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 and owners were a wonderful man by the name of 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. It is because of my tremendous admiration for this father and son, that I am transcribing this paper and putting it in a more readable format, so that this work may again be brought to light, to entertain, and teach a whole new generation of the descendants of the inhabitants and neighbors of a little town called "Higbee." 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. I wouldn't want my own possible errors in transcription, blamed on the editors of the 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. When the Higbee Historical Society disbanded, their material was donated to the Randolph County Historical Society and is still available there. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, 26 Aug 1926, Vol 40 No. 17, pg. 1 Col 1--Limb Broken in Fall--Mrs. Dora Sperry had the misfortune to fall on the pavement in front of the Christian church as she was coming from the chautauqua tent Thursday night of last week and broke her left limb just below the hip joint. She was descending the concrete steps at the time and as the night was black as midnight and the walks slippery from the rain, she either mistook the last step for the pavement or slipped. She was taken to her home at once on a cot, when it was seen that the proper place for her was at a hospital, where such cases could be properly cared for. She was taken to a Moberly hospital the next day. The break is a very serious one, and as yet the doctors are not sure that the injury will heal, and rather express the fear that Mrs. Sperry will have to spend the balance of her days in a wheel chair, but they hope not, as do all of her friends. Mrs. Sperry is rather unfortunate when it comes to broken bones. She fell a year or two ago while on her way to church one night and broke an arm. Thursday, 26 Aug 1926, Vol 40 No. 17, pg. 1 Col 1--Mrs. Joe Proctor Dead--Mrs. Joe Proctor, formerly of this place, died at her home in McClave, Colo., on August 21, 1926, her death being rather sudden and unexpected, her malady being rheumatism, which affected her heart, and which is supposed to have been aggravated by the altitude. She had been living in Colorado but a few months, Mr. Proctor moving there last spring, where his mother and several members of the family had homesteads. Deceased was the daughter of J. H. Rediford, formerly of this place, and was born on March 20, 1900. She was married to Joseph Proctor on March 23, 1914. She is survived by her husband and parents and little daughter, two other children dying in infancy. She also leaves three brothers and four sisters. The body arrived over the Alton Monday and funeral services were conducted at New Hope by the Rev. Frank Pitney. Interment was made in the New Hope cemetery. Thursday, 26 Aug 1926, Vol 40 No. 17, pg. 1 Col 2--Mrs. Caroline F. Robertson Dead--Mrs. Caroline F. Robertson died at her home in Roanoke at an early hour Saturday morning, August 21, 1926, of infirmities incident to old age. She had been sick for a long time. Deceased's maiden name was Davis and she was born near Philadelphia St. Louis county, October 14, 1844. She was married to Andrew J. Robertson in 1859, and until the death of Mr. Robertson some 30 years ago, the family lived on the old Robertson homestead about 3 miles northwest of Roanoke. There were six children, four boys, Philip Robertson, of Lamar, Colorado; J. W. Robertson, of Roanoke, and Prof. Wm. Robertson of Roanoke, superintendent of public schools of Randolph county, and Charley Robertson, deceased; two daughters, Mrs. J. W. Patterson and Mrs. Sterling Gooch, of northwest of Roanoke. There are surviving also twenty grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. In early life Mrs. Robertson united with the Methodist church and remained a faithful member of the Ronaoke Methodist church until her death. Mrs. Robertson, after the death of her husband, moved from the farm to Roanoke where she had resided for the past 30 years. She was of a cheerful disposition and always looked on the bright side of life, and to know her was to be her friend. Hers was a noble christian life, wiht an influence for good that will extend through the coming years. The funeral services took place at the Union Church in Roanoke Sunday last at 2 o'clock. Services conducted by Rev. J. M. Major, assisted by Rev. Randall. There was a large crowd of friends and relatives in attendance at the funeral and there were many beautiful floral offerings. Burial was at Roanoke cemetery.--Armstrong Herald. Thursday, 26 Aug 1926, Vol 40 No. 17, pg. 1 Col 2--Fayette's Oldest Resident Dead--Mrs. Eliza a. Dinwiddie, Fayette's oldest resident, died at her home in that city on the 18th, aged 96 years, 8 months and 21 days. She was the daughter of Neriah Bradshear and was born in Howard county in 1829, when Missouri had been a state but eight years. She was married to Jas. F. Dinwiddie in 1850. One daughter, Mrs. Ada Roselle, and with whom she made her home, survives. Deceased was never out of the state and spent her entire life within six miles of her birth place. She had been a member of the Christian church for 75 years. For eighteen years she had spent her time in a wheel chair, having broken her hip in a fall. Thursday, 26 Aug 1926, Vol 40 No. 17, pg. 1 Col 3--John Robb's Residence Burned--The residence occupied by John Robb on Railroad street, between the homes of Thos. Towles and Thos. Giles, and owned by Dan Cubbage of St. Louis, was destroyed, with all of its contents, at 2 o'clock Saturday morning the origin of the fire being unknown. Due to the timely discovery of the fire, the home of Mr. Giles, about ten feet away, was saved, but while it was saved by the fire truck, we are going to give the major part of the credit to a small cocker spaniel, or some similar breed of dog, a stray, which took up his home with the editor of the NEWS a few months ago, and known as "Blackie." Calling him failing to quiet his persistent barking, we got up at 2 o'clock to impress on him the necessity of keeping quiet and found the yard and street full of smoke, which appeared more like a fog, but which had the unmistakable odor of burning pine. Hearing nothing and seeing no light, we started out to investigate, and hearing Marshal Cain put off a shot down town, hurried down thinking he had discovered the fire. He had only shot at a dog, however and as there was no smoke in that section, we returned with Mr. Cain, the smoke being thicker than ever, but still no light was to be seen. Getting out of the smoke at the alley back of Dr. J. W. Winn's residence indicated that the fire was close to the Giles residence, and as the latter was passed, reflection of fire was seen under the Robb house along the entire north side. Mr. Cain emptied his Winchester which brought Freddie Bradley, who was also upon account of the dogs, and he was positive that the family was at home. The feelings of all can be better imagined than described, when, after repeated calls and pounding on doors and windows, sounds were heard as if someone were falling as they staggered to doors and windows, although no cries were heard. Bursting open the west door, we were all but blown off the west porch by flames and smoke, and knowing that if the home contained anything alive it was beyond any human aid, we rushed with Mr. Bradley down town for the fire engine, John Egly, who has the apparatus in charge, arriving just as the door was broken open. From some cause the engine was slow in starting, and when it did wouldn't develop any speed, despite all of Mr. Bradley's efforts, making the trip not as fast as a man could run, but arriving in ample time to save Mr. Giles' home. As every room in the house, including the kitchen, was a roaring furnace when the front door was kicked in, it was soon consumed, and in thirty minutes all danger to adjoining property was passed. Only the hardest kind of work, however, saved the home of Mr. Giles, and if wet quilts had not been hung over the windows it is not likely that it would have been saved, nor the house of Walter Davies, just north of the Giles property, even with the help of the engine. Mr. and Mrs. Robb, and the former's father, J. A. Robb, we are mighty happy to state, were away from home, having gone to the fair at Sedalia Wednesday. An insurance of $600 was carried on the house and but $300 on the contents, which will not cover the loss by one-fourth. We understand that some of neighbors saw parties going into the house late in the evening, but for what purpose it is not known. It is not likely that robbery was the motive, as these gentry generally operate at a later hour. The general supposition is that the parties, knowing the family to be away from home, spent their time drinking or gambling. Mr. Robb has the sympathy of all in his loss, especially so as he has been in very poor health for some time, and who returned only a few months ago from a short stay in the West. Thursday, 26 Aug 1926, Vol 40 No. 17, pg. 1 Col 3 --Former Resident Dead--Mrs. R. S. Noel received a letter this week containing the sad news of the death of her brother, Cal Kline, who passed away at his home near Kinuso Alta, Canada, on August 16th. Deceased was 67 years old and was born near New Albany, Ind., on July 4, 1859, and came to Missouri with his parents when quite young. He is survived by his widow, five children, nine grandchildren and three brothers and the one sister. He moved from this vicinity thirty-six years ago. Thursday, 26 Aug 1926, Vol 40 No. 17, pg. 1 Col 3 --George-Brown--Mr. Wallace W. George of Fayette and Miss Dora Brown of Columbia were united in marriage by the Rev. Notley Magruder at his home in this city on Monday evening at 6:30. Thursday, 26 Aug 1926, Vol 40 No. 17, pg. 1 Col 4--Smith-Solbert--Miss Sela Solberg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Solberg, and Sim W. Smith were married at 7:30 o'clock Wednesday evening at the Methodist Episcopal parsonage. The Rev. Fred H. Zimmerman officiated, using the double ring ceremony. The attendants were Mrs. Willa Mae Macy and Lee Bybee. Miss Solberg wore navy blue georgette over yellow silk with hat and accessories to match. Her corsage bouquet was pink roses and sweetpeas. Mrs. Macy wore flowered georgette. The bride graduated from the Sheridan high school in 1921, and completed a post graduate course in 1923. She has been teaching in the Sheridan county schools for the past three years and now is attending the University branch summer school here. Mr. Smith, nephew of the late Sim H. Smith of Story, graduated from the South Dakota School of Mines at Rapid City, and for a year has been employed as a mining engineer for the Nevada Consolidated Copper company at Ruth, Arizona. He is a member of the Phi Alpha Lambda fraternity. Mr. and Mrs. Smith will make their home in Ruth. --------------------------- The above from the Sheridan, Wyo., Post-Enterprise will be of special interest to readers of the NEWS, the bride being a former Higbee young lady, and who returned home only a few weeks ago from a visit back to her old home. The NEWS congratulates, most heartily, Mr. Smith on winning the heart and hand of such a pretty, sensible and capable young lady, and joins other friends in the wish that their pathway through life may be strewn with nothing but sunshine and roses. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.