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, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 1 Col. 4--BAKER-ROBERTS--Mr. John Baker of Moberly and Miss Ethel Roberts of this place were united in marriage in Moberly on Saturday, March 26, but by whom we could not learn, and will make their home in that city. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Roberts of this place, is one of our prettiest and most refined young ladies whose large circle of friends join the NEWS in best wishes. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 1 Col. 4--Mrs. Mary Hayden, who has been seriously ill at her home in this place for the past week, suffering from heart trouble, was thought to be some better late yesterday. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 1 Col. 5--J. R. Burton, who was called here by the death of his brother, Medley Burton, returned to his home in Mystic, Ky., Tuesday, to the regret of his legion of friends who had hoped he could prolong his stay for at least a month. He is the same warm-hearted Dick as of yore and doesn't look a day older than when he left here twenty-five years ago. As this was his third trip since he located in Kentucky twenty-one years ago, and the first in 12 years, he found many changes--many of his friends and cronies of other years having moved away or taken their last journey, while some he knew as kids are now staid married folks with children of their own. Of all the fellows on the map, we know of no one we would better like to see return and be one of us again than Dick Burton, for he is a prince if there ever was one, and is so considered by all who know him. But we presume there is small chance of his returning soon--especially as long as he owns his present farm. he has one field of bottom land which has been in corn continuously for 100 years, and which has failed but a few times to produce from 60 to 100 bushels to the acre, the failures being caused by high water, which is also the secret of the fertility of the soil, high waters each year leaving on it a thick layer of silt. He has not had a single failure in his twenty-one years, and but once have floods done him any serious damage. While he could not prolong his visit he promised to return soon, perhaps this fall, for a real visit, to which the NEWS and everybody else says a hearty amen. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 1 Col. 5--The many friends of Mrs. Claib Dougherty, who has been in a Moberly hospital for six or seven weeks suffering from blood poisoning in her right hand and arm, will be delighted to learn that she is now considerably improved and able to sit up part of the time. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 1 Col. 5--Pete Gruber and J. T. Randolph of this place and Lyle Cubbage and Roy Fray of Yates, members of Sinda Grotto band, Moberly, spent Wednesday in St. Louis with that organization, one of several bands to furnish music for a big ceremonial put on by the order in that city. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 1 Col. 6--MOST REMARKABLE LONGEVITY RECORD. Nine Living Brothers and Sisters Out of Family of Eleven Whose Ages Total 823 Years.--Randolph county has the distinction of having produced--at least, we are making that claim until it has been disproved--the most remarkable family, as to longevity, in the entire state, or in the nation--the Stockton family of the bustling little city of Clark to the east of us. There were eleven children in this family, the first of whom was born in 1840, and the last in 1865, and of the number but two have died, and they not passing away until January of this year. The ages of those living total 823 years, while, if the ages of the two are added, as well as that of their parents, the total for the thirteen is 997 years, not counting months or days. Can you bet it anywhere on the map? We don't think so, unless you go back to Bible times, and we don't think that would be fair. The head of this remarkable family, James Stockton, was born at Washington, Mo., on December 10, 1812, and died at his home in Clark on January 10, 1896, at the age of 84. His wife, American Stockton, whose maiden name was Jacobs, was born at Columbia, Mo., on March 13, 1822, and died at the family home in Clark on June 10, 1912, at the age of 90. This most estimable couple, who each came from the first families in their native counties, were married in 1839, and settled on a farm, the most of which is now the pretty little town of Clark, and here their eleven children were born and reared to manhood and womanhood. And what changes those parents lived to see! as have the children. Railroads were not even dreamed of for this section at that time, and were likely considered an impossibility out here and no doubt a doubtful experiment at best. Houses were few and far between in those days, while the flat land was covered with prairie grass high enough to hid a man on horseback. The parents lived to see this disappear, more and nearer neighbors each year, the coming of two railroads through their farm, the telegraph, the telephone, the phonograph, while the mother lived on into the age of radio and the airship. And from the rapid strides science is now making, it would not be at all surprising if the youngest child lives to be as old as her mother, if she does not see even greater wonders and inventions. Below are the names and addresses of the eleven children and the date of their births. Mary A. Hubbard, born April 20, 1840; Clark. Mo. Joseph Stockton, born July 3, 1842; Clark Mo. James Stockton, born April 10, 1844. (Died in Columbia, Mo., January 4, 1927.) Duck Barkley, born December 10, 1848. (Died in Centralia, Mo., Jan 10, 1927.) Cye Fountain, born April 15, 1850; Centralia, Mo. Mary Ryland, born May 10, 1852; Tonkawa, Okla. Elizabeth Kindell, born April 5, 1854; Crescent, Okla. Georgia Lyons, born February 10, 1857; Sturgeon, Mo. Belle Nolan, born August 6, 1860; Frankford, Mo. Thos. Stockton, born June 5, 1862; Crescent. Okla. Alice Brown, born June 15, 1865; Crescent, Okla. We would like very much to meet every one of this remarkable family, that we might ask to what they attribute their longevity, but we think we have a faint idea without asking. They were born in a day when the common run of folks had to work--and work like blazes--and didn't spend their days and half the nights gallivanting over the country. They didn't know the joys (?), either, of ice cream sodas, soda pop, glucose and paraffin candies, olives, condensed milk, canned meats, canned vegetables, and canned everything else under the sun. Their food was mostly all produced at home and was therefore pure and the very best to be had--and which can hardly be procured these days for love nor money. And we suspect, too, from what we have heard of this family from our father, who, as a young man knew them all, that their having lived up the Commandment, "Honor thy father and thy mother," has played no little part in their longevity, for they are as good men and women, in every way as one would care to know, and we hope will live as long as did their parents, and as much longer as they care to remain. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 4 Col. 6--SOUTH OF TOWN ITEMS--Mrs. Eunice Palmer improves very slowly. She is able to sit up a part of the time only. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 4 Col. 6--SOUTH OF TOWN ITEMS--Mr. and Mrs. Owen Asbury and baby Rodney, were Sunday dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Blaise. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 4 Col. 6--SOUTH OF TOWN ITEMS--Mrs. Wm. Webb has been very ill for the past few weeks. She is now suffering with the fourth rising in her head. She has our sympathy. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 4 Col. 6--SOUTH OF TOWN ITEMS--Franklin Reynolds of Jefferson City was called home Thursday to attend the funeral of his uncle, Medley Burton, remaining the rest of the week as the guest of his father, J. T. Reynolds. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 4 Col. 6--SOUTH OF TOWN ITEMS--Old neighbors and friends are very sorry to hear of the serious illness of Mrs. Mary Hayden. Two physicians were called Sunday and but little hope is entertained for her recovery. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 4 Col. 6--SOUTH OF TOWN ITEMS--C. S. Hargis, accompanied by Homer, Howard and Miss Irene, made a business trip to Fayette Monday and while there purchased a new 1927 model Chevrolet sedan, driving the car home that evening. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 4 Col. 6--SOUTH OF TOWN ITEMS--Caleb Lynch became alarmingly worse Thursday and Dr. Burkhalter was called both Thursday evening and Friday morning when it was decided that it was best for him to be taken to a hospital for treatment at once. He was made ready immediately and taken to Higbee in a closed car where he took the train for Boonville. His condition was found to be such that an operation was immediately performed there being so much pus in his side, it is said, that his appendix could not be removed. Mrs. Lynch, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Lockhart and Mrs. John Lynch drove to Boonville Sunday to see him and found him doing as well as could be expected. Caleb's many friends were very sorry to see him have to go, but they are all hoping for his speedy recovery. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 5 Col. 1--LOCAL AND PERSONAL--Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gustafson are rejoicing over the birth of a son, born on the 25th. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 5 Col. 1--LOCAL AND PERSONAL--Mr. and Mrs. D. P. Woods of Armstrong were the guests of Higbee relatives Sunday. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 5 Col. 1--LOCAL AND PERSONAL--Joe and Billie Stone of Marissa, Ill., are the guests of their grandmother, Mrs. Alice Stone. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 5 Col. 2--LOCAL AND PERSONAL--Mrs. J. M. Crew, who was called here by the death of her brother, Medley Burton, returned to her home in Muskogee, Okla., Sunday. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 5 Col. 2--LOCAL AND PERSONAL--Mr. and Mrs. Walton Burton, who were called here by the death of the former's father, Medley Burton, returned to their home in Maryland Friday. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 5 Col. 2--LOCAL AND PERSONAL--Mr. and Mrs. T. D. Williams, who were called to Taylorville, Ill., several weeks ago by the death of their son-in-law, Sam Smith, returned home Wednesday. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 5 Col. 2--LOCAL AND PERSONAL--Joe Hackward left Tuesday for a visit with his sister, Mrs. Samuel Taylor of Fallon, Nevada, and will also likely visit his sister, Mrs. Will Richards of Avila, Calif., before his return. Mr. Hackward is making the trip for the benefit of his health, and all join the NEWS in the hope that he can soon return as good as new. Thursday, 31 Mar 1927, Vol 40, No 47, Pg. 5 Col. 2--LOCAL AND PERSONAL--Mrs. Minnie Sphar, a long time resident of Saline county, with her invalid sister, Miss Lucy Elgin, have moved to Rocheport to live for the present with a niece living there, Mrs. Minnie Pike. We are sorry to lose Mrs. Sphar and her sister from Marshall and hope it will be only a temporary move.--Marshall Democrat-News. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright notice: All transcriptions in this email are copyrighted by their creator. 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