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. Friday, 18 Dec 1925, Vol 39 No. 34, pg 2, col. 3&4--Birthday Dinner--Last Sunday was a very enjoyable day at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Stone, it being Mr. Stone's 82nd birthday. His friends and relatives surprised him by gathering with well filled baskets and at the noon hour the table was spread and loaded down with all kinds of good eats, such as boiled ham, baked chicken, roast beef, all kinds of salads and pickles, with pies and cakes galore, to which all did ample justice. The afternoon was spent in pleasant conversation and talking of old times. At a late hour each one departed wishing Uncle John many more happy birthdays. Those present were, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Owens and daughter, Miss Celestine, Moberly; Mr. and Mrs. Luke Haggard and three sons, Paul, James and Cecil, Mrs. David Truby, Mrs. A. D. Dougherty, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Brundege and Mrs. O. S. Pitney. Friday, 18 Dec 1925, Vol 39 No. 34, pg 3, col. 1,--OLD SANTA'S MAIL BOX--Higbee, Mo., Dec, 1--Dear Santa: How are you. I am just fine. I have been a mean little girl some times and other children have too. You know what I want for Christmas. I want a little telephone, a doll and doll buggy, a little stove and a little ironing board, and that is all I want for Christmas this time. Please send me an answer before Christmas. I love all my class and teachers and Mr. O'Dell our preacher and Mr. Robb our janitor--Tabitha Pearl Carson. Friday, 18 Dec 1925, Vol 39 No. 34, pg 3, col. 1&2--OLD SANTA'S MAIL BOX--Higbee, Mo., Dec. 12--Dear Santa Claus: How are you? I hope you are very well so you can get to my house this time. I am all right and go to school every day, and I have my lessons. I never have got a whoopen yet at school. this time I want you to bring me some candy and oranges, peanuts and bananas for my treat. I want you to bring me a violin this time. Wright back as soon as you get this letter and I will wright next time, and a pair of long briches for Xmas.--George Warford. Friday, 18 Dec 1925, Vol 39 No. 34, pg 3, col. 2--OLD SANTA'S MAIL BOX--Higbee, Mo.--Dear Santa: I am a little boy five years old. I go to school every day I like my teacher fine. Her name is Miss Orpha. I want to see you at our Christmas tree, and I want you to bring me a little red slide, knife, radio and all kinds of nuts, candy and oranges--Olan Robb. Friday, 18 Dec 1925, Vol 39 No. 34, pg 3, col. 2&3--OLD SANTA'S MAIL BOX--Higbee, Mo.--Dear Santa: I am a nice little girl two years old. Please bring me for Xmas a big doll, doll buggy, little broom some dishes and all kinds of nice candy, oranges and nuts. I have two brothers, Woodrow and Leo please do not forget them--Lora Grace Nichols. Friday, 18 Dec 1925, Vol 39 No. 34, pg 3, col. 3--OLD SANTA'S MAIL BOX--Yates, Mo., Dec. 11--Dear Santa: I am a little boy six years old, live at Yates, go to school and try to be a good little boy and I want you to bring me a little wagon, little truck, camel, cap pistol and caps, all the candy and nuts and oranges and bananas you can bring. Don't forget grandma. She lives just across the street from my house. Don't forget daddy and mamma and Virginia and Lawrence, my little sister, and don't forget your little boy.--Kenneth Allan Goone. Friday, 18 Dec 1925, Vol 39 No. 34, pg 3, col. 3&4--OLD SANTA'S MAIL BOX--Yates, Mo., Dec. 11--Dear Santa Claus: I am a little girl 5 years old and I go to school and try to be good and I want you to come to see me. Bring bananas, candy, oranges, nuts and anything nice for a little girl and don't forget daddy and mamma and sisters Marjorie and Madlin and mammy Joe. She lives at Yates. We live just southwest of Yates, and Santa you will have to come down Petticoat Lane from Yates to get to our house. Goodbye Santa, and don't forget your little girl--Martha Wayland Williams. Friday, 18 Dec 1925, Vol 39 No. 34, pg 3, col. 5--OLD SANTA'S MAIL BOX--Dear Santa: We have all been good little boys and girls this year, so please be good to us Christmas and bring us a bottle of fresh sweet milk and a large box of oranges. Be good to everyone else. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Sophomore Class of 1925, H. H. S. By a Pupil. (Kathy's notes: There was a second front page for this Vol 39, No. 34. Then the next page filmed was page 12, pg 11, pg 10, pg 5, pg 6, pg 7, and finally pg 8. Because of this, I will be issuing the pg number 9, to the second front page, assuming that it was an additional supplement to the original paper, and will follow the pages in order.) Friday, 18 Dec 1925, Vol 39 No. 34, pg 5. Col 2--Mrs. Susie Foster and sister, Miss Gertie Kirby of Moberly were called home the first of the week by the death of their grandmother, Mrs. Margaret Comstock. Friday, 18 Dec 1925, Vol 39 No. 34, pg 5. Col 2--Mr. and Mrs. Odus Bradley left Sunday for Kansas City where they will make their future home. They leave many friends who give them up with genuine regret. Friday, 18 Dec 1925, Vol 39 No. 34, pg 7. Col 1--Executrix's Notice--Notice is hereby given, that Letters Testamentary on the Estate of Mary Wood, deceased, were granted to the undersigned, on the 1st day of December, A. D., 1925, by the Probate Court of Randolph County, Missouri. All persons having claims against said Estate, are required to exhibit them for allowance to the executrix within six months after the date of said letters, or they may be precluded from any benefit of such Estate; and if such claims be not exhibited within one year from the date of this publication, they shall be forever barred. Eddie S. Wood, Executrix. Friday, 18 Dec 1925, Vol 39 No. 34, pg 7. Col 2&3--(Kathy's Notes: This was a divorce action by Flossie Smith, Plaintiff, vs. W. B. Smith, Defendant, for divorce, to be determined at a court in Moberly, county of Randolph, on the 1st of February, 1926. No grounds mentioned.) Friday, 18 Dec 1925, Vol 39 No. 34, pg 8. Col 2&3--Mr. and Mrs. Claude Sandidge, who moved from here to Colorado several years ago, and are now located in Los Vegas, NM, were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sharp the first of the week. Friday, 18 Dec 1925, Vol 39 No. 34, pg 9 (second front page), col 1--FORMER HIGBEE BOY DEAD--Don Boyd Passes Away at His Home in Tilden, Ill., After Protracted Illness.--The many Higbee friends of William Odon Boyd, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Boyd, formerly of this place, were grieved when word came Monday of his death at the home of his parents in Tilden, Ill., on Sunday, but they were glad, in a way, for Don as deceased was familiarly known, as well as his parents, for all knew that he could never recover, and all knew that it meant a happy release from three long years of suffering. Entering the service of Uncle Sam at the outbreak of the war, army surgeons found that Don was suffering from serious heart trouble, and was given his discharge and sent home from Texas, and had never seen a well day since, the belief being that several serum treatments given while in camp but aggravated his heart trouble and was the indirect cause of his death. Leaving Higbee with his parents some eight years ago, he was able to work for a few years, but for the past three years had been unable to do anything, and for the greater part of that time, had to keep to his bed. He was treated by specialists, but all to no avail and gradually grew weaker, and about a year or two ago was stricken with paralysis which affected his left side, and which rendered him all but helpless. A few months ago it was found that he was suffering from an inward goiter, and which, it is now believed was the cause of all his trouble, but the discovery came too late, as he was too weak for an operation. This discovery only added to the distress of his loved ones, and friends back in old Higbee, for it was feared that it would eventually choke him to death, but which, we are glad to state, was not the case, his death being as calm and peaceful as if he were going to sleep. About a week before he died, he called his wife and parents around his bedside and told them that he would not be with them much longer now, that he would soon go to sleep, and handing his pipe and tobacco, one of the few pleasures that had not been denied him by his illness, to his mother, told her that he would never use it again. He was fully prepared to make the great change and was reconciled to go, telling the anxious watchers that he was going to heaven, and telling them further that he could see the lights of the City Eternal every time he closed his eyes. Deceased was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Boyd and was born in Higbee, August 16, 1896, and had resided here most of the time until the family moved to Tilden, Ill., where he had since resided. He was married on July 3, 1921, to Miss Minnie Bann of Tilden, and is survived by her, as well as by his parents and one brother, Rufus W. Boyd, now of Shreveport, La., and one sister, Mrs. Clyde Reed of Cambria, Ill. He also leaves one nephew, Rufus H. Boyd and one niece, Ruth Maxine Reed, besides a host of friends, for he had a way of making and holding friends that was peculiarly his own. The body, accompanied by Mrs. Boyd and her father, P. W. Bann, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Boyd, Rufus Boyd and Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Reed, arrived over the Alton Thursday morning and funeral services were conducted at the Christian church that afternoon by the Rev. F. V. Brower, pastor of the Methodist church, the crowd, despite the weather and the short notice of the services, comfortably filling the church. Interment was made in the Higbee cemetery, and the funeral party left over the Alton for St. Louis on the Red Train carrying with them the deepest sympathy of all who had known Don or his parents. A short time prior to his death he united with the church, and died in the blessed assurance that it would be well with him in the Beyond. He was a member of the Higbee lodge of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias at Tilden, members of each order, so far as they could be reached, attending the funeral and following the body to its last resting place. 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.