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, 28 Oct 1926, Vol 40, No 26, Pg. 1 Col. 4--FORMER HIGBEE RESIDENT DEAD--Frank Paulfrey Dies At Hospital In Denver, Colo.--Funeral Here Monday.--Higbee relatives and friends of Frank Paulfrey, a former resident, were grieved when word came Thursday of last week of his death, which occurred on the 20th at a hospital in Denver, Colo., and where he had lived for many years, the cause of his death being rheumatism and heart trouble. It was not known that he was ill, and news of his death, which came in a wire to his brother, James Paulfrey, was a distinct shock to the family. As yet, no particulars have been received, other than that he was in the hospital but four days. The body arrived Sunday night and was taken to the home of James Paulfrey, where funeral services were conducted Monday afternoon by the Rev. Notley Magruder, in the presence of a very large crowd of old friends and acquaintances. Interment was made in the Higbee cemetery. Deceased was the eldest child of Mrs. Mary Paulfrey and was born in Bakertown, Pa., on June 25, 1873. He came with the family to Higbee many years ago, and for several years was engineer at one of the mines, leaving here some fifteen years ago, following the death of his wife, and had since made his home in Denver. He is survived by his mother, two brothers, James and Joe Paulfrey, and two sisters, Mrs. John Jones and Mrs. John Walton, all of this place, and to whom the deepest sympathy of all goes out. Thursday, 28 Oct 1926, Vol 40, No 26, Pg. 1 Col. 4--BURKE-WILLIAMS--Mr. James J. Burke of Hannibal and Mrs. Myrtie Williams, formerly of Burton, but who has been making her home in Palmyra for a year or two, were united in marriage Saturday, October 23, by the Rev. Schurman, pastor of the Christian church at Moberly. They left immediately after the ceremony for Cleveland, O., where they will make their future home. The NEWS joins other friends in congratulations and best wishes. Thursday, 28 Oct 1926, Vol 40, No 26, Pg. 1 Col. 4--THOMAS JACKSON HALL DEAD--Thos. Jackson Hall, one of the best known residents of the Myers vicinity, died at his home on the 19th, after a long illness from stomach trouble. Deceased was the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Hall and was born in Howard county on October 31, 1869, and was generally looked upon as one of the finest men in the community. He is survived by his wife, son , Thos. Hall, two daughters, Mrs. Jennie Estill and Miss Nellie Hall. Funeral services were conducted Thursday at Mt. Gilead by the Rev. Wilcoxson of Fayette, in the presence of one of the largest crowds ever assembled at the church on a similar occasion, which spoke most eloquently of the esteem in which he was held. The NEWS joins other friends in condolence to the bereaved family. Thursday, 28 Oct 1926, Vol 40, No 26, Pg. 1 Col. 5--MRS. RUTH TRUE OPERATED ON--Mrs. Ruth True, who has been ill at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Blansett, since last March, when she was taken sick with typhoid fever, and who has not been able to sit up a day since, was taken to a Boonville hospital Monday and underwent a serious surgical operation yesterday. She stood the shock much better than it was thought she would and was doing as well as could be expected when last heard from, but was said to be in a very serious condition. Her many friends join the NEWS in the hope that she may soon be able to return to her usual health. Thursday, 28 Oct 1926, Vol 40, No 26, Pg. 1 Col. 5--DR. C. C. SMITH'S FATHER DEAD--The Higbee friends of Dr. C. C. Smith of Madison will regret to hear of the death of his father, which occurred at the home of the former yesterday, after an illness of many weeks. Mr. Smith, who was about 65 years old, and whose home was in Hardin, had been a patient in a Moberly hospital for several weeks, and was taken to the home of his son a few days ago. Interment will be made today at Richmond. Thursday, 28 Oct 1926, Vol 40, No 26, Pg. 1 Col. 5--D. M. SUNDERLAND VERY ILL--D. M. Sunderland, who was seized with something similar to acute indigestion the later part of last week, and whose chances for recovery were thought to be very slim for a day or two, was thought to be some better yesterday. Mr. Sunderland only recently recovered from a most critical illness and his friends hope that he will be as fortunate this time. Thursday, 28 Oct 1926, Vol 40, No 26, Pg. 2 Col. 3--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, By W. T. Dameron--(edited)--Gunn Matlock, one of Randolph's old and good citizens, died very suddenly about 11 o'clock Thursday night, October 21, 1926, of heart failure, at his home about five miles northwest of Huntsville. Mr. Matlock was a native of the county, being born in the vicinity in which he died, in 1846, and was a little past 80 years of age. His parents were among the first settlers of the western part of the county, and he was largely connected. He was converted to Christ and joined the Methodist church at old Fort Henry, now New Hope church, more than a half century ago. When the Holiness movement started in that part of the county about forty years ago, he associated himself with the Holiness church, as many others did in the western part of the county at that time. But I am told he held his membership in the Methodist church at Trinity, some years before he died. Besides his wife he leaves two daughters, Mrs. James Kimbrew and Mrs. Will Vaughan, both of near Clifton Hill, one son, Paul, of College Mound, Mo.,; two brothers, Bascom, of near College Mound, and Rev. Geo. Matlock, of Huntsville; two sisters, Mrs. Mattie Sawyer, of this county, and Mrs. O. Wells, of Cooper county. His funeral was preached at Midway church by his grandson, Rev. Ray Kimbrew, of Ft. Scott, Kansas. Burial at the Johnson cemetery, northwest of Clifton Hill. The county has lost a good christian man and a loyal citizen by his death. Thursday, 28 Oct 1926, Vol 40, No 26, Pg. 2 Col. 3,4,5,6 and Cont. page 8--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, By W. T. Dameron--(edited)--Huntsville was visited last week by quite a distinguished personage, the Rev. A. A. Abbott, of Cleveland, Ohio, Canon of the Episcopal church. His purpose here was the collection of historical data for a family history he was in the course of writing. His great-grandfather, Asa Kirby, was a pioneer of Silver Creek Township and entered the land now owned by Dave Denny, one mile southeast of Mt. Airy. Rev. Abbott was born in Macon county, Mo. His great-grandmother was a Whiteside. His great-grandparents were Kentuckians before emigrating to this county in 1822, two years after Missouri had been admitted to the union. I had quite a lengthy conversation with him and found him quite an affable gentleman, and I was able to furnish him with a little information concerning his great-grandfather, Asa Kirby, and other pioneers of the county, that he was pleased to have. Asa Kirby and my father were warm personal friends, though Mr. Kirby was much older than my father, and I heard my father speak of Asa Kirby and some of his characteristics many times. One thing that tied the cord of friendship between my father and Asa was that Mr. Kirby planned the scheme that enabled my father to "steal" my mother to marry. My father was a young widower and 12 years older than my mother. My father's first wife was Miss Jane Lobban, a pioneer of Silver Creek Township. She died in 1845 and two years later, of in 1847, father was married to Miss Eliza J. Mayo, my mother. Relative to this "runaway" marriage, my father said to me before he died nearly 30 years ago: "I don't know whether I acted as foolish as some widowers or not, but I imagine I was crazy enough to be noticed. Lake all widowers, I wanted to marry, and wanted to marry bad. Courtship between Eliza and I was short. I was 32 years old and she was 20. Her father, Allen Mayo, consented to the marriage. A few days before our marriage was to occur I went to call on Miss Eliza. Her father met me at the yard gate, and after passing the compliments of the day he said: "George, Eliza has gotten out of the notion to marry you." I replied that I was awfully sorry to hear of that, and of course, wanted to know what the trouble was. He said, "well, personally, we can say naught against you, George, but there are things likely to come up after marriage that will make matters very unpleasant for Eliza, that I was not aware of when I promised her to you." That was a "stunner" to me and I pressed him to know what the trouble would be. He rather evaded a direct answer, but gave me to understand I had some connections he didn't like and they would be sure to cause trouble in the family, and he thought it best for all to let matters stop just where they were. I assured him no connection of mine would cause trouble between Eliza and I and that I would like to have a talk with her. To this he consented, with the understanding that he was to be present and hear what was said. After a few moments of reflection, I became indignant and remarked that I would not agree to any such thing, and if Eliza had changed her mind and did not want me now, she could go. Then I got on my horse and left. But oh, my, how bad I felt. I never said much about the matter only to one or two close friends. A few days after this occurred I met Asa Kirby, an old friend of mine, and I unbosomed all to him. He listened to me attentively until I got through, and then said: "George, I think I can arrange matters so that you can get that girl yet." This remark helped me wonderfully, and I felt like a new man again, as I knew Asa meant what he said. Sure enough it was not many days before Asa (God bless his memory) had made arrangements for me to steal her and marry. We knew of a certain day that Mr. Mayo would be away from home, so when that day came, May 24, 1847, I got on my horse, went to Mr. Mayo's and had a successful talk with Miss Eliza. She soon got ready, slipped out of the house, got on the horse behind me unnoticed by anyone and we rode to her uncle's, Wm. Finnel, about a half mile away. Rev. Sam C. Davis was sent for and in quick time he arrived and made us man and wife and we left for my home only a couple of miles away. In a short while Mr. Mayo became reconciled to our marriage and sent for us to come to his home, which we did, and none of my connection ever made any trouble between Eliza and me." Rev. Abbott said before leaving the county he expected to visit the place his great-grandfather lived and died on, near Mt. Airy, and also to visit a Mrs. Rains, of near Fayette, an aunt of Joe Kirby, of Moberly. Joe Kirby's grandfather, Elisha Kirby, who lived and died here many years ago, was a native of Kentucky and a relative of Asa Kirby, and a distant relative of Rev. Abbott. All of Rev. Abbott's parents and grandparents were "old hard shell" Baptists, but he said he stayed away from the old denominational fold. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.