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, 2 June 1927, Vol 41, No. 4, Pg. 2 Col 1&2--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, By W. T. Dameron--(Edited by compiler)--Our old friend, "Pud" Heflin, and family of Columbia, arrived here Saturday afternoon and remained over Monday. They were accompanied by Mr. Heflin's sister, Mrs. Nannie Pierce of Huntsville, Ala. Victor Heflin, of Temple, Texas, and Mrs. Blanch Berry, of Des Moines, Ia., brother and sister of "Pud," arrived Saturday night. It is the first time all the family have met for several years. The meeting here of the family--their old home--was in the nature of a family reunion, and to visit the graves of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Heflin, who passed away here many years ago. The family reunion was held at the Radium Springs Hotel, where they were stopping. Those present were: Leland Heflin, wife and daughter, Miss Louise, and Mrs. Heflin's mother, Mrs. Ben Cockrell, of Columbia; Mrs. J. Emory Pierce, Huntsville, Ala.; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Berry, Des Moines, Iowa; Victor Heflin and wife, Temple, Texas, and Mrs. Hallie Cockrell, of this city. Mrs. Pierce's husband is owner and publisher of the Huntsville (Ala.) Daily Times, one of the largest papers in the South. Mr. Pierce owns a ten-story building in which the paper is published and Huntsville has only about 8,000 population. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have the finest residence in that city, it is said. Victor Heflin is a conductor on a Texas railroad and is doing well. Temple is the home town of ex-Governor "Ma" Ferguson, and her husband, former Governor Jim Ferguson, who was really the governor of Texas while "Ma" held the title. Victor is a strong friend of the Fergusons, and says Jim made the best governor the state ever had, but he had bitter enemies among the politicians and big newspapers, and that the metropolitan press inside and outside the state never gave him credit for what good he did for the state. He also says Senator Reed is strong in Texas for the presidency. There isn't but one "Pud" Heflin on earth, and we could write columns about him if we had the time and space this week. "Pud" looks well and is prospering at Columbia. Four years ago he was anti-Reed to beat the band, but he is for the Senator now tooth and toe nail, for president and says he Senator has the best chance of any one spoken of to receive the nomination. Thursday, 2 June 1927, Vol 41, No. 4, Pg. 2 Col 3--SOUTH OF TOWN--Cyclones! Downpours! Hail! Death and Destruction have been the foremost topics of most interest for the past two weeks. We are hoping for a sudden change of a happier nature. The cyclone that hit this section last Friday eve did lots of damage to houses, garages, brooder houses and trees. The following bore the heaviest loss and for which we are very sorry: Andy Mead, Lige Foley, Walter Andrews, Oscar Blansett, John Sumpter and Bob Noel. C. T. Hargis was surprised two days afterward to find a number of trees in his west pasture all twisted, torn and blown over, apparently the result of the tail-end of the tornado that began at the Holland Ferguson farm northeast of Roanoke. In the passing away of our friend and near neighbor, Caleb Lynch, the community has suffered a loss that will be long felt. To his wife and three children, the sympathy of the entire circle of acquaintances and friends, which is almost boundless, goes out. Mrs. Lynch is a good woman and a woman of high ideals in every respect. To know her is to love her and this great sorrow that has befallen her is heart rending. In her brave effort to fight the storms of life in the rearing of these little fatherless children, she has the interest and good will of everyone, and especially that of her near neighbors. Thursday, 2 June 1927, Vol 41, No. 4, Pg. 2 Col 3--SOUTH OF TOWN--Mrs. H. C. Thorpe of Armstrong is the guest of her daughter, Mrs. Hazel Lynch since the death of her husband, Caleb Lynch. Thursday, 2 June 1927, Vol 41, No. 4, Pg. 2 Col 3--SOUTH OF TOWN--About the happiest people we saw in town Saturday were Mr. and Mrs. Ed St. Clair. With broad smiles, and tears of joy they were impatiently awaiting the incoming train which was bringing to their arms their two grandsons, King, 10, and Durwood, 8, from Arizona, the youngsters making the trip alone as far as Kansas City where they were met by their aunt, Miss Anetta St. Clair. It is useless to try to speak of the joy in this household during the ensuing weeks of the youngster's visit. Thursday, 2 June 1927, Vol 41, No. 4, Pg. 2 Col 3--SOUTH OF TOWN--Mr. and Mrs. Brish Johnson and grandson, Herschel Lynch of Moberly were Monday evening guests of Mr. and Mrs. Mart Mead. Herschel is the two weeks' guest of his grandparents, which keeps them in smiles all the while. Thursday, 2 June 1927, Vol 41, No. 4, Pg. 2 Col 3--SOUTH OF TOWN--Miss Hilda Comstock was the all-week guest of her grandmother, Mrs. Jessie Dougherty. Thursday, 2 June 1927, Vol 41, No. 4, Pg. 2 Col 4--MT PLEASANT ITEMS--Henry Thornhill, wife and son of Kansas City visited his parents, Hamp Thornhill and wife, Saturday night, returning home Monday. Foster, their little son, remained for a longer visit with his grandparents. Thursday, 2 June 1927, Vol 41, No. 4, Pg. 4 Col 3--EUGENE BURTON TO RETURN HOME--The many friends of Eugene Burton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wisdom Burton, who has been in the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., for the past three years, will regret to learn that he has resigned and will return home, he having failed in the final test of his sight, he having developed partial color blindness. While he can distinguish colors, he can not do so with the rapidity required, and as it is absolutely imperative that all officers be able to distinguish all colors at once, as very important messages are sometimes sent by colored lights, it can be seen where any deficiency in this respect would be a most effective bar to active service, as the fate of a battle that would change the destiny of the nation might hinge on the proper reading of a signal. It would seem that as this peculiar deficiency in sight bars one from becoming an officer of the line, the one thing 'Gene had set his heart on, it would be up to the government to see to it that this test be given first of all, both in justice to the government and the cadet, and such is likely the case. 'Gene had no trouble whatever in passing the physical test, and if he had any eye trouble he didn't know it, nor did his examination disclose it. It is believed that his sight might have become affected during his first year of sea duty, when he was required to stoke the boilers. The trouble developed a year or more ago, and in the hope that it could be corrected he was allowed, through the influence of friends, to remain another year, but with the distinct understanding that, unless his color perception was perfect, he would not be allowed to enter the senior year under any circumstances. The test was made a few days ago, and Tuesday he was informed that he had again failed, whereupon he wired his father, stating that he had resigned and would be at home in about two weeks, "unless the unusual occurred." Mr. Burton had no idea what the quoted words meant, but is not inclined to think they mean, as would seem, that 'Gene thinks he has yet a fighting chance. Along with other friends of 'Gene, who is one of our finest young men, measured by any standard, we regret exceedingly this dashing of his hopes and ambition, but we are mighty proud to say that in every other respect-mentally, morally and physically-he proved himself A1 and especially so in the gymnasium work. In this he stood at the head of his class and had been named as captain for the next year. While this failure, for which 'Gene is in no way to blame, is a sore disappointment to him as well as to his family and friends, all can find consolation in the fact that Uncle Sam plays no favorites, and that others failed on the same test, one of them the son of one of our foreign ambassadors. For the benefit of such students as these, the Government maintains other schools where other lines of endeavor can be taken up, graduates doing land duty. As 'Gene's ambition was to become an officer of the line, he doesn't feel that he wants to take up something else, even at the expense of the government with a good salary attached, but will not likely make any decision in the matter until he comes home and advises with his parents. But whatever his decision, the years he spent in the naval Academy have not been wasted. On the contrary, time will prove that they were likely the most important and profitable in his life. Thursday, 2 June 1927, Vol 41, No. 4, Pg. 4 Col 4--Chas. Comstock, who all but had his neck broken a few weeks ago when he was struck by a heavy timber being lifted by the big shovel at the strip mine, and who had his neck in a cast for some time, is about all right again, so far as his neck is concerned, the cast having been removed, but has a discharge from one of his ears which may cause him a great deal of trouble. He has been advised to consult an ear specialist. Thursday, 2 June 1927, Vol 41, No. 4, Pg. 4 Col 4--A letter to his mother this week from Morris Cooper, who recently enlisted in the navy, and is located at Norfolk, Va., and where he is studying pharmacy, advised her that he made a grade of 95 in a recent examination on practical nursing, one of the requirements, which is a most excellent grade, and of which Morris' many friends will hear with pleasure. He also informed his mother that he was a member of one of the brass bands. Thursday, 2 June 1927, Vol 41, No. 4, Pg. 4 Col 4--Thomps Dameron sent us another corking good letter this week, but the major part of it arrived too late to be used. It will be good for next week, however. Thursday, 2 June 1927, Vol 41, No. 4, Pg. 4 Col 4--Mrs. Jean Little is suffering from an infected finger on her right hand, which she accidentally cut with a piece of tin a few days ago. The finer was lanced Tuesday, and the injury was thought to be some better yesterday. Thursday, 2 June 1927, Vol 41, No. 4, Pg. 4 Col 4--Mrs. Wm. Robb is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Lee Burton, of Yates. Thursday, 2 June 1927, Vol 41, No. 4, Pg. 5 Col 1--Miss Jane Kirby is visiting her sister, Mrs. Susie Foster, in Kansas City. Thursday, 2 June 1927, Vol 41, No. 4, Pg. 5 Col 1--Mrs. Ed Dennis and daughter, Miss Verna Lee, are visiting relatives in Kewanee, Ill. Thursday, 2 June 1927, Vol 41, No. 4, Pg. 5 Col 1--Geo. Lloyd of Kansas City is the guest of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Lloyd. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.