Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--(Kathy's notes: Although the face of the paper said that it was Friday, the 4th of August, in actuality, Friday was the 3rd, so the paper should have read the 3rd of August 1917.) Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--KILLED NEAR STURGEON--Wm A. Ryland Instantly Killed By Wm. Roberts, a Neighbor, With Shotgun--Wm. Ryland, a farmer, residing about four miles southwest of Sturgeon, was shot about 6 o'clock Monday morning by Wm. Roberts, a neighbor, and instantly killed, a shotgun being the instrument of death. From what we can learn of the affair, Ryland, who was feeding a lot of hogs on his place, which adjoined the Roberts farm, and being bothered more or less by turkeys belonging to the latter, sent word to Roberts by a negro hired hand to please keep his turkeys up, at least until he could dispose of his hogs, as corn was too high. The angered Roberts who returned with the negro and a quarrel followed. Ryland running Roberts out of the pen or feed lot with a breast yoke. Roberts, it is said, applied a vile epithet to Ryland as he left and remarked that he would go home and get his gun and come back and kill him. Presently he returned armed with the gun, but whether any more words passed between them or not we are not advised. Ryland, it is thought, believed Roberts only bluffing and when the latter raised the gun started towards him with an ax, when Roberts fired both barrels, filling Ryland's body from his knees to his neck, full of shot, said to No.4s, and killing him instantly. Following the shooting he surrendered to the officers. He was a much younger man than Ryland, married and has two or three children. Ryland is survived by his widow and mother, Mrs. J. J. Whitmire of this place, who was all but prostrated on being informed by telephone of his untimely death. With Mr. Whitmire she left at once for her son's home. Funeral services were held the next day, the crowd present being one of the largest ever seen on a similar occasion in Boone county. Mr. Ryland was a highly progressive and useful citizen and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. To the bereaved wife and aged mother the sympathy of all goes out. Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--GEORGE A. ELSTON DEAD--The many Higbee friends of George A. Elston were very much grieved to hear Monday of his death, which occurred at his home in New York City on Friday of last week. The news did not come as a surprise for it had been understood for several months that he was in very poor health and that his death was a matter of a very short time. Mr. Elston, it will be remembered, first came to Higbee with the old Randolph-Macon Coal Co., the eastern syndicate which purchased all the coal lands and mines in this county some twelve or fifteen years ago, and was their general agent until the company was reorganized under the name of the Northern Central Coal Co., holding a similar position with the latter until his removal to New York City some six years ago. He was a very capable business man, and as we have had occasion to remark before, was the only man in authority connected with the big mining venture who apparently tried to make a success of it. Before moving to Higbee Mr. Elston was a citizen of Port Jarvis, NY, and was post master there under Cleveland's administration, and had the distinction of being the first man appointed to office in the state of New York by Mr. Cleveland. That he was a man of unusual ability is attested by the fact that he had the confidence and respect of the late E. R. Harriman, the railroad king, for whom he did special work for several years. He also had held the position of bank examiner in his native state. He was a most pleasant and agreeable gentleman, and his death will be sincerely mourned by Higbee people, and especially by those who knew him best. To his bereaved widow, to whom he was ever a devoted, loving and considerate husband, the deepest sympathy of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances in Higbee goes out. Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--Ms. Belle Murphy, who left a few weeks ago for Key West, Fla., to spend the summer with her son, Mark, who is in the navy, and who had his headquarters there, returned home Wednesday, her son having been called to sea after she had been there three weeks, and from whom she has not since heard. Mrs. Murphy was not very favorably impressed with Key West and states that there were so many Cubans there she felt as if she was in another country. Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--MRS. W. W. MORLEY DEAD--Mrs. Julia Morley, brief mention of whose death was made in our last issue, died at a Boonville hospital at 5:30 a.m. Thursday, July 26, 1917, following an operation for locked bowels at 9 o'clock the evening before. She had not been well for some time and had never fully recovered from an operation for appendicitis last February. She was taken sick the first of last week and despite the best of medical care and attention grew gradually worse. Wednesday it was decided that an operation was the only possible means of saving her life, and her physicians expressed grave doubt of an operation doing any good. Mrs. Morley, whose maiden name was Julia E. Key, was born on the farm on which she died on December 8, 1878, and where she grew to womanhood. She was married on September 6, 1899, to W. W. Morley. They were the parents of two children, a boy and girl, the latter dying two years ago at the age of four years. She was converted at the age of 12 years and had since lived a consecrated Christian life, holding her church membership with the Methodist church at this place. Besides her husband and little son, she leaves two brothers, Will and John Key, one uncle, R. S. Martin, and two aunts residing in Baltimore, Md. She was a lineal descendant of the American poet Francis Scott Key, author of the immortal poem, "Star Spangled Banner." Funeral services were held at the home Saturday afternoon by Revs. Shillings and Thompson in the presence of one of the largest gatherings ever seen in that neighborhood, and which spoke most eloquently of the esteem in which she was held by neighbors and friends. Chief among the sorrowing ones was Pierce Robinson, an old colored man of 80 years, a former slave of Mrs. Morley's uncle, the late Sidney Burge, who had spent his entire life in the service of the family, and who had known Miss Julia, as he affectionately called Mrs. Morley, from the day of her birth, and who had since been her willing slave, and for whom he would have given his life. Interment was made in the family burying ground on the farm. The NEWS joins the community in sympathy to the bereaved ones. Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--Born, on July 30, to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Shufelt, a son. Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--Miss Sylvia McGill of Mystic, Ia., is the guest of her father, John McGill and other Higbee relatives and friends. Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--Shelton Lessly was here from Slater yesterday to attend the funeral of his friend and old school mate, George Terrill. Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--Mrs. G. B. Baker and little son, Montana, left Saturday for Cleveland, Ohio, to join Dr. Baker, who has decided to locate there. Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--GEORGE TERRILL DROWNED--Gave His Life in Attempt to Save Friend-- "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."--John 15-13. The Higbee friends and acquaintances of George Terrill were shocked beyond measure when news came Saturday in a brief dispatch from Gales Ferry, Conn., stating that he had been drowned at 9 a.m. that day in an endeavor to save a friend and shipmate who was drowning. So far no particulars, save the following brief dispatch in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat of Sunday, have been received: "Gales Ferry, Conn., July 28. G. L. Terrill, a boatswain's mate, first class, was drowned off here today, while trying to save seaman A. W. Neale of the Naval Reserves. The latter had fallen from a boat and could not swim. When Terrill reached him Neale secured a hold that could not be broken and both went down. Terrill came from Higbee, Mo., and Neale from New London, Conn." Mr. Terrill was the youngest son of Mrs. Pauline Terrill of this place and was 30 years old. He was born at Roanoke but had resided in Higbee since 1887 in which year the family moved to Higbee. Some seven years ago he enlisted in the navy and last summer was called from a brief visit home to service in the Brooklyn navy yard. Since the country has been at war, so secret at navy secrets kept, that not even his family knew with what ship he was connected, or his duties, although it had been understood that for the past year he had to do with the training of submarine crews. George was a very quiet, unassuming young man, a devoted son and brother, and one with the moral stamina to always stand for the right and who was particularly clean in his life and conversation, and we are certain that he was fully prepared to meet the heroic end which was his. His was the supreme sacrifice--the giving of his life for a friend--and in the days to come his death, now all but unbearable by the aged mother and brothers and sisters, will be as a benediction to them to abide with them until the end as their sweetest, most sacred and holy memory. The body, clothed in the beautiful and restful uniform of the seafarer, which he loved so well, reached here over the Alton Wednesday afternoon and was taken to the old home and where funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Thursday by Eld. W. T. Henson of Moberly. As a tribute of respect to this most worthy young man, the first among us to be taken, though indirectly, by this terrible war, and through sympathy for his loved ones, every business house in town was closed for one hour, and the citizens irrespective of nationality or color turned out en masse. Following the services the body was taken in charge by the Higbee lodge of Odd Fellows, at the request of the lodge at New London, Conn., where Mr. Terrill held his membership, and conveyed to the Burton cemetery and laid to rest by the side of his father, who died some twenty years ago, with the full honors of the order. The Stars and Stripes-- "Your flag and my flag"--and which he had pledged his life never to see hauled down, had a prominent place in the procession. Besides his mother, Mr. Terrill is survived by three brothers and five sisters, viz: James and John, whose present address is unknown; Ira, of Texarkana, Texas; Mrs. J. W. Nicholas of the same city; Mrs. H. L. Finn of LaPento, Ark; Mrs. Roy Betson of Linneus, and Mrs. J. F. Miler and Miss Mattie of this place, all of whom with the exception of the two first named were present. Higbee as one man mourns the death of this fine young man and the warmest sympathy of the entire community goes out to his loved ones. Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--George Robinson and sisters, Misses Frances, Mary and Lizzie and Miss Maggie Colson of Huntsville were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hackward the first of the week. Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--Miss Inez Andrews entertained quite a number of her little friends at a birthday party June 27th, it being her 11th birthday. Games, music, refreshments and a flag contest were the features of the occasion. Her little guests after showering her with many presents, departed wishing her many more such delightful days. Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--W. I. Williams left Wednesday for Hannibal where he goes to take a position as special agent for the Katy. Mr. Williams has been a citizen of Higbee since 1883 and it will be a long time before folks will get accustomed to his absence. He is taking the position, however, on 30 days' trial, so it may be just possible that the end of the month will see him back in old Higbee. His many friends trust so, at any rate. Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--Henry R. Powell, who recently purchased M. Murphy's garage, took charge of some Wednesday. That "Hiney" will make a success of the business goes without saying, for he is a natural mechanic and is never happier than when overhauling an engine, and is an expert on automobile engines. He will retain the services of Mr. C. V. Hightower, one of the best workmen in this part of the state. Mr. Powell will also do a general livery business. Read his ad elsewhere. Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--A. B. JOHNSON DEAD--Passed Peacefully Away at His Home Wednesday Morning--A. B. Johnson, one of Higbee's oldest citizens from point of residence, died at his home in the south part of town at 2:55 a.m. Wednesday, August 1, 1917. He had been in failing health for several years, and for the past two months had been going down rapidly, his chief trouble being tuberculosis and Bright's disease, but no one dreamed that the end was so near, a specialist about two months ago giving him promise of perhaps a year more of life. He took his bed only last Sunday, growing suddenly and unexpectedly worse Tuesday, dying at the hour stated. Abraham Bush Johnson was born in Yonkers, New York, in January, 1857, and was therefore in his 61st year. His father dying while Mr. Johnson was yet a small boy, the latter was thrown on his own resources and his early life was anything but sunshine and roses, as we have heard him relate many times. With several other boys from his home city in like circumstances he joined some kind of a traveling show, but ran away, as did others, after standing all the abuse and mistreatment from the manager that he could bear. He came to this state in about 1874 and went to work in the mine at Russell, a big concern for those days, and in 187 was married to Rosena Tippit, and who preceded him to the Great Beyond just one year ago, and a short time later moved to Higbee where he had since resided. They were the parents of six children, five of whom survive, viz: Mrs. R. F. Laight, Mrs. Chas. Solberg, Mrs. John Davis, Mrs. Willa Mae Macey, Mrs. Dan Rice, and Miss Lillian Johnson. A foster son, Alex, of Hannibal, also survives,, as well as one brother and one sister, who reside in New York. Mr. Johnson was a man of many admirable qualities and his death will be truly mourned by all who knew him. Funeral services will be held to day at 2 p.m. at the home of John Davis by Eld. Wm. Kelso and interment made in the city cemetery. To the bereaved ones we extend our warmest sympathy. Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--John McGill of Springfield, Ill, who has been in a hospital for two or three months recovering from an operation for appendicitis, arrived Sunday for a visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. McGill. He is yet very weak getting around with the aid of a cane, and it will likely be several months yet before he is his usual self. Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--HIGBEE BOY WON MEDAL--Mark Murphy, son of Mrs. Belle Murphy of this place, who has been in the navy for several years, and who is at present seeing service in the Atlantic off the coast of Florida, has just been awarded a medal for bravery by the government, he having saved a companion from drowning while on duty on the Pacific off the coast of California about a year ago. Should your Uncle Sam have any medals to hand out for bravery in fighting and Mark's ship have any chance for a brush with the enemy, he will be in line for all the different varieties, for he comes from a stock, which, while free from broils and personal encounters, would not hesitate to charge hell with a bucket of water should the occasion require it. Friday, 4 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 18--OUR NEW CHIEF OF POLICE--At a special meeting of the city council Monday night John Dennis was chosen to act as city marshal during the absence of W. I. Williams, who has gone to Hannibal, where he will do special work for the Katy, and to which place he will move his family should he like his new work. Mr. Dennis, we believe, will make as good an officer as the council could have selected. He is absolutely on the square and can be depended upon to play no favorites. Kathy Bowlin, Additions, corrections, comments welcome.