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, 20 Jan 1927, Vol 40, No 37, Pg 1, Col 1--EVELYN LUCILE WARREN--There is a reaper whose name is Death, And with his sickle keen, He reaps the bearded grain at a breath, And the flowers that grow between. One of the saddest deaths The NEWS has ever been called upon to chronicle was that of little Evelyn Lucile Warren, who passed away at the home of her grandfather, Dr. C. F. Burkhalter, at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, January 18, 1927, at the tender age of 6 years and 2 months, she having been born on November 21, 1920. Like many other children of the town, she contracted whooping cough some four or five weeks ago, but which did not seriously affect her in any way, and about ten days ago, after having apparently been freed from the disease, she developed a very severe case of tonsillitis, and every symptom of measles, and a few days later a very severe case of tonsillitis, and to head off diphtheria, symptoms of which had also appeared, Dr. Burkhalter assisted by Dr. Nichols, administered anti-toxin, the throat clearing up nicely within a few hours, when all fears of diphtheria were allayed. The throat affection predominated, however, and it is thought measles may have developed internally, causing death. She appeared to be improving the latter part of last week, and was able to be up part of the time, but was not so well Sunday. Tuesday noon she seemed no worse than she had been for a day or two, the end coming suddenly, and as peacefully as it was sudden, she passing away with a gasp in her mother's arms, Mrs. Warren having picked her up to make some change about the bed. Evelyn Lucile, as she was known to all, was an exceedingly bright child, and unless preoccupied, generally had something to say to all she met. She was very much in love with school, which she entered the day she was old enough, and was very anxious to get well--not that she knew anything of Death or was afraid of it--but because of her many little playmates and the good times she had with them. She was also much interested in Sunday-school, and was the proud owner of a pin awarded for continuous attendance, and was striving for a better one given for the same reason, and insisted on wearing the old one during her illness, and which was buried with her. Funeral services were held at the home today at 2 p.m., being conducted by John Race, with whom she was a favorite in Sunday-school, the house being full to overflowing, as it had been since the hour of death, by sympathetic friends, whose grief was real. We have seen many flowers at many funerals, but never before did we ever see such beautiful ones as on this sad occasion, and made all the more so by the beautiful little face, as sweet and as innocent as the flowers themselves. Interment was made in Higbee Cemetery. She is survived by her parents, to whom the profoundest sympathy of all goes out, as well as to her grandfather and aunts. Thursday, 20 Jan 1927, Vol 40, No 37, Pg 1, Col 6--ERASMUS MANFORD WHITMORE--Erasmus M. Whitmore, son of Francis and Mary Whitmore, was born in Monroe county, Missouri, December 20, 1854, and departed to the life beyond the Veil January 14, 1927. When a very small boy he came with his parents to the farm just east of town, where they settled a little prior to the Civil War. Here he grew to manhood, and several years after Higbee was started he came to town and learned house painting and decorating. He became quite proficient in this occupation, which he followed for 40 years or more, ceasing from this work only when age and health compelled him to retire. It is probably that there is not a home or a house in town that has not felt the touch of his skill. Mr. Whitmore was married to Mrs. Lucy Snell Pitney in July, 1889. She preceded him to the life beyond eleven years ago, passing to the Beautiful Shore in August, 1915. He was of robust physique and strong constitution until about five years ago when his health began to fail and he practically gave up his trade. On December 3rd last, he was suddenly stricken with paralysis on the left side. For three weeks he did well and showed signs of recovery. then a change for the worse was manifest, and the end was probably hastened by what, apparently, was a second stroke of the disease. His sufferings for the last two weeks were intense, but the end was calm, peaceful and without pain. Since his wife's death Mr. Whitmore had lived alone in his home and he was thus alone when he was stricken. He was soon discovered, however, and carried to the home of his sister, Mrs. J. F. Leonard, where he was tenderly cared for until the end. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the Leonard home by the Rev. E. Y. Keiter, and although the weather was intensely cold, the house and yard were filled with sorrowing friends and acquaintances. The body was then gently lowered to its final resting place by the side of his wife in Burton cemetery. Mr. Whitmore united with the Baptist church many years ago during a revival conducted by the Rev. James, whom our older citizens remember quite well. He was very liberal in his religious views, however, and attended any and all of the church services when he felt so inclined. He was a good citizen and neighbor, always accommodating and anxious to help those in need. Rat, as he was often called, had his own characteristics. He had a peculiar way of saying just what he thought of persons and things. And many are the times that he has sat in the stores and cracked funny jokes with his friends, amusing them by his quaint and humorous sayings. He will long be remembered. Mr. Whitmore leaves three sisters to mourn his loss. Mrs. Louisa Leonard, Mrs. Emily Robb and Miss Elizabeth Whitmore, the latter long an invalid; also one step-son, Dr. Orville Pitney, of Cheraw, Colo. Thursday, 20 Jan 1927, Vol 40, No 37, Pg 2, Col 1 thru 3--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, By W. T. Dameron--(Edited by compiler)--While at the home of Uncle Hade and Aunt Viccie Rutherford, January the 8th, the day of their 65th wedding anniversary, a sketch of which was published in last week's News, a few incidents of the wedding evening, prior to and after their marriage, was recalled. As stated in the NEWS, Aunt Millie Humphreys, Aunt Viccie Rutherford's mother, at her request was accorded the honor of naming me at birth. She gave me my first name, William Thompson," after the great orator and Baptist minister, well known in central Missouri in that day, and the first president of Mount Pleasant College. Well, my life and career proves that there is nothing in being named after a great preacher or politician. My life has been anything--or far from being an orator or Baptist preacher. I never was much of a politician, nor could I make a two-minute speech, let alone "orate," and religiously or denominationally speaking, I cast my lot with the Southern Methodists, though, by birth, I am half Baptist, my mother being a strong Baptist and my father just as strong a Methodist. So there is nothing in a name as to what a child will make or be when it is grown or before it dies. Well, if I am as good a man as I am strong in the faith, I won't fear consequences when the end comes. I thought I was the youngest guest at Uncle Hade and Aunt Viccie's wedding, being about 8 years old, but it has developed that there was one more guest at that wedding besides the nine old people mentioned in the NEWS. That one was Edgar White, editor of the Macon Republican, and for years past, magazine and newspaper story writer, and president of the eastern division of the Newspaper Association. He is a nephew of Aunt Viccie's, her elder sister's child. Well, Edgar was there in all his glory, not long out of his swaddling clothes. Yes, he was old enough to wear his first suit of knee pants, shirt and coat to match, being about two and a half years old. Little Edgar spent most of his time in the dining hall and kitchen nibbling pieces of delicious sweets as his grand mother Humphreys handed them out to him. Well, along in the night after most of the guests had departed for their homes, Edgar's little "tummy" began to pain him, and there was more music in the Humphrey's home, but quite different in tone to the soft, melodious strains from the piano as the bride and groom slowly marched from the bridal chamber and took their position before the minister who pronounced them man and wife. Little Edgar's pains and screams resulted in convulsions almost to the point of death before medical aid could arrive. Edgar's uncle, J. D. Humphreys was dispatched, horseback, through a cold January breeze, seven miles away to Roanoke, for Dr. W. C. Harvey. Mr. Humphreys was heavily robed and wore the groom's fine fur cap. In good time he returned with the doctor, who quickly administered remedies to the little fellow that soon allayed his pain, and Edgar dropped off into sweet repose. Thursday, 20 Jan 1927, Vol 40, No 37, Pg 2, Col 1 thru 3--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER, By W. T. Dameron--(Edited by compiler)--"In the early part of the Civil war, and under the excitement of the times," said Mr. Rutherford, "without the knowledge of my father, I made ready, with other neighbor boys, to go South and join the Confederate army. When father learned when we were to start he interfered, and persuaded me to take a trip to Europe instead of going South. Father had been shipping leaf tobacco to a commission firm in England. He gave me letters of introduction to the firm and ample cash to make the trip and see some of the sights of European countries, and by that time he thought the war would be over, so, in a short while I had ample clothing ready, packed my trunk and was taken to Old Allen, where I boarded a train for St. Louis. After much delay in St. Louis, Cincinnati and other places on the road, I finally arrived in New York. There was no ship to leave for Europe for several days, and I had ample time to take in some of the sights of that big city. I also visited Niagara Falls and other places of interest. While seated at a livery stable at Niagara Falls I witnessed the most vicious dog and coon fight I ever saw and I had seen lots of them. A man was crossing the stable leading the biggest raccoon I ever saw. The liveryman had a nervy, vicious-looking dog, and it made a dash at the coon but was held back by a rope with which it was tied. Then the man with the coon said to the owner of the dog, "I'll bet you $10 that my coon can whip your dog." "I'll take it," replied the liveryman. They took the dog and coon to a small lot in the rear of the stable, followed by a crowd of anxious spectators, unleashed the dog and coon, and such fighting I never saw before! They fought 25 or 30 minutes. The dog would throw the coon to the ground but could not hold it down. The coon cut the dog's nose and lips badly and made its ears look like shoe strings. Finally, the coon whipped the dog and ran it out of the lot and the coon man walked off with the stakes, also other money he won from bystanders. After much delay I boarded a steamer bound for Liverpool. There were many other passengers on board and I looked forward to a delightful voyage. But when many miles out from New York a serious mishap befell the old steamer, and it created quite a scare among the big lot of passengers. The break and leakage was so serious that the Captain of the steamer concluded to abandon the trip and return to New York, if possible. After much trouble and delay and uneasiness she finally pushed into port in New York, and I, for one, was greatly relieved of fear. By that time I had enough of ocean life and I took the shortest and the quickest route home. Of course, my father and friends were surprised to see me back home so soon. My early return home looked suspicious to some of my young friends and they charged that I had not been farther than to St. Louis. By the time I had returned home the desire to shoulder a gun and go to war had left me. That "girl of mine," was uppermost in my mind and I lost no time in riding eight miles into the country to her home. My engagement and marriage to Miss Viccie Humphreys soon followed." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.