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, 15 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 11, pg. 1, Col 1&2--J. F. CALDWELL DROPS DEAD AT SUPPER TABLE--Died Instantly While Seated at Supper Table Tuesday Evening--Funeral tomorrow at 10 A.M.--Interment in Boone County.--Higbee was given a shock, such as it had not experienced in years, when word went out over town about 6:30 o'clock Tuesday evening that J. F. Caldwell was dead at his home on Bradley street, and those who had seen him only a few moments before when he quit work for the day at the store of Walton & Lambier, where he had charge of the shoe department, were loath to believe it, but it proved only too true. So far as known he was in his usual health, and so far as appearances went, at least, was enjoying perfect health, and was the last person in town one would have expected to die of apoplexy. While seated at the table opposite Mrs. Caldwell eating his supper and conversing with her, his head suddenly dropped as if he had gone to sleep, while he made not a sound. Seeing that something was wrong Mrs. Caldwell began to scream and at the same time placed a pillow on the floor and was placing his head on it, when neighbors who has been attracted by her cries, rushed in. Dr. G. M. Nichols was hastily called, and gave it as his opinion that death had been instantaneous, the discoloration of the face showing that a blood vessel in the brain had bursted and that death was caused from apoplexy. James F. Caldwell was born in Boone county, five miles north of Columbia, on July 16th, 1849 and had he lived until tomorrow he would have been 67 years old. Marrying soon after reaching his majority, he followed farming until the death of his wife in 1898, when he moved to St. Louis, where he lived for several years, and where he was married to Miss Lydia Bowen, who survives him ,as do two sons, Marvin, of Centralia, and R. W., of Rock Springs, Wyo., both sons of his first wife. He also leaves eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and four sisters--Mrs. Loretta King, California; Mrs. Lee Wilhite, Mrs. Daisy Crosswhite and Mrs. Ella Farris, Columbia, and Wilson, of near Hallsville. Following his marriage in St. Louis, Mr. Caldwell came to this county, locating in Clark, where he was engaged in the grocery business for several years. Selling out the business, he clerked for a number of years for the Shores Mercantile Co., of that place, coming to Higbee in 1918, since which time he has held the position of salesman with Walton & Lambier, having charge of the shoe and gents' furnishing departments. No firm ever had a more loyal or zealous employee, each member of which, as well as all of the other employees, feel a personal loss, and mourn his passing with a sorrow that is real. Quiet and unassuming, and ready to go out of his way to accommodate one, with always a good word for everyone, he had a friend in all who knew him, and in his passing all are sure that a just man has gone to his reward. He had served as superintendent of the Christian church Sunday school several times, and was holding that responsible position at the time of his death. He had been a member of that church for several years, and transferred his membership to the Higbee church at the very first opportunity after moving here, and had since taken an active part in all departments of church work. Joining the Masonic lodge at Clark, he served as Master one term, moving his membership to Higbee on coming here, and at the time of his death was Chaplain of the Higbee lodge. He had filled other offices in that body during his residence here and was also Past Patron of Clark Chapter of Eastern Star. Funeral services will be held at the Christian church tomorrow (Friday) morning at 10 o'clock by the Rev. E. Y. Keiter, and all business houses will be closed during the hour of the funeral. Interment will be made in Locust Grove cemetery, near Hallsville, Boone county, where short services will be held at the church, and he will be laid to rest with the full honors of the Masonic order, which will be in charge of the Higbee lodge. In the passing of this good and kindly man, Higbee has lost one of the best men who ever lived among us, and that his life was in a great measure what it should have been is attested by the sadness his death has caused the children of the town, not only among the members of his Sunday school, but of the children in general. It was our good fortune to have known him intimately since the day he landed in Higbee, and to have numbered him as a friend. We have seen him tried in all sorts of ways, but never did we see him display anger nor did we ever hear him speak a word of harm of anyone--a pretty good start, itself, on the path of a christian life. The NEWS joins in deepest sympathy to his lonely companion, the children, brothers and sisters. Thursday, 15 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 11, pg. 1, Col 2--Negro Killed In Car Crash Sunday--Wayland Dibble, a negro living at Glasgow, was instantly killed Sunday morning at about two-thirty when the car in which he was riding turned over about two miles outside of Armstrong. Dibble was in a rented Buick with four others returning from Roanoke where they had attended a picnic. John Cason, also of Glasgow, was driving. Just out of Armstrong they met a Studebaker belonging to Rev. Wright of Moberly, which was coming from Kansas City to Moberly, containing two men, Ora Lynch of Moberly driving. Lynch, seeing the Buick going at an unsafe speed and operating a spot light, pulled over to the side of the road to let it pass. Cason seemed to have poor control over his car and just as he came up to the Studebaker swerved over and hit its front wheel. The impact caused his car to turn over, and Dibble's head was crushed and his neck broken as a result. The other four men in his car were uninjured as were the two occupants of the Studebaker. Tyre Burton, prosecuting attorney, went to Armstrong yesterday to investigate the charge that Cason was driving with a spot light, such being against the law in Missouri--Fayette Democrat-Leader. Thursday, 15 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 11, pg. 1, Col 2--Fred Noel to Hospital--Fred Noel, who has been suffering from stomach trouble since before his return from overseas, and who has been operated on several times, was taken to Kansas City yesterday by Dr. C. F. Burkhalter where he will enter a government hospital for treatment, and perhaps for another operation, provided he is strong enough to stand it. Mr. Noel had been in bed a week or more and had to be placed on a cot in the baggage car. As he has come through at other times when his case seemed all but hopeless, his many friends are in hopes that he will soon be able to return, if not well, at least in a condition that no more operations will be necessary. Mr. Noel's trouble dates from the day in France when, not having any food for 48 hours, he ate part of a can of tinned beef, which had been pierced with a bullet, and some stale bread, which he found on the battle field. A companion, with whom he shared the food, suffered no ill effects. Thursday, 15 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 11, pg. 1, Col 2--Card of Thanks--We wish to extend our sincere thanks to neighbors and friends for their acts of sympathy and kindness on the death of my husband, and especially do we thank those who sent flowers and furnished cars. May God's blessing be on each and every one. Sadly missed by his wife.--Mrs. Frances Lusby. Thursday, 15 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 11, pg. 1, Col 3--Ira Hamilton Improving--Dr. G. M. Nichols the attending physician, informs us that Ira Hamilton, who was struck by lightning a month ago yesterday, and who has been delirious most of the time since, save for a few seconds at a time, showed decided improvement Monday, being conscious for quite an interval and recognizing him and all those about him and conversing with them as to the farm work. Just what will be the outcome of the case is not known, nor can it be guessed, as the extent of the injuries are not known nor can they be determined. However, as Mr. Hamilton has shown this decided improvement his family and friends are much encouraged to believe in his ultimate recovery. Thursday, 15 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 11, pg. 1, Col 3--A Close Call for Fingers--Will Warford of south of town came within an ace of having all the fingers of his right hand torn or ground off Tuesday while working with a hay baler. He was attempting to start the gasoline engine, pulling a sprocket chain to set it in motion, and at the first explosion of the engine his fingers were jerked into the gearing, and only by giving a tremendous jerk as quick as thought did Mr. Warford save his hand and perhaps his arm. The flesh was mashed off the ends of all of his fingers, as were the nails, but fortunately the bones were not injured. Thursday, 15 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 11, pg. 1, Col 4--A PLEASANT GATHERING--The home of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Shiflett east of town, was the scene of a very pleasant gathering Sunday when a lot of Huntsville relatives and friends came with well filled baskets for a day's outing and a social good time, and to listen to Henry Taylor, the champion fiddler of the state. As might have been expected, Mr. Taylor gave the crowd the best he had, with the result that it heard such old-time music as it had not heard in years. He was assisted in entertaining the crowd by Finis Lyons and son, Frank, and Mr. Shiflett, who is "some" banjo picker, but who makes no claims along that line. Needless to add that the music was the best and that the dinner was as good, or that all enjoyed the occasion. Those present: Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Robertson and daughter Ula May, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Taylor and daughter and son Bessie and Ashby, Mr. and Mrs. George Shiflett and daughter and son Nellie and George, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Shiflett and son and daughter, Edwards and Lorine, Mr. and Mrs. Dysart Million son and two daughters Morris, Ruth and Vernell, Mr. and Mrs. Blair Gooch and daughter Nadine, Mr. and Mrs. Preston Lyons and daughter, Lorine, Mr. and Mrs. Otis Frazier, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Thompson, Mrs. James Shiflett and son Walter Lee, Mrs. Lou Salmons and two daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Finis Lyons and daughter Rozelle, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lyons and daughter Mildred, Mr. and Mrs. Bernie Shiflett and son John, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Hamilton and "Hi" Million. Thursday, 15 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 11, pg. 1, Col 5--Arrested for Chicken Stealing--A young man apparently about 17 or 18 years old, and giving his name as Arthur Hobart and claiming Muskogee, Okla., as his home, was arrested here Tuesday about noon and is now in jail at Huntsville charged with stealing chickens. As they were taken at night, their purloining may go hard with him, as chicken stealing at night in Missouri is a penitentiary offense. The chickens were the property of T. H. Walton and John Howell, two being taken from the former and one from the latter. Mr. Walton had purchased the chickens for use that day and missed them as soon as he got up, and on coming down town inquired the first thing of R. A. Reynolds, manager of the Co-Operative Association, as to whether he had purchased any chickens that morning, and on being informed that he had bought three, started out to look for the thief, who had been seen prowling around town the day before, but no trace of him could be found. Thinking the fellow would likely go out on the first train, Mr. Reynolds went to the Katy depot when the train from the south came in, and saw his man, apparently hiding and waiting a chance to beat his way out of town, and calling him took him back to his place of business and called up Marshal Cain who took him in charge. Hobart had his preliminary hearing here yesterday before Judge Magruder and was bound over to the circuit court for trial. He is now in jail at Huntsville awaiting trial. Thursday, 15 July 1926, Vol 40 No. 11, pg. 1, Col 5--Ora Lee Duncan Dead--Ora Lee Duncan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry White, living in the Rucker vicinity, died at the home of his parents on the 9th, following a long illness form tuberculosis, at the age of 22 years, 6 months and 11 days. A brother and father preceded him to the Great Beyond. One more day of life and Ora would have died on the 9th anniversary of his father's death. He is survived by his mother and step-father and four step-sisters. He was a grandson of Mrs. Martha Duncan of this place. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at Fairview, where interment was made. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.