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, 19 May 1927, Vol 41, No. 2, Pg. 1 Col. 4--IN THE LONG, LONG AGO--Inspired by his visit back to the old home town last summer, and the occasional articles in the NEWS by "Old Timer," Pete McNamara writes us from New York City under date of May 14 a letter reminiscent of the days of real sport, and which we know will be of interest to most of our readers, and especially to all of the old gang now living, and that is most of them, thank the Lord. As will be seen, Pete furnishes us two articles, the second of which will appear next week. As to future ones, we hope he will keep 'em coming. He writes: "Dear Scott:--The NEWS is a welcome weekly visitor. Some time ago I was very much interested in your articles from an old Higbee resident. Now, we of the McNamaras are old timers, and proud of that distinction, so, I am submitting two articles. If you like them I have many more, all pertaining to events in and around old Higbee. "The two submitted are, "The First Time the Silver Tone Cornet Bank Played in Public," and the other, "The First Time the Higbee Tigers (Juvenile Ball Nine) Ventured Away From Home to do Battle on the Enemy's Grounds." The first time the Juvenile Bank played in public was a memorable Fourth of July, about 1890. We were to play at the festivities that were to be held in the picnic ground south of town. We assembled in the old Evans Opera House. Jimmy Lambey was the leader. Do you remember him? It seems as if it were only yesterday. I can see Miles Williams, Tom Walton, the Hare boys, Robert (Strawlegs) Heron, Ed Reese, the Rankin boys, Jack Little, Am. Lambier, the three of us, Tom, Ed and myself. We all gathered bright and early. Jimmy Lambey gave us a thorough rehearsing, and don't forget, we had on our bright new uniforms and all Higbee had turned out to listen to their Band and their boys upon their first appearance. The day was bright and sunny. It was a glorious Fourth! What could be sweeter? "Lambey being a good Welshman, had us letter-perfect in that stirring march, "Men of Harlech," which, as you know, is the National song of Wales. And we must not forget that he also had us perfect in the good American airs, "Star Spangled Banner," "Dixie" and all the rest. At the signal, we made our exit to the sidewalk, each boy feeling proud, and also new in his bright uniform. My father was the cheer-leader. The line of march was to be south on the street past the "Company Store," cross the Alton tracks and on to the grounds. You must picture the whole town marching along, the more sedate and elderly ones on the sidewalk, but the younger element right out in the dust with the band. I might mention my good dog, Hank, was on the parade for while, but only for a while. At the signal from the drums we tore into "Men of Harlech." Things went great until we had reached the Alton tracks. At this moment a farmer lady was coming north seated upon a peaceful horse. She had things to sell, mostly eggs, and when that horse got an earful of the "Men of Harlech," being unaccustomed to such sights and sounds, right then and there things started to happen. "This description must not be construed as a disparagement either on the band of the "Men of Harlech." It was a great march and we had a good band. The horse, well, it was just a horse, with good horse sense and intelligence, and that intelligence whispered to it to get away from there. I, being one of the cornet players, and in the front rank, was the first to sense danger and to seek safety in flight, which I certainly did. Please remember, I was barely ten years old and in my childish imagination I forgot all I ever knew about music, cornet, Lambey and the "Men of Harlech." The horse was positively the wildest, most scared piece of horse flesh that ever laid weight on a hoof. With dilated nostrils, wild, gleaming eyes and a mad desire in his animal mind to escape what he thought was certain destruction, he broke and at the same time, broke everything, mostly eggs, and good fresh country eggs, spilling the woman off. Miles Williams, being in the rear rank, only pounded the bass drum the louder, and in a moment all was confusion, Lambey running wildly about trying to keep his boys together. My brother, Tom, was the tuba (brass horn) artist, and to hold that horn, it being so big, was a job in itself. And making it musical--what chance had any of us with a wild horse jumping and snorting, a mad woman belting us about and calling us names? She had a large stick, just to use on the horse, but, believe me, she used it on all of the band and forgot all about the horse. I landed up at the crossing of the Alton and Katy tracks, Am Lambier over at the Alton tank, Jack Little in the vicinity of the Alton depot, the Rankin boys back at the opera house. Miles Williams stood his ground with his drum. In fact, he chased the horse. My brothers, Ed and Tom, were as far south as the picnic grounds, and the man who wrote "Men of Harlech" turned over in his grave in far away Wales. Poor Jimmy Lambey was disgraced, the woman who rode the horse, needless to say, was indignant, and some of the words she said would not sound good in any church. But we finished the picnic and "a good time was enjoyed by all present." Hank? my dog! oh, yes; he was found near Elliott. "In later years I played cornet in the band of that great musician, Victor Herbert. I have told him this little story many times and he used to laugh heartily at it. I laugh now when I see it, and see it I do, because it is the truth." Thursday, 19 May 1927, Vol 41, No. 2, Pg. 1 Col. 5--THE CLOSE OF SCHOOL--The present week will see the close of the Higbee school, the final exercises being held tonight when the operetta, "Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs," will be presented by the pupils in the grades, and which promises to be one of the very best entertainments of its kind seen here. Last night the graduating exercises were held at the auditorium, the address being delivered by H. O. DeGraff, a professor connected with the University at Columbia, while the diplomas were presented by the Rev. C. R. Luton, pastor of the Methodist church, but which we are unable to comment on as the exercises are being held as the NEWS is being printed. There are eighteen in the graduating class this year, and, as usual, the girls outnumber the boys, there being of the former and seven of the latter, as follows: Misses Charlotte Burkhalter, Marjorie Burton, Mary Roberts, Claudine Robb, Helen Jones, Juanita Walton, Iva Mae Rogers, Nettie Edwards, Gladys Laight, Ruby Edwards, Dorothy Wheeler, Messrs. Lewis Harris, Virgil Ancell, Dallas Wheeler, Earl Durnil, Wilford Ware, Franklin Atkins and Ernest Orton. The honor students were announced last night as follows: Misses Charlotte Burkhalter, Marjorie Burton, Mary Roberts, Claudine Robb and Iva Mae Rogers. Virgil Ancel was the only boy in the class to win honors which carried with it a scholarship at Missouri Valley College, Marshall. The school will come to a close tomorrow morning with the crowning of Miss Charlotte Burkhalter as "Queen," she having been elected to that position at the carnival held several months ago. It will be quite an event and the public is invited. Thursday, 19 May 1927, Vol 41, No. 2, Pg. 2 Col. 2&3--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, W. T. Dameron--The Huntsville public school under the superintendency of Prof. C. J. Burger, who, by the way, has been employed for another year, will close a very successful year's work on Friday, May 20. The commencement address, it is said, will be delivered by Rev. Luther W. Smith, of Columbia, pastor of the Baptist church there. One of the finest plays ever put on by the public school here will be produced at the Capitol Theater Wednesday and Thursday nights. There are thirty-seven graduates--18 girls and 19 boys--as follows: Opal and Erma Cooper, Margaret Graves, Dorothy Hepburn, Pauline Hightower, Alice Malone, Kathryn Martin, Ruth May, Opal Mills, Virlea Minor, Leona Munden, Milford Meyers, Ida Nejedly, Julia Raine, Bonie Rothwell, Christine Singleton, Mary Ward, Charlotte Wilhite, Rhodes Bagby, Thos. Burton, Guy Dennis, John Dickerson, John Ellis, J. D. Harris, Eugene Hightower, Donald Johnston, Paul May, Earl Oliver, John Rothwell, Robert Sneed, Walter Stringer, Carl Thomas, James Williams, Garland Winn, Harlan Halliburton, Milton Singleton and Russell Gooch. The baccalaureate sermon was delivered Sunday night at the Capitol theater by Rev. W. C. Gibbs of the Christian church. The theater was packed and the sermon was a fine one. Thursday, 19 May 1927, Vol 41, No. 2, Pg. 2 Col. 3--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, W. T. Dameron--The circuit court of Randolph county convened here Monday in an adjourned session with Judge A. W. Walker in the chair, Al Bloom, clerk, Victor McCanne sheriff and Steve Jones deputy and Austin Walden, prosecuting attorney. The court met to try some criminal cases and clear the docket of some unfinished business. Earl and Sidney Patton and Ed Baker of Moberly, all colored, pled guilty to burglarizing a railroad car and were sentenced to two years each in the penitentiary. Luther Wheatley and W. Martz of Huntsville pled guilty to breaking into Elmer Heifner's hen house here December 24 last and attempting to carry away some chickens, but were locked in the hen house by Mr. Heifner and captured by neighbors. They were given four years each--two for burglary and two for larceny. Both are past 50 years old. Wheatley has a wife and family with no means of support. Judge A. R. Hammett made a tender plea to the court to parole Wheatley, and Prosecuting Attorney Walden opposed a parole, but in sympathetic words also. Judge Walker, while he deeply sympathized with the defendant's family, gave strong reasons why he should not extend clemency in such cases and refused to parole Wheatley. Martz is a brother-in-law of Wheatley and lived with the family and is single. Both claimed they were drunk on moonshine whiskey when they committed the deed. Joseph Johnson of Moberly charged with selling liquor in violation of prohibition laws, was tried before a jury, convicted and was given five years in the penitentiary. Johnson had been in court several times for violating the liquor laws, and had served jail sentences for some. His attorney, M. J. Lilly, made a strong appeal for him, but the prosecuting attorney, Austin Walden, had the case against Johnson "clinched" with too many proven facts. Johnson's wife and daughter occupied seats in the court room with him. When the verdict of the court was read by the court, Johnson's face flushed a little, but he didn't seem to be much surprised, no did his wife or daughter shed a tear, nor seem effected but very little by the verdict. Mr. Lilly gave notice that he would appeal the case. Thursday, 19 May 1927, Vol 41, No. 2, Pg. 2 Col. 3--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, W. T. Dameron--Porter Mayo, of Clifton Hill, one of the grand old men of the county, was a Huntsville visitor Sunday afternoon. Uncle Porter is a son of the late Allen Mayo, who with his father, Thos. Mayo, and other members of the family were the first settlers of this county, settling in what is now Silver Creek township, in March, 1818. Allen and his father came into this territory in the fall of 1817, prospecting, and selected the spot of ground on Silver Creek for a home about three miles west of Mt. Airy. They were the first white men to discover the old salt well, and buffalo "lick," now Randolph Springs. The spring following their coming here they followed the old buffalo trail, which led from the southeast to the "salt lick," crossing the high lands about three miles west of Huntsville. They first crossed this trail in 1817 when they came from Illinois prospecting. Uncle Porter, if he lives to November 17 next will be 90 years old, and has lived in the county all of his life. While he is somewhat feeble, he bids fair to exceed 90 years. Mrs. Elizabeth Finnell also of Clifton Hill, is the same age of Uncle Porter. They were born the same day and hour. Their parents were neighbors, and it was always a debatable question in the families which was the oldest. Mrs. Finnell is one of the finest ladies in the county, and she and Uncle Porter have long been faithful members of the Baptist church. Uncle Porter and his good wife, who is 88 years old and also a native of the county, and a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Stark, pioneers in the county, celebrated their 64th marriage anniversary March 19 last. We don't know of but one old couple in the county who have been married longer than Uncle Porter and wife. They are Mr. and Mrs. Hayden L. Rutherford of this city, both natives of the county. They were married January 8, 1863. But Uncle Porter and wife are older than Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford by about three years. A Moberly paper had a "write up" of Uncle Porter and wife's last wedding anniversary. Portions of the article as to facts, Uncle Porter said, amused him for incorrectness--things he never said or told the reporter for that paper. But the most laughable thing about it was that the paper contained a picture of Uncle Porter's youngest brother, James P. Mayo, instead of his own. The reporter, it is said, got a snap shot of a photograph hanging on the walls of a bank in Clifton Hill thinking it was Uncle Porter. Some few relatives and intimate friends of both, who discovered the error were also amused. Another error, he says, the reporter had him living in three counties--Howard, Chariton and Randolph--at the same time, or without moving from either, presumably before and after Randolph was organized in 1829, while he was not born until November 17, 1837. Another error was when it was stated that his father and grandfather were the first men who made salt at the old salt well, or Randolph Springs. The Gorham family were the first to manufacture salt from that well, in 1820. But Uncle Porter's father was the first one who purchased salt from Mr. Gorham. He bought a half bushel and carried it home on horseback. the first trough--cut out of a big log--used by Mr. Gorham in the manufacture of salt, is still intact, or was a few years ago, on the old Summers farm northeast of Clifton Hill, and was used to salt stock in. Notwithstanding his age, Uncle Porter still retains his old time pep for telling jokes, of which he has a rich store. This would be a grand and better old world to live in if all men were like him. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.