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, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 1--A. T. BURTON DIES SUDDENLY--Passes Peacefully Away at His Home East of Town.--Funeral and Interment This Afternoon--Again is The NEWS called upon to chronicle the passing of another old-time acquaintance and friend--A. T. Burton, who passed peacefully away at his farm home east of town at midnight Monday, May 17, 1926, from dropsy and heart trouble, from which he had suffered for several years, his condition becoming alarming some six months ago and extremely so since about February 1, since which time he had never left his room. As family and friends had been advised that death was likely to come at any second, and perhaps at a time when they least expected it, they were not surprised when the Grim Reaper beckoned. Mr. Burton, owing to his heart, had not been able to lie down for months, and being seized with a sinking spell Monday night, died in his chair with his head pillowed on the breast of his faithful companion, who had kept all but a constant vigil at his side since he had been confined to his room, his going being as gentle as the passing of a summer zephyr. Arthur Terrill Burton was the son of W. H. and Susan Burton and was born on the old home farm just south of town on June 12, 1872, and where he grew to manhood. Completing the district school at an early age, he went to college in Tennessee, and on his return taught school for several years, but gave it up for farming, which occupation he had since followed except for a few years spent in Higbee where he was engaged in the livery business, and where also, he owned and operated the old Randolph hotel for several years, moving to his present farm some twenty years ago. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Pyle, daughter of the late G. H. Pyle, on October 8, 1896, and is survived by her and their four children--Mrs. Notley Magruder, Jr., Misses Nelle and Bessie Burton, and Christian Burton, besides one grandchild. He is also survived by his mother, Mrs. Sue Burton, two brothers, May M. Burton, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and W. Christian Burton, of Guthrie Center, Iowa--two sisters--Mrs. Lizzie B. Bottoms of this place, and Mrs. E. Y. Keiter of Moberly, besides a legion of more distant relatives and a host of friends. Springing from two of the county's oldest and very best families, Mr. Burton from boyhood had enjoyed the distinction of being one of the prominent residents of the community, and he lived up to the family name of being a gentleman under any and all circumstances and of never being guilty of a dishonorable act. He had the implicit confidence of all who knew him, and was of the old-fashioned sort in that his word was as good as his bond. His was a sunny disposition, and something had to be radically wrong if he did not greet you with a smile and some pleasantry. In his passing his wife and children have lost a kind, devoted and generous husband and father, the mother and brothers a dutiful son and affectionate brother, and the community an upright citizen it could ill afford to lose, and to all of whom the deepest sympathy goes out. Funeral services will be conducted at the Christian church at 2:00 o'clock p.m. today, and of which deceased had long been an honored and prominent member, by Rev. J. J. Hutchison, a former pastor. The body will lie in state at the church from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., that all who were prevented by the roads and weather and the distance from town from visiting him may pay their last sad tribute of respect. Mr. Burton had been a prominent and honored member of the Higbee Masonic lodge for twenty-five years, and will be laid to rest with the full honors of the fraternity in the Burton cemetery just south of town by the side of his father, who died some ten years ago. Truly, a good man has gone from among us. Peace to his ashes! Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 1--New Assistant Postmaster--Virgil Ancell is now on the job in the post office as his father's assistant, taking the place of Mrs. Fred Buckler, one of our most recent brides. He has the characteristic Ancell failing--will go a mile out of his way to accommodate you and will grin all the time he is doing it. The patrons of the office are to be congratulated on his appointment. Friday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 2--Home Destroyed by Fire--O. P. Cable, better known as "Lob" who lives northwest of Elliott, had the misfortune to lose his house and most of its contents by fire Thursday morning of last week, the fire first being discovered in the roof and starting, presumably, from a spark or a defective flue. Mr. Cable carried insurance in the Iowa State, but not sufficient to cover his loss. T. A. F. Mitchell, adjuster for the company, and for which J. T. Randolph is local agent, was on the ground Monday and made a satisfactory settlement with Mr. Cable, giving him a check for $1900, the full face of the policy. There may be larger companies than the Iowa State, but we know from experience that there are none which settle losses more promptly or more satisfactorily. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 3--OUR NEW SCHOOL TEACHERS--The school board met Friday evening and elected the following corps of teachers for the coming year: C. A. O'Dell, Supt.; Will Paulfrey, Ermon Hare, Misses Jennie Hackward and Mary Embree, Higbee; Miss Stella Wayland, Sturgeon; Miss Effie Marie Coffman, Liberty; Miss Sylvia Grebenow, Algoma, Wis., and Miss Flora Farrior, Council Bluffs, Ia. The election of a teacher for the colored school was deferred to a later meeting. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 3--Ed Rennolds Killed--Ed Rennolds, a former resident of this place, but who has been living in Rock Island, Ill., for several years, being a conductor on an electrical line between that city and Moline, was killed Sunday, but in what manner we have been unable to learn, a dispatch to his brother, G. W. Rennolds, of near town, containing but the brief announcement that he had been killed and that funeral services would be held yesterday. Mr. Rennolds was unable to go to the funeral. Besides the brother, Mr. Rennolds is survived by one sister, Mrs. John Dennis, formerly of this place, but now of Slater. We hope to be able to give full particulars next week. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 3--Phillip Spelman Dead--Phillip E. Spelman, for years one of the county's best known and most successful farmers and cattlemen, died at his home in Columbia Monday morning from acute indigestion, aged 80 years. He resided in the vicinity of Clark some fifty years or more, but had been living in Columbia for the past six years. He is survived by his widow, two daughters and one son. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 4--Mrs. Henry Neal Dropped Dead--Mrs. Henry Neal, aged 58 years, dropped dead at her home three miles east of Moberly at 8 o'clock Tuesday evening, presumably from apoplexy. The family had lived just west of town near old No. 6 mine for several years and had moved to the farm near Moberly one last Monday. Mrs. Neal was the daughter of Alfred and Margaret Carter and was born in Ohio. She is survived by her husband and several children. Funeral services will be held at the home today and interment made this afternoon in the Higbee Cemetery. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 4--Mrs. W. D. Burke Better--W. D. Burke went to Kansas City Monday to see Mrs. Burke, who has been in a hospital there for ten days for treatment, returning Tuesday and reporting her as doing famously. It was at first thought that she might be suffering from ulcers of the stomach. Mr. Burke says she is improving so rapidly that she may come home almost any day, although she has been advised to remain in the hospital for at least six weeks. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 4--J. D. Newman Better--Jas. D. Newman, who has been seriously ill at his home near Yates for three weeks from flu, and who was not nearly so well the latter part of last week, is much improved, we are glad to state, and it is now thought that he will be able to be out soon. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 4--Mrs. Pitney Better--Mrs. W. S. Pitney, who has been very sick for the past six weeks, and whose recovery was not hoped for two weeks ago, is much better, we are glad to say. Her children who were all called here have returned to their homes. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 5--Mrs. Roy Richards is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Evans, in Chicago. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 5--Mr. and Mrs. Joe Lessly returned Friday from a month's visit with their son, Joe of Hannibal. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 5--Alvin Dorman of Chicago is the guest of his father, John Dorman, and other relatives and friends. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 5--Mrs. Pete Bottini and Mrs. Ernest Stevenson returned to Marissa, Ill., Sunday after a visit with Higbee relatives. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 5--Mrs. Mary Hayden and daughter, Miss Eva, moved to the Thos. Burton property in the south part of town last week. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 5--Mrs. Malinda Stevenson returned to her home in Kenosha, Wis., Saturday after a visit with her mother, Mrs. Joan Magruder, and other relatives. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 5--We printed bills this week for Jas. T. Rennolds, who has decided to quit farming and who will sell a small lot of stock, all of his implements and household goods at his farm on Tuesday, May 25. See list in this issue. We are not advised as to what Mr. Rennolds contemplates doing, but we trust that he is not to leave the community. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 5--Jesse Williams, who has been employed as brakeman on the C. &. A. for three or four years, came home the first of the week for a short stay, work being so slack that he has not made a run in over a month. He states that he went to Kansas City, St. Louis and Chicago looking for work and in each place found men by the hundreds, and by the thousands in Chicago, with nothing to do. Yet we are told in the city papers under Washington date lines every few days that the country is booming and that there is no idleness anywhere. We are very much afraid that most of our prosperity is on paper. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 6--ROLLIE ADAMS DEAD--Rollie Adams, brief mention of whose illness has been made in these columns from week to week, died at Woodland hospital, Moberly, at 5 o'clock yesterday, following an operation Saturday for gall stones. Mr. Adams was taken sick at Miami, Fla., several weeks ago, and where doctors undertook to operate on him but quit after making an incision and putting in a drainage tube. As soon as he was able to travel he was brought to Moberly, about two weeks ago, where he had since been in the hospital in preparation for the operation which Dr. Jabez Jackson, who was called in, said was absolutely necessary. The first operation was very weakening on Mr. Adams, but he rallied nicely from the second and for a time seemed to have a chance, the doctors saying Monday that if he could live until Tuesday night he might have a chance. He took a sinking spell early yesterday morning and another in the afternoon, passing away at the hour stated. Deceased was about 39 years of age and was the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Adams of north of town, and his going is the first break in the family. Besides his parents, he is survived by his widow, two brothers, Blackford, of this place, and Roy of Moberly, and two sisters, Miss Sallie, of the home and Mrs. Grant Morris, to all of whom the profoundest sympathy goes out. At the hour of going to press nothing as to when or where the funeral would be was known. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 1, Col 6--Mr. and Mrs. Harry M. Dinwiddie and daughter, Miss Carrie Marshall, were here yesterday in their car from Hollister, to which place they moved from Kansas City several months ago. They will return today. Harry is in the garage business in Hollister and says that he and four mechanics are kept more than busy. He states that Hollister and the Ozark region in general is enjoying a regular Florida boom at present, and that money is almost a drug on the market on account of the many tourist, who are out for a good time and who spend accordingly. During the tourist season, he states, the town's population of about 1200, jumps to some 3000 or 4000. He is located 60 miles south of Springfield and says that as far as scenery is concerned, it is a paradise. Mrs. Dinwiddie is as equally pleased with the Ozarks. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 2, Col 2--Miss Lucille Wyatt returned to her home in Excelsior Monday after a visit with her sister, Mrs. Arthur Roberts, and other relatives. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 2, Col 6--Mr. and Mrs. Sam Wyatt of Novinger were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Roberts. Thursday, 20 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 3, pg. 4, Col 6--The hats of the members of the Higbee Gun Club are off to Isaac Jones, Levy Simms and J. S. Graves, each of whom offered the club a shooting ground, and as the site offered by Mr. Graves is the most conveniently located and is perhaps the best, his offer has been most gladly accepted. The new site is just southeast of the old Rennolds park, and is about as fine as any club can boast. The first practice shoot will be held there Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock, and next week we will tell you who won the leather medal and also who was awarded the box of shells. A fine program has been arranged for the big shoot on the 28th, and with fine weather a big crowd can be looked for. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.