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, 16 Sep 1926, Vol 40, No 20, Pg. 2, Col 1-6--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER--By W. T. Dameron--(edited by compiler)--The 36th annual reunion of old settlers of Randolph county was not as largely attended here last Thursday, Sept 9, as was anticipated.....On account of the absence and feebleness of H. L. Rutherford, president of the association, vice president Geo. N. Ratliff, presided at the meeting........Mr. Ratliff's ancestors were of Revolutionary stock, and passed through the many trials and hardships of pioneer life. Mr. Ratliff himself was born over the line in Macon county, and he told about his first trip to Huntsville when only 9 years old, walking all the way from home alone, and returning the same day, but his father thought he had been fishing. He got a good bait of apples and peaches while here. Some walk, about 50 miles, for a boy of that age, and part of the way the county was thinly settled in that day.....The chairmen then introduce Col. Web M. Ruby of Macon, who made a short but interesting talk. Col. Ruby was from Montgomery county, where he was born. In 1855, or after residing here about a year, he settled in Macon City, where he has spent an active business and political life, and is still one of Macon's prominent and substantial citizens, still active physically and otherwise, though 91 years of age......Our widower friend, Bee Terry, of Clifton Hill, who might have been an "old settler" a few years ago, but not now, was mixing with old friends, both men and women. Bee was limping a little on account of a slight rheumatic attack in one of his legs, and for that reason he could not put on his usual activities and bewitching airs when mingling with maids and young widows. Bee said that he had been practicing the Charleston to supple up his rheumatic "peg" to make an impressive show "among them" at the reunion, but said while he was much improved he thought it would take a "bunny hug" dance on the floor with some nice maid or widow to the tune of "Old Sindy" or "Sallie Goodin" to fully straighten him out. Here's hoping Bee will soon have a chance to test the virtue or influence of such a dance on his rheumatic leg.........Rev. Pettis Sears of Prairie Hill, who has not missed many of the old settlers' reunions since they were organized 36 years ago, was unable to be here Thursday. "Uncle Pettis," as all his friends call him, was born in Silver Creek township 90 years ago last July. He is perhaps the oldest Baptist minister in Missouri. He was ordained to preach over 60 years ago. He's a grand old man of God. When the Old Settlers was organized at Jacksonville in 1890, it composed all old settlers of Randolph and Macon counties, who had settled in either county prior to 1829, when this county was organized, and the name of the association has never been officially changed. Though of late years only a few from Macon have attended reunions here, but "old settlers" of that county are still welcome to our reunions, as well as other old settlers of other counties who are natives of Randolph and Macon territory. Col. Web M. Ruby of Macon was the oldest settler of either county present. He is nearly 91 years old. Wm. H. Smith of this city, grandfather of Guy Smith who was a candidate for county clerk in the late primary, is a native of Boone county, but had not resided in this county 60 years, which would have entitled him to a "free dinner." He was 93 years old last January and is quite feeble now. Being an ardent Democrat, he got out to vote in the August primary, and he hopes to be able to go out in November and boost Harry Hawes one vote. There are still living four members of the immediate family of the late Allen Mayo. They are: Porter Mayo, nearly 89; Mrs. Mary A. Stark, 86; John A., 84, and Jas. P. Mayo, 81, a total of 341 years. Is there a family of four brothers and sisters in the county whose total age will equal these? Aunt Mary Stark was the only one of the quartet who attended the reunion. J. G. Holloway, 88, was the oldest man of this county present. Mrs. Henrietta Bagby, 87, was the oldest lady to attend the reunion. There were 31 present who were 80 years and over. Dr. A. Aldridge, who has been residing with his son, Robert Aldridge, of St. Louis, since his wife died about a year ago, attended the reunion and met many old friends. Prior to moving to St. Louis the doctor resided in Hannibal for several years. His only daughter was accidentally burned to death there about three years ago, caused by a gasoline stove explosion. His eldest son, the Rev. Lexie M. Aldridge, is now in New York City, and has a position with the New York Times. The doctor has been in very poor health for the past few years. When a young man he hung out his shingle at Mt. Airy in 1875. At that time Mt. Airy was quite a busy town, with two stores, a blacksmith shop, wagon ship, a tobacco factory and three practicing physicians. He moved to Mt. Airy from Moberly. In the latter '70s he married Miss Alma Gillis of Huntsville. He practiced his profession at Mt. Airy and in the surrounding country for 40 years. In fact, he outlived all the business enterprises of the town before moving to Hannibal......... Mrs. Katherine Dameron, widow of the late G. W. Dameron, died at her home here Friday night, September 6, 1926, of a complication of diseases. Her funeral and burial took place Sunday afternoon from the Christian church, conducted by her pastor, the Rev. C. B. Dabney, in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends. The deceased was born in Caswell county, North Carolina, in July, 1857, and was past 69 years old. She came to Randolph county, when quite young, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Hinton, and settled near Darksville. She was married to G. W. Dameron in 1879. In girlhood she was converted to Christ and united with the Methodist church, but after her marriage she joined the Christian church with her husband. She was a kind and affectionate mother and a good christian woman. Her husband died here about three years ago. She leaves six sons, Turner, of St. Louis; Everett, of California; William, of Prairie Hill, Mo.; Earl and Ollie, of Moberly, and Bee Dameron and a step-daughter, Mrs. Jim Dillman, of this city. She also leaves several grandchildren and a large number of other relatives. "Shorty" Embree, of Fayette, an old time fiddler, hit town Saturday last. Shorty spends most of his time, winter and summer, "fiddling" for dances, and he is pretty well known by the dancing fraternity throughout both Howard and Randolph counties. His music for a hoe-down, bear-hug, waltz of whatnot at the Randolph Springs that night. But we did not learn whether the rhythmical entertainment was pulled off or not. In answer to a question whether he ever met Randolph's champion fiddler, Henry Taylor, Shorty said, "No, but he's the fellow I'm looking for." But Shorty acknowledged later that he ran up against Taylor in a fiddling contest one time at Jacksonville and lost. Shorty stepped into a business house here, with Columbus Rader, of this county, a noted banjo picker, followed by a few lovers of old-time music, and there they "picked and pulled," inspiring fire out of many an old time tune to a crowded house. Two young ladies, who love to "trip the light fantastic toe." were in the store when the musicians came in, and when they cut loose an old time dancing tune one girl began "weaving" her body. Space was cleared for her, and she hit the "Charleston" to a fareyouwell. She was about the best I ever saw dance that old time clog. Soon the other girl began to "weave" and she "lit in" too, and the two had it out waltzing and doing the Charleston to the amusement of a packed house. Even the proprietor of the house could not keep his feet from "running off." Rev. Rufus Dameron, of Clifton Hill, one of the good old Methodist ministers of the county, and his good wife were happily surprised last Saturday, their 60th marriage anniversary, when about 75 of their relatives and friends "stormed" them with well filled baskets of the best eatables ever. Rev. Dameron is 85 years old and his wife is 83. He has two brothers living--Lewis Dameron of Cairo, and Tyson Dameron, of Saline county. They have two daughters living, one an invalid at home, and the other, Mrs. J. W. Elsea, of this city. Rev. Dameron was born and reared in this county. His father, "Uncle" Jackie Dameron, was called to the door of his home near Thomas Hill one night during the Civil War, in 1864, I think, and shot and killed while standing in the door with only his night clothes on, being shot, it was thought, by some Knox county militia. He was one of the best and most quiet citizens of the county in that day, and no reason was ever assigned for his murder that we ever heard of, unless it was that he had two sons in the Confederate Army, Rufus and Sid Dameron. After returning home from the war and after his marriage in '70, Rufus felt called to preach, joined the Missouri conference, M. E. Church, South, and for 25 years thereafter traveled circuits in the conference preaching. He still preaches occasionally, or on special occasions. He asked to be superannuated many years ago on account of sickness in his family. Ralph McKee, formerly of this city and county, seems to be a pretty hard nut. He is a son of Dr. L. O. McKee, an oculist, or a traveling eyeglass fitter, who resided here several years prior to 1924, when he and his family moved to Colorado. Ralph gave his father some trouble during the World War by his bad conduct. About two years ago Ralph stole an automobile at Moberly from a relative and lit out for the West. A short while ago Ralph was seen at a farm house in the southwest part of the county with a fine car. The sheriff made a trip down there and arrested McKee and lodged him in jail. The car was a stolen one and was later recovered by the owner, who resided in another state. Ralph was taken before Judge W. A. Esry for a preliminary hearing, charged with the theft of the car at Moberly, and in default of a $1500 bond was remanded to jail. When his case came up before Circuit Judge Walker he had no funds to hire an attorney and the Judge appointed Judge Hammett to defend him. When his case was called in circuit court here last week, Ralph offered to plead guilty to the charge and take two years in the pen, but Judge Hammett was absent from the county and the Judge continued the case until Hammett returns. In the meantime the circuit clerk reduced his bond which Ralph was able to given and was released. It is claimed that the national government has a case against Ralph, and that was his motive to plead guilty to the state case, thinking to avoid arrest by national officers. Last week Ralph attended the Forest Green fair and there stole another car. While making his getaway Saturday through Chariton county a deputy sheriff halted him with drawn pistol. the deputy hopped on the running board of the car as Ralph started the car, refusing to surrender, and struck him over the head with the revolver while the auto was running pretty fast. The front wheels struck a rough place and threw the deputy from the running board, and breaking an arm, while Ralph made his getaway. So far as known he has not been captured. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.