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, 8 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 10, pg. 1, Col 2--DEATH RECALLS OLD JOKE--The death of Joe Smith, who killed himself at Moberly Thursday night of last week, will recall to mind a joke on Wood Burton, long since dead, and which he enjoyed, jovial and big-hearted fellow that he was, as much as anyone. He was clerking for Tymony & Parrill, it will be remembered, when Smith came in to make some purchases. When he came to charge the goods, Wood, who knew Smith as well as he did anyone, could not think of his name to save his life, and to save himself as well as Smith embarrassment by asking his name, took out his note book and asked, "Let's see, how do you spell your name?" Smith looked at Wood in dumb amazement, and with a voice that had a great deal of fire in it, began to spell his name "S-M-I-T-H," putting plenty of accent on each letter and with quite a pause between each, and further embarrassing Wood, who had turned as red as a beet, by following the spelling with the remark, as he looked daggers, "damn it, can't you spell "Smith?" Thursday, 8 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 10, pg. 1, Col 3--FORMER CITIZEN A SUICIDE--Joe Smith Takes Poison From Unknown Cause at Moberly--Burial at Armstrong--Joe Smith, a former well-known resident of Higbee, but who had been residing at Armstrong for several years, killed himself at a Moberly hotel Thursday night of last week by drinking carbolic acid. He left no note or writing of any kind to explain his act, nor can any of his friends imagine any reason other than that he was mentally unbalanced for the time being. Deceased was 55 years old and came to Higbee from Virginia some thirty or thirty-five years ago and worked for many years for the late John Harlow, who owned what is now known as the John Miller farm. Interment was made at Armstrong. In commenting on the death of Mr. Smith, the Armstrong Herald says: "Some of Mr. Smith's friends say that in place of suicide it may have been murder. The deceased was known to have at all times carried several hundred dollars in cash with him, and a very fine revolver. The revolver was gone and there was only a small amount of change in his pocket. One time Mr. Smith was seen to draw $1500 in cash from a bank here, and put it into his pockets. His friends say he was never known to leave town unless he had a roll of several hundred dollars in bills on his person." Thursday, 8 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 10, pg. 1, Col 3--Higbee Girl Wins Honors--Miss Thelma Reynolds, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Reynolds, who has been attending a commercial college in Oklahoma City for the last year, and who completed the course a few days ago, writes to her parents that she was recently selected, with two other members of the student body, to represent the school in a typewriting rapid calculating contest which will be held by the business colleges of Oklahoma at the State Fair, to be held some time in September. Along with other friends the NEWS extends congratulations to both Thelma and her parents. In Thelma's case the honor is somewhat of a distinction, due to the fact that when a baby she was afflicted with infantile paralysis which left her with a useless arm. We trust and hope that she will win the contest and we join her legion of Higbee friends in wishing her success. She is expected home this month for a short visit before entering the contest. Thursday, 8 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 10, pg. 1, Col 3--Dougherty-Egly--Mr. J. B. Dougherty and Miss Thelma Egly, two of our most popular young folks, stole a march on their friends, and also on the families of each, by slipping away to Moberly last Friday, the 2nd, where they were united in marriage by the Rev. E. Y. Keiter, leaving immediately on their return home for Joliet, Ill., where they will likely locate for a time, at least. The bride is the winsome daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Egly and is generally conceded to be one of the prettiest young ladies of the town. Of a sunny disposition and with a smile for all, she was a general favorite and will be sadly missed. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Dougherty, and is one of our most popular and substantial young men as well as one of our most deserving, and has a host of friends. The NEWS joins others in congratulations and best wishes. Thursday, 8 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 10, pg. 1, Col 4--Preliminary Postponed--The preliminary hearing of Clate Ransdall and Joe Hardwick, in jail at Huntsville charged with first degree murder for the killing of Oliver Broaddus at Moberly in April, 1921, and which was to have come up at Moberly Wednesday, had to be postponed indefinitely, or until such time as Tom Barnes, the chief witness, it is said, can be returned from Arkansas, where he is now serving a term in the penitentiary. And just when that will be nobody knows, as the Governor of Arkansas may be a little slow in honoring requisition papers on account of a misunderstanding between the governors of the two states over a St. Louis murder case. Thursday, 8 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 10, pg. 1, Col 4--Lessly-Hitt--Mr. Carl Lessly and Miss Gladys Hitt, two popular young people of Higbee, were united in marriage in Moberly on Saturday, July 3, but by whom we could not learn. The bride is the pretty daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hitt and is one of our sweetest and most popular young ladies. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George E. Lessly and is a most capable and deserving young man and one who has the confidence and respect of all. The NEWS joins other friends in congratulations and best wishes. Thursday, 8 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 10, pg. 1, Col 4--Car Stolen and Stripped--A Ford car belonging to Mrs. Robert Fisher of south of town was stolen by unknown parties while she was attending church one night last week and taken to a by-road where it was stripped of about everything removable, and where it was found a day or two later. There is no clue to the thieves. Thursday, 8 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 10, pg. 1, Col 5--Ira Hamilton No Better--Dr. G. M. Nichols advises us that Ira Hamilton, who was struck by lightning three weeks ago yesterday, was no better at the hour of going to press, if as well. He had a very restless day yesterday. He has had flashes of consciousness at long intervals, and yesterday in one of those periods he complained of pains in his limbs, which may or may not have been a sign of mental or physical improvement. On the whole, however, Mr. Hamilton, it is feared, is losing ground, as he is gradually losing in weight. Thursday, 8 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 10, pg. 1, Col 6--ENDS LIFE BY TAKING POISON--Elmer Lusby Ends Life By Taking Strychnine Refuses to Give Reason--Funeral Today. Friends and acquaintances of Elmer Lusby were shocked beyond measure when word went over town about eight o'clock Tuesday morning that he was dead at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Lloyd in the north part of town, he having been seen by several at the post office and other places a few minutes before, and dead by his own hand, having taken strychnine, taking it presumably, while down town. On reaching the Lloyd home he complained of feeling ill, but kept his own council as to what was wrong, and as his condition became alarming, Mrs. Lloyd called Drs. Burkhalter and Nichols. He had taken so much of the drug, however, that all efforts of the physicians were futile and he died within a few minutes after they arrived at the home. He was conscious when they arrived and told them what he had taken and how much, from a small bottle, measuring the amount on his finger, and which, the doctors say, was enough to have killed a dozen or more. He left no note in explanation of his act, and refused, so we are informed, to make any explanation before losing consciousness. He had been working at Armstrong for some time and came home the first of the week, going to Moberly Monday, presumably to see his wife, from whom he had been separated, it is said, for some time. Several who noticed him in the Katy Depot Monday morning, when he took the train for Moberly, say that he seemed to have a pre-occupied air, and smoked one cigarette after another, consuming them about three times as fast as usual. It is not known where he purchased the poison, or when, but it is presumed that he bought it in Moberly, as it is known that he did not purchase it here. A brother who was at the depot in Moberly when the train arrived, says he is quite positive that he did not get off with other passengers and is of the opinion that he left the train before it reached the depot, which would indicated, if true, that the trip might have been made especially for the poison. Just where he was when he took the poison down town is not known, but he was seen by several going up the Katy track to the Lloyd home, walking very fast and smoking cigarettes as fast as one could possibly be smoked. Coroner McLellan was called here from Moberly and it was developed that deceased had been despondent and was rather disappointed at not receiving a letter from Armstrong in which he expected money due him. He was to have gone to Wichita, Kansas, that day, it was said, in search of employment. Deceased was 31 years of age and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Lusby of south of town, and was born in Howard County in August, 1895. He was married to Edith Cadmus on December 22, 1923, and is survived by her as well as his parents. He also leaves five brothers and three sisters, vis: John, Will Thompson, Edwin and George of Higbee, Mrs. Henry Apel, Armstrong; Mrs. Virgil Lyon and Mrs. Elbert Fuhrman of near town. Funeral services will be conducted today at 2 p.m. at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Lloyd, grandparents of his wife, by the Rev. F. V. Brower, pastor of the Methodist church, and of which deceased had been a member for several years. Interment will be made at the city cemetery. The news joins the community in sympathy for the bereaved ones. Some of Mr. Lusby's family not being satisfied that all had been found out about his death that might be found had Coroner McLellan called again late yesterday evening when another jury was impaneled, the jury going to the home and viewing the body, but no witnesses were called. The coroner returned to Moberly soon after saying that if anybody had any evidence bearing on the case that had not been heard at the inquest Tuesday the jury would be called together today before the hour for the funeral. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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.