cadmus, M. A.; Allen Harris, M. W.; J. Q. Whitmore, M. E.;F. C. Bottoms, M. F.;T. C. Walton, K. R. S.; J. P. Warford, O. G.; H. W. Burton, I. G.; John Walton, trustee. Two other trustees will be elected at the next meeting. Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--Mrs. Emma Carley returned to her home in Oklahoma, Friday, after an extended visit with her niece Mrs. John Rankin. Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--C. C. Richards of Saline county bought the John Ware farm of 71 acres six miles south of town Friday. We did not learn the price paid. Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Douglas of near Rucker left here Saturday for Tulsa, Okla, where they will make their future home. They leave a wide circle of friends in this and Boone county who give them up with the deepest regret. Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--Will Reed and Roy Richards, who opened Higbee's third barber shop early in the summer, have dissolved partnership, Mr. Richards having purchased Mr. Reed's interest Monday, and who will continue the business at the old stand. Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--W. H. WELCH DEAD--Passes Peacefully to the Great Beyond at the Ripe Old Age of 79.--For almost 33 years the NEWS has been chronicling from week to week the passing of friends on all sides--"youth in life's green spring, he who goes in the full strength of years, matron and maid, the sweet babe and the gray headed man"--but not until now, save when a baby daughter and sister was called home to God in 1887, has it been called upon to record a visit to its own family circle by the Grim Reaper. Such is its sad duty this week, for W. H. Welch, its founder, was called home on Saturday, November 22, 1919, passing away at 4:05 p.m. from Bright's disease or some similar malady, and the infirmities of age. He was the son of David B. Welch and was born at Petersburg, Boone County, Mo., on October 1, 1840, being 79 years, 1 month and 22 days old. Shortly after his birth the family moved to Livingston county, where his father, a school teacher, died in 1846. The family returned to Boone county, where he grew to manhood. At the outbreak of the Civil War, being in sympathy with the cause of the South, he joined the Confederate Army and saw some hard service under General Price, being in the battles of Wilson Creek and Pea Ridge and several others that we do not recall. At the close of the war he returned to Sturgeon where he entered the general store of his brother-in-law, Daniel Mayer, as clerk and bookkeeper. His health breaking down, he went West, crossing the plains in the dead of winter with a party of freighters, making the trip in a prairie schooner. On his arrival in California he found that his health had been fully restored, and he entered the gold mines where he worked a year or two, returning by way of Panama and New York. On his return he was married on August 19, 1869, to Miss Laura Jamison of Pettis county, and resumed his position with his brother-in-law, after a year on the farm. In December, 1886, he purchased from the late Thos. H. Carter, then editor of the Sturgeon Leader, the plant of the defunct Boone County Advertiser, a paper that had been started in opposition to the Leader, and which foundered in a few brief months, the plant being bought by Mr. Carter. On January 10, 1887, he came to Higbee when he founded the NEWS, issuing the first number on the 5th of the following month, and spent the balance of his days here, never being away from the town as much as a week at any one time. He was a kind, loving and indulgent husband and father and a true and sincere friend. No more reserved and unassuming man ever lived in Higbee. Having been his chum, confidant and partner, we knew him as no other person on earth, and can testify to the fact that he never knowingly did any man a wrong. Nor did we ever hear him speak evil of anyone, it being a religious practice with him to remain silent when nothing good was to be said. The files of the NEWS, from its first issue, are living proof of the fact that he believed in clean living and in standing for the right under any and all circumstances. While fame and fortune were not his, he passed out of life possessing that which outweighed them both--a good name, and respected of all decent men. At his request, preferred a year or more ago, his funeral was preached at the Methodist church, the service being held Monday at 2:30 by the pastor, the Rev. E. L. Rutledge, and his body laid to rest in the city cemetery with full Masonic honors, he having been a member of that order for fifty years or more, holding his membership with the lodge at Sturgeon. The services at the grave were conducted by J. W. Hulett of the Sturgeon lodge. The active pallbearers were Medley Burton, John Little, G. r. Rennolds, Dr. Chas. Harris, T. B. Hall and Frank Roberts, and the honorary pallbearers were T. C. Fray, Dr. J. W. Winn, C. C. Hon, Geo. Reese, J. T. Randolph and John F. Smith. He being the head of Higbee's oldest business firm, all business houses were closed during the hour of the funeral out of respect to his memory. He is survived by his widow and four children--H. Scott, Dan and Miss Anna, all of Higbee, and Mrs. W. H. Jenner, of St. Louis, and one granddaughter, Ruth, daughter of the latter. He also leaves one sister, Mrs. C. M. White, of Chico, Cal., one brother, J. E. Welch of Sturgeon and a half sister, Mrs. T. A. Sims of the same place, besides a large number of nephews and nieces. Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--WARE-DURNIL--Mr. Wilbur Ware and Miss Mary Durnil, two of this vicinity's most popular young people, sprang a surprise on their friends Sunday evening by quietly slipping away to Moberly where they were united in marriage at 11:30 p.m. at the home of the officiating minister, the Rev. E. E. Lamb. The bride is the pretty and accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Durnil of near town, and is deservedly popular among a wide circle of acquaintances. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ware of the Sharon neighborhood, and is a most exemplary young man, and is one of Uncle Sam's most efficient and courteous mail carriers, having succeeded O. B. Harbert on Route 2 several months ago. That happiness may ever attend them is the sincere wish of the NEWS and a host of other friends. Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--When Uncle Geo. Reese was seen on the streets the first of the week some of his closest friends hardly recognized him, he having dispensed with his beard. He looks younger by ten years, and, were his mustache a little heavier he would resemble in a remarkable degree his famous countryman, Lloyd George. Friday, 28 Nov 1919, Vol 33. No 32--(Kathy's notes: I am publishing the administrator's notice on this man, because he apparently died during the last week in October, which would have been in the missing issue of the paper. This is in lieu of an obituary.) EXECUTOR'S NOTICE--Notice is hereby given, that letters ___mentary on the Estate of Alexander C. Holtzclaw deceased, were granted to the undersigned, on the _1st day of November A. D. 1919, by Probate Court of Randolph County, Missouri. All persons having claims against said Estate, are required to exhibit them for allowance to the executor within 6 months after the date of said letters, or they may be precluded from any benefit of such Estate; and if such claims be not exhibited within one year from the date of this publication, they shall be forever barred. Arthur C. Holtzclaw, Executor. Kathy Bowlin, Additions, corrections, comments welcome.