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, 10 Feb 1927, Vol 40, No 40, Pg 1 Col 1--OUR VERY BEST FRIEND GONE--Our very best and truest friend, "Don," our faithful and affectionate Airedale, who knew no greater happiness or contentment than to be our constant companion, and whose honest affection was as sincerely returned, is no more, having been found dead Sunday, lying on the Katy right-of-way about a half mile south of town, and who had been missing since Tuesday of last week, the supposition being that he was killed by a train. Is so, no blame attaches to anyone, nor does it if he was shot for killing chickens or running stock--something we never heard of his doing. But if his honest heart was forever stilled by someone who put out poison just to kill some poor hungry dog that might visit their premises, it is a different matter. We don't wish anybody any harm, but if poor Don went in any such manner, we hope the party responsible will be forever chased through a never-ending hell with the "Hound of the Baskervilles" at his heels, breathing fire and brimstone, and barely missing his shirt tail at every step. If hell ever disgorges, the last dregs of its last vomit will be the wanton poisoner of dumb animals. Did it ever occur to you that dogs, and other animals as well, might live again the same as yourself, especially in cases where they are the better men of the two? Take that dog of yours and look into the very depths of those liquid eyes, which all but talk, see an affection, no matter how unworthy you may be, as great, or greater, than that of your own mother's, and remember that whether he is sick or well, hungry or cold or crippled, his only desire and greatest happiness is to be with you or near you, asking only a kindly word or look now and then, and ready at any time without thought of self, to give his life for you, then ask yourself, seriously, if death can end such love. We don't believe it, and when we pass out we confidently expect "Don" to be one of the very first to greet us, and with him, as with all the loved ones gone, we shall know as we are known. In this connection, we don't know but what Lord Byron's poem, dedicated to a favorite dog, and at whose grave he erected a monument, wouldn't more properly convey our meaning, if we can quote it from memory. Teach it to that boy of yours. It will do him good, and won't hurt you. Here it is: "When some proud son of man returns to earth, Unknown to glory, but upheld by birth, The sculptor's art exhausts the pomp of woe. And storied urns record who rest below. When all is done, upon his toms is seen-- Not what he was, but what he should have been. But the poor dog, in life the firmest friend, The first to welcome, foremost to defend, Whose honest heart is still his master's own, Who labors, breathes, fights, lives, for him alone, Unhonored falls, unnoticed all his worth, Denied in heaven the soul he held on earth; While man, vain insect, hopes to be forgiven And claims himself a sole, exclusive heaven. O, man, thou feeble tenant of an hour, Debased by slavery or corrupt by power, Who knows thee well must quit thee with disgust, Thou degraded mass of animated dust. Thy love is lust, they friendship all a cheat, Thy smile hypocrisy, thy words deceit. By nature vile, ennobled but by name, Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame. Ye who perchance behold this simple urn,--pass on; It honors n one you wish to mourn. To make a friend's remains these stones arise-- I never knew but one, and here he lies." Thursday, 10 Feb 1927, Vol 40, No 40, Pg 1 Col 2--CELEBRATE GOLDEN WEDDING--The 50th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Tip Mobley was fittingly celebrated at their beautiful country home near Myers on Tuesday, Feb 1, 1927. At an early hour the invited guests began to arrive until the number reached 62. At one o'clock, the long, spacious tables, reaching the entire length of the dining room were set with the most delicious edibles ever gracing a table on any occasion, including two hams, four chickens, dressings, salads, pickles, twenty-six pies, ten cakes, including the snow-white angel food wedding cake, which was cut by the bride at the close of the feast. This delicious dinner was served cafeteria style to all the guests and was as fine as they ever had an opportunity to partake of before. The joyous strains of the wedding march, played by Mrs. Jim Innes on the piano, was heard at 2:30, when the bride and groom slowly marched into the parlor, followed by the bridesmaid and best man, Mr. and Mrs. John Franklin, who were present at their wedding fifty years ago. These were followed by the flower girls--Misses Frances Dougherty and Elsie Franklin. T. J. Blakemore, justice of the peace, performed the wedding ceremony. Little Miss Alberta Dougherty, who was ring girl, presented the wedding ring at the opportune time during the ceremony. She was tastefully dressed in white silk crepe, with blue trimmings. The bride was becomingly attired in all white rayon, with long Moline veil and flower wreath. The bride and groom received many useful and valuable gifts, including a gold watch charm, gold rings, gold fruit stand, flower vase, gold pen, several $5 gold pieces, and last, but not least, which pleased the bride immensely, was a plain band ring, presented her by Misses Bessie Feland and Irene Dougherty. The remainder of the afternoon was spent in singing and music. The songs, "When You and I were Young, Maggie," and "Silver Threads Among the Gold," delighted the hearts of the bride and groom. All left at a late hour wishing the happy couple many more happy days. Those present: Mr. and Mrs. F. F. Innes, Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Heath, Mr. and Mrs. George Rennolds, Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Blakemore and little son, Jimmie, Mr. and Mrs. Andy Mead, Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Piper, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Dougherty, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Feland, Mr. and Mrs. Claib Dougherty and little son, Harry, Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Farrell, Mr. and Mrs. John Franklin, Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Comstock, Mr. and Mrs. John Newman, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Kirby, Mrs. J. S. Dougherty of Fayette; Irene, Francis and Beatrice Dougherty, Mattie Hayden, Elsie Franklin, Bessie Feland, Marsia Mae Piper, Mary Blessing Dougherty, Maude Franklin, Sadie Robertson, Mary Lucile Innes, Joe H. Andrews, Birch Dougherty, M. B. and Merrell Dougherty, Harold Blakey, Elmer Newman, Charley Strong, Tim Dougherty, Roy Quick, Cleo. Blakemore, Woodrow Mead, Harwood Innes, Glen and Earl Marly. Thursday, 10 Feb 1927, Vol 40, No 40, Pg 1 Col 2--Thos. E. Pitney, who was recently injured by an explosion of dynamite at the strip mine south of town, his face and right hand being quite painfully injured, as well as the sight of one eye, was able to come home yesterday from Boonville where he had been having his eye taken care of for several weeks. The sight was not permanently injured, we are glad to state. Thursday, 10 Feb 1927, Vol 40, No 40, Pg 1 Col 3--SCHOOL NOTES--The girls' basketball team returned from Fulton Saturday. Thursday night they played and defeated Warsaw's team, 27-12. The Warsaw team was an extremely good team, one of the best in the tournament. Friday the Higbee team played Dieblstadt. They were defeated 35-24. This is the second time in the entire year that the Higbee girls have been defeated. Dieblstadt was in turn defeated by Elven. Elven and Crystal City were the champions of last year, and they had exactly the same teams to the last player. Thursday, 10 Feb 1927, Vol 40, No 40, Pg 1 Col 5--MRS. CLAIBE DOUGHERTY BETTER--Mrs. Claibe Dougherty, who has been suffering from blood poisoning in one of her hands, was taken to a Moberly hospital Sunday by Dr. J. W. Winn for treatment, and where the hand was operated on. She was not quite so well Tuesday, but yesterday she was reported as doing nicely, but all danger of amputation being necessary has not passed. The NEWS joins the many friends of Mrs. Dougherty in the hope that she can soon return fully restored. Thursday, 10 Feb 1927, Vol 40, No 40, Pg 1 Col 6--ANOTHER HIGBEE BOY MAKING GOOD--Mrs. Ed Eubanks writes us from Kansas City under date of the 3rd: "I see in the paper that you very often give some Higbee boy a write-up, and I am sending you Ronald's picture, also what the Star has to say about him as an R. O. T. C. officer, and I will also add that he wishes he was a few years older so he could vote for Jim Reed. Kansas City is strong for Jim." The clipping sent by Mrs. Eubanks, which was headed "The Bantam of R. O. T. C. Officers," and carried a picture of Ronald in full uniform, follows: "Ronald Earl Paulfrey is 4 feet 11 inches tall, weighs 98 1/2 pounds including the sword, and on that basis is the smallest youth ever commissioned an R. O. T. C. officer in Kansas City. He is the son of Mrs. Mayme Paulfrey, 1025 East Eighth street. He is 16 years old and attends Lathrop trade school. His fellow cadets remember an inspection Paulfrey made of a 6-foot private. The cadet officer stood on a chair to examine the big fellow, then got down to bawl him out, in true military style, for having a dirty neck." Following the death of his father, the late John Paulfrey, Ronald moved to Kansas city with his mother, and his many Higbee acquaintances will be glad to know that he is making good, both at school and in his work. Shortly after going to the city he got a job in a first class printing office, working after school hours and on Saturdays and during vacation, with the result, being an exceptionally bright boy, he simply "ate it up," and is now well on the way to becoming one of the city's best printers. Steady as a judge and reliability itself, he is one of the firm's most popular and trusted employees. The NEWS joins Ronald's other friends in congratulations on his success in the art preservative and the distinction he has won in a military way, and hopes the years to come will find him the owner of the plant in which he is now an employee and that he will never be called to a battlefield. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.