The following are selected articles from a Newspaper titled, "The Higbee News" which was issued out of the town of Higbee, in Randolph County, Missouri from the years 1888 through 1953. The editors were W. H. Welch and his son H. Scott Welch. This paper covered the Higbee area and also a great deal of the northeastern part of Howard county. The copyright notice at the end of this transcript is there for the sole purpose of keeping this work free to the public, and to ensure that it is not harvested by a fee-based corporate genealogy site, or published in any format for profit. If you decide to use the information from this transcription, PLEASE LIST ME AS THE SOURCE, rather than the paper. My transcription is another generation removed from the microfilm, and would thus be a third generation copy of the original paper. For proper documentation, a researcher should obtain a photocopy of the microfilm for their own permanent records, and use my transcript as a guide or index. The microfilm is available for interlibrary loan through the State Historical Society of Missouri, and a copy is also on file at the Moberly Public Library, generously donated by the Higbee Historical Society. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, 5 May 1927, Vol 40, No 52, Pg. 2 Col. 1--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, by W. T. Dameron--(edited by compiler)--Circuit court was in session here all last week trying to clear the regular April term docket, but was unable to do so.........The divorce case of Mrs. Francis Nichols vs. Walter Nichols, which was sent to Macon circuit court at the last term of court here, was set for trial there Wednesday of last week and several witnesses from here were summoned to Macon, but the case was compromised out of court early in the day. Walter Nichols is a native of the county and resides on a farm a few miles north of Huntsville. He is a fine mechanic and also a fine artist. He is also a noted "water witch," so called. That is he can locate streams of water at any depth in the ground by the use of a forked twig. His wife, who was a Miss Gooding, we believe, charged in her petition that her husband was abusive to her, painted indecent and suggestive pictures and hung them on the walls of their home, so much so that neighbors would not visit their home. It would have been quite a sensational case had it gone to trial. A case of no little interest was tried by jury Thursday. W. S. Turner sued Charley Green for possession of 80 acres of land. The jury rendered a verdict in favor of the defendant, Green. Both plaintiff and defendant reside in Chariton township. Some years ago Henry Turner, the plaintiff's father, entered into an agreement with Mr. Green, the defendant, to move on to the land owned by him, Turner, and live there as long as he, Turner, lived. Mr. Green was to give Mr. Turner a certain portion of the surplus he raised on the farm. After the marriage of his son, W. S. Turner, the plaintiff, the father, went to live with his son, who brought the suit of ejectment and possession of the 80 acres of land, but lost his suit. Thursday, 5 May 1927, Vol 40, No 52, Pg. 2 Col. 2&3--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, by W. T. Dameron--(edited by compiler)--Robertus Love, a staff writer on the Globe Democrat, had quite an interesting story in the magazine section of last Sunday's Globe Democrat about the Morman war of 1838. It recalled to mind the story of my father, G. W. Dameron, told me about that war, and which I wrote up and published in 1898. Here is the story as he told it to me: "In 1838, I was elected captain of the company of home guards and in the latter part of that year I volunteered and went into the service to fight old Joe Smith, the Mormon leader. The Mormons, under the leadership of Smith had formed a settlement in Johnson, Caldwell, Davies and other entered much good land in Jackson, counties in the western part of the state. I think it was in Jackson county where they started a town called "New Jerusalem," and in Caldwell county they had commenced excavating for a large temple that was called "The Far West." There were two companies of fifty men each, of us. Judge James Terrill was captain of one and Samuel C. Johnson was captain of the other. I was in Terrill's company and Nathan Barrow was the drummer. Of the 100 men enrolled in the two companies nearly all were young and single and I think we were the most wicked lot of men that ever got together. We organized and started from Huntsville in November 1838. After one day's march we met Gen. John B. Clark at Keytesville and joined his command. Of the 100 men who enrolled at Huntsville then a large majority of them are dead. I can remember only a few of their names, though I called the roll every morning while we were gone. I recall the names of Geo. A. Mathis, Wm. L. Dameron, Daniel and John McDavitt, Bates Cross, James Mathis, Asa Kirby, Ellis R. Wilman, Ed Montgomery, Coleman Williams, James Martin, Tom and Neal Galbreath, James Cross, Robert Krause, Jas. A. Newton and Hite Jackson. After leaving Keytesville we marched up the river towards Jackson county and after passing through Carroll county we turned northwest and followed some Mormons to the "Far West," without getting into a single fight. Gen. A. W. Donophan was in charge of the regular state militia called out by Gov. Boggs. When our command arrived at "The Far West," we got word that Gen. Donophan had captured old Joe Smith and a lot of his followers near that place, and that the war was over. This was sad news to us for we were "spoiling" for a fight. Our fire arms consisted of all flintlock rifles and a few old shot guns. We were out only about ten days. I acted as first sergeant and received for my services $15. This was paid to me by Colonel Horner, then of Howard county. In think old Joe Smith, together with many other Mormons, were indicted for treason, but Smith escaped from custody on his way to trial, which was to occur in Boone county. He afterwards turned up in Illinois with another "revelation." from on high authorizing polygamy. He was arrested and put in jail, but was taken out by a mob and put to death, in 1844 or 1845. Brigham Young was then chosen his successor and all his followers emigrated to Utah. Two or three years after the Mormons were driven from Missouri a follower of Joe Smith attempted to assassinate Gov. Boggs for ordering out the state militia. Boggs was badly shot about the head, but got well. We had a great time while on that ten days' skirmish, and I shall never forget the many funny incidents that occurred while on that scout, but will not relate them all here. While out foraging one day near the Far West, Ellis R. Wilson confiscated a Mormon churn and brought it into camp. Captain Terrill called him up and wanted to know how and why he took that churn, and what he intended to do with it. Ellis "fessed up" and said he intended to carry it home with him. Captain Terrill made him return it to the owner and apologize. this was quite mortifying to Ellis and he never heard the last of it while we were out. After that incident and during our marches at intervals some one at the head or foot of the column would call in a loud tone, "Who stole the Mormon churn?" and some one at the other end of the line would answer, "Elis R. Wilson, Elis R. Wilson." The boys most invariably held "religious" services around the camp fire each night. Singing, shouting, praying and preaching was carried on to a late hour. Captain Terrill finally got tired of those revivals and broke them up." Thursday, 5 May 1927, Vol 40, No 52, Pg. 2 Col. 3--IN THE LONG AGO--Here's what the "Citizen" says, in part, of the Austin House, formerly the Huntsville Hotel, the first hotel erected here in an early day. Sam W. Robertson, a prominent citizen of the county in his day, became proprietor of the Austin House in August, 1855. He repaired the refurnished it. He reopened the hotel with a big dance Sept. 6. The "Citizen" says: "Our enterprising fellow citizen S. W. Robertson opens today the Austin House, named in honor of our old, useful and influential citizen, Henry Austin. In the several rooms renovated and repaired, and new rooms added, a full supply of new furniture has been installed. The ladies' parlor is pleasantly located on College street and is tastefully furnished. The gentleman's parlor, situated immediately over the office, contains all necessary comforts. The very sight of the elegant office, with the jolly landlord at the door, will be sufficient inducement to tempt the public to stop. The dining-room presents a very inviting appearance and the pantry is irresistible. In the culinary department a very happy arrangement has been effected, and meats and pastry are cooked at different stoves, so that the flavor of the most delicious dishes will not be effected by the odor of the coarser." After the Civil War Mr. Robertson moved to a farm in Prairie township where he in later years died. His daughter was postmistress at Clark for several years back in the '90's. Thursday, 5 May 1927, Vol 40, No 52, Pg. 2 Col. 3&4--IN THE LONG AGO-- "Married, on the 19th of September, 1855, by the Rev. S. W. Cope, Rev. Andrew Monroe, of the Missouri Annual Conference, to Mrs. Elizabeth Ford, of Hannibal, Mo." Thursday, 5 May 1927, Vol 40, No 52, Pg. 2 Col. 4--Sheriff McCanne took Geo. Colley, of near Higbee, to the state asylum Saturday last. Mr. Colley a number of years ago got into a difficulty with an Italian, and killed him. Thursday, 5 May 1927, Vol 40, No 52, Pg. 2 Col. 4--Huntsville parties who were at and near Dalton, Chariton county, Mo., Sunday last brought home news of a terrible tragedy which occurred near Dalton early Sunday morning. Jeter Johnson, about 50 years old, a prominent and well-to-do farmer near that place, killed his wife, his three children and then took his own life. The tragedy took place at their country home, and what caused the man to commit such a murderous act is a puzzle to his neighbors and friends about Dalton. Some of his friends thought he had worried recently over financial losses in trading in live stock, but this was discredited by others who claim to know his financial condition. But there was no evidence available to give a clue or reason for the horrible deed. Some thought that he and his wife quarreled, resulting in a fight and her death first, but others said they lived happily together and had no quarrels, and then realizing what he had done in the presence of his children, the oldest being 12 years old--he concluded to end it all. He killed his wife with a tack hammer, driving it through her skull into the brain in two places. Then he killed the children, and at some distance from the house, sat down by a tree and slashed his throat with a razor, threw it a few feet from him and bled to death. A hired hand first discovered the dead bodies, and alarmed the neighbors. Some thought that the deed had been committed by someone other than Johnson himself, and bloodhounds at Moberly were sent for. The dogs were given a fair trial, and they would only travel from the house to the tree where Johnson's body was found. Johnson and his family had gone from their Keytesville home, where they had been staying all winter, Saturday, to their farm where they expected to remain over Sunday, so we learn. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright notice: All transcriptions in this email are copyrighted by their creator. They may not be reproduced on another site or on any printed or recorded media, CD, etc. without specific written permission from Kathy Bowlin. Although public information is not in and of itself copyrightable, the format in which it is presented, transcriptions, notes & comments, etc. is. It is however, quite permissible to print or save the files to a personal computer for personal use only. Permission is granted to public libraries, and genealogical and historical societies to print and bind for the use of their patrons. Kathy Bowlin Additions, corrections, comments welcome.