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, 27 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 4, pg. 1, Col 1--DEATH OF ED. RENNOLDS--Killed in Rock Island Yards at Silvis, Ill., While Repairing Air Hose.--The following particulars relative to the death of Ed Rennolds, mention of which was made in our last issue, is taken from the Hunnewell, Mo., Graphic: "Edward B. Rennolds, aged 53 years, of Rock Island, Ill., was instantly killed Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, when he was mangled under the wheels of a freight car, in the Silvis yards of the Rock Island railroad. Mr. Rennolds was air inspector for the Rock Island lines, and was repairing an airhose when the accident occurred. He was standing between two box cars in a string of cars which had been switched to a sidetrack and was thrown on to the tracks. Switchmen were unaware that Mr. Rennolds was working on the cars. One leg and one arm was cut off, his skull was fractured and he was otherwise badly mangled. "Mr. Rennolds formerly lived at Lakeman. He was married to Mrs. Mary Hightower, of Lakeman, in 1904. For 15 years he was in the employ of the street car service of Rock Island, and in 1918 he entered the employ of the Rock Island railroad as an air inspector. "He leaves his widow and three stepchildren, Mrs. Frank Baker and Mrs. Eva Hendricks, of Moline, and Lloyd Hightower, of Rock Island; also two brothers, G. W. Rennolds, of Higbee, Mo., F. W. Rennolds and a sister, Mrs. Susan Dennis, of Slater, Mo. Funeral services were held Tuesday at Rock Island and his remains were laid to rest there." Thursday, 27 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 4, pg. 1, Col 1--A. T. Burton's Funeral--No more fitting proof of the esteem in which he was held could have been offered than the large crowd from far and near which attended the funeral of A. T. Burton Thursday of last week. The flowers, of which there seemed no end and which were the most beautiful ever seen here, also bore their testimony of love and esteem. It has been a long, long time since the Christian church has held such a crowd, the building being filled to capacity, extra room being made by chairs placed in the aisles, while many stood and others remained outside. The services were delayed about an hour, awaiting the arrival of Mr. Burton's brother-in-law, Miller Pyle, who drove through from Sterling, Colo. Following the sermon by the Rev. J. J. Hutchison, a former pastor, a short talk was made by the Rev. E. Y. Keiter, another brother-in-law. Neither engaged in fulsome flattery, but spoke in simple language of his many virtues and sterling worth stating nothing, by the way, but what was known and recognized by the entire community. His remains were followed to their last resting place by a very large cortege of sorrowing relatives, neighbors and friends and laid to rest with the simple but beautiful rites of the Masonic fraternity. Deceased was also a charter member of the Eastern Star, which also turned out in a body. Thursday, 27 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 4, pg. 1, Col 1--B. M. Avery to Armstrong--B. M. Avery, who has been operating a country store near Myers, south of here, for two or three years, has taken a position with an Armstrong firm as a Ford salesman, and will move to that place as soon as he can dispose of his stock. As will be seen by his ad in this issue, he is offering the entire stock at actual cost and all goods not sold by June 5 will go that day at auction. Mr. Avery would like to sell the entire stock, good will, etc., to one person and have the business continued as the store has proved a great convenience to the community, and will make money for the right party. Thursday, 27 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 4, pg. 1, Col 1--Harrisburg Teachers Employed--At a meeting of the Harrisburg school board Saturday, all vacancies in the faculty of the high school were filled. Alfred Jackson, who was superintendent last year, and who was recently re-employed, will be assisted by the following: Clay Frye of Columbia will teach social science and will coach basketball, and Miss Nadine Feland of this place will teach English and household arts. Misses Alma Long and Helen Beasley and a Mr. Evans will teach the grades. Harold Powell and Roy Long and Misses Lucille Eaton, Fern Henning and Lucile Dougherty will teach the rural schools in the consolidated district. Thursday, 27 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 4, pg. 1, Col 3--Mrs. Pete Bottino and little son and Miss Nelda Blum returned to their home in Marissa, Ill., Tuesday, after a visit with Higbee relatives and friends. Thursday, 27 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 4, pg. 1, Col 4--Rolla Adams--Rolla Adams, brief mention of whose death was made in our last issue, was the youngest son and child of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Adams, and was born on the Adams farm just north of town on November 26, 1883, and was therefore in his 43rd year. His death, as stated, followed an operation for gall stones, from which he had suffered for some time, and for which surgeons at Miami, Florida, undertook to operate some six weeks ago. He was in no condition for an operation, suffering also from yellow jaundice, and the work of the Florida doctors likely hastened his death, if not directly responsible for it. Mrs. Adams, who had accompanied him to Florida, was advised, so we are informed, that the operation had been performed and that Mr. Adams was doing nicely. As soon as she learned differently she wired Mr. Adams' father, and the latter's son, Roy, accompanied by a Moberly doctor, went to Miami on the first train and returned with Rolla three weeks ago. Dr. Jabez Jackson, of Kansas City, one of the greatest surgeons in the country, and president of the National Medical Society, was called and he stated that an operation was absolutely necessary, and it was performed as soon as it was thought Mr. Adams had gained sufficient strength to undergo the shock. Although he was a man of powerful physique, standing six feet and five inches, and built in proportion, the former attempted operation had left him weaker than it was thought, and he passed peacefully away at 5 o'clock Wednesday, May 19. Funeral services were conducted from the Mahan parlors in Moberly Friday afternoon, the sermon being preached by the Rev. E. Y. Keiter in the presence of a very large crowd of sorrowing friends, dozens going from here. The flowers were more profuse than any seen in Moberly on a similar occasion in years, which spoke most eloquently of the esteem in which Rolla was held by those who knew him best. Interment was made in Oakland cemetery. The deepest sympathy of all goes out to the widow and especially to the parents, brothers and sisters, whose grief is all the harder to bear because Rolla's going makes the first break in the family circle. Thursday, 27 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 4, pg. 1, Col 4--Boy Killed by Freight Train--On Saturday night about eleven o'clock at the Salt Springs Crossing, one mile from Glasgow, Marion Frederick was instantly killed when a west bound freight train ran over him, cutting his body to pieces. Frederick, in company with two other boys, was hiking through the country. They had been in Fayette during the earlier part of the day Saturday: Going towards Glasgow, they had grown tired and had sat down on the rails to rest. The boys fell asleep, two awakening just in time to get out of the way of the approaching train, the other, Frederick, being cut up by the train. James Frederick, the father of the boys, from Casco, Minnesota, arrived at Glasgow yesterday to take the body back to Minnesota for burial. One of the boys who was with Frederick was from Minnesota, the other was from Hannibal, Missouri. Thursday, 27 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 4, pg. 1, Col 4--Rooms Rented and Meals Served--Having purchased and moved to the Isaac Jones residence property, conveniently located between the two railway stations, I am prepared to furnish lodging and meals. Nice clean rooms and home cooking. Reasonable rates.--Mrs. W. H. Wheeler. Thursday, 27 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 4, pg. 1, Col 5--Two Negroes Shot at Clifton Hill--Two negroes were shot in a pitched battle at a point on the Wabash railroad a short distance west of town early Thursday morning. Both were shot in the back but neither is dangerously wounded. A pick ax was also used in the affray, it is claimed. Chariton county officials took the men to Keytesville at noon, where they will be held in the county jail. The men were members of a gang of workmen employed by a St. Louis track construction company, repairing the road between Salisbury and Moberly--Clifton Hill Rustler. Thursday, 27 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 4, pg. 1, Col 6--Some Great (?) Scores--Having moved their shooting ground to the J. S. Graves pasture at the southeast corner of town, the members of the Gun Club on last Friday faced the trap in full confidence that, now that a real shooting ground had been secured, they would make some decent scores. Their consternation, surprise and disgust can better be imagined than described when each shooter, with the exception of Mark Murphy, turned in the worst score they ever made, and about the worst, on the whole, since trapshooting was invented. The leather medal went to R. M. ("Buster") Avery, while Mark C. Murphy was awarded the box of shells. The awards are based on the highest score each member of the club has made this year, the one making the highest percentage of his high score being awarded the shells and the one making the lowest being doomed to wear the leather medal. The following are the scores, the first figures representing the shooter's highest score, and the second the number broken out of a possible 25: Baker 24X15 Welch, 21X13 Chism, 22X13 Cooper, 21X14 Walter Dougherty, 22X12 Claib Dougherty, 17X12 Land, 20X10 Murphy, 20X17. Andrews, 17X11 Avery, 19X5 Wisdom Burton, 19X11. Most of the bunch, not being satisfied, and knowing that something was wrong--they couldn't figure out what--tried another round with even worse results, and which for the good name and reputation of the club we shall not give. Others not members of the club, and one of whom (Dr. Pos) had never shot at the trap, had equally as bad luck. The score: Joe Burton, 5; Pos, 3; Feland, 7; T. J. Cooper, 12; Will Reed, 14. As the club has a big shoot staged for tomorrow, and to account for their poor scores, if possible, as well as to get a little practice, several members shot again Tuesday afternoon, and with much better results, we are glad to state, and as all felt would be the case, as not a cloud was in sight, whereas, on the day the record low scores were made the sky was dark. It was also found that the targets were not being thrown high enough to keep a plowed field from appearing in the background. It was found too, that the trap was throwing targets too fast and too far. Now that the trouble has been discovered, all are confidently hoping for half way decent scores from now on, although no one is expecting to make a "killing" at the shoot Friday. Thursday, 27 May 1926, Vol 40 No. 4, pg. 1, Col 6--A Letter From Mrs. Jennie Griffith--Mrs. Jennie Griffith writes us from Denver, Colo., under date of the 24th: I am sending you today a vacation number issued by the Denver Post, telling all about the wonders and beauties of Colorado. I thought you would enjoy reading it. I was grieved, as I always am, on receiving last week's paper to note the passing of Arthur Burton, an old schoolmate, and, I believe, the first one of us of his age who attended Hickory Grove at that time to break the ranks and go over to the other side and to the land to which we are all journeying, and where so many we have loved and known have taken as their abode. No finer man ever lived. As a boy in school I have always remembered his cheery smile and I never remember of his saying or doing an unkind act toward one of his schoolmates, boy or girl. when my father and mother moved to where the family home now is, I remember how we, as children always do, dreaded to go to a strange school and among strange children. But from the first day the Burton children, and Annie Robb, now Mrs. Reuben Reynolds, was kindness itself to us all, and especially do I remember their kindness to my dear sister, Lydia, long since dead. She was preparing at the time of her death to go to the Burton home to spend a week where she had been invited to share their hospitality and love, for which they were known, always. My deepest sympathy goes out to this dear family in their great loss, and to all families in my dear home town who have suffered similar losses in recent months. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.