Hi Carole and others, Ask and you shall receive! Enjoy! >From "The Higbee News" dated 15 Sep 1894--A big racket was kicked up in the old Higbee school district last Monday by the teacher, Chas. Burton, whipping the 7-year-old child of the late M. W. Lessley. The friends of the child claim that he was whipped unmercifully, blood being drawn in a dozen places, and will make an effort to have the matter investigated by the grand jury which meets in Moberly Monday. The affair is to be regretted. >From "The Higbee News" dated 22 Sep 1894--In speaking of the whipping of little May Lessley last week we stated that blood was drawn in several places. We have since been informed by W. R. Patrick that no blood was drawn and take pleasure in making the correction. >From "The Higbee News" dated 11 Jan 1907--Miss Bettie Burton, of Armstrong, attended the funeral of Miss Etna May Lessley here Tuesday. >From "The Higbee News" dated 11 Jan 1907--ETNA MAY LESSLY DEAD--It becomes the sad duty of the NEWS this week to have to chronicle the death of one of Higbee's sweetest and most promising young girls, Etna May Lessly, who died at the residence of her uncle, F. M. Tymony, at 11 o'clock Sunday, Jan 6, 1907, of pneumonia, aged 17 years. Her case was considered dangerous from the first and in a day or so it was announced that her recovery was impossible, but her many anxious relatives and friends took fresh hope Thursday when she took a turn for the better which continued until Saturday night when a relapse came. She grew rapidly worse and died at the hour stated despite all the efforts of medical skill and the nursing and prayers of those who loved her. Funeral services were held at the Christian church tuesday by Eld. A. N. Lindsey, under whose ministry she united with the church, and the vast crowd in attendance, which packed the building to the doors, speaks more eloquently of the esteem in which she was held than any words we can employ. Notwithstanding the fearful condition of the roads, she was followed to her last resting place by a large number of friends and tenderly and lovingly laid to rest in the city cemetery by the side of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. May W. Lessly, both of whom passed to their reward about fifteen years ago. Etna May was one of Higbee's most modest and reserved young girls, and her death, just as she was blooming into glorious womanhood, is a sad blow to her friends as well as relatives. To her only brother, Shelton, and Mr. and Mrs. Tymony, who loved her as their own child, her death is an irreparable loss, and the sympathy of all their friends and acquaintances goes out to them in the sad hour of their bereavement. A more extended notice will appear next week. >From "The Higbee News" dated 18 Jan 1907--OBITUARY--On the morning of Jan 6, 1907, Etna May Lessly, the beloved sister, niece, cousin and friend closed her eyes on earthly splendors and clasped in the arms of those so near and dear. When at the tender age of fifteen months she lost her mother and by her father given to the care of her mother's parents, and when seventeen months later that father too, was called above leaving baby Etna and brother, who was two and one half years older to relatives who have so lovingly filled the place of absent parents. The grandparents cared for the baby girl till the grandmother responded to the call to come up higher when Etna's aunt, Mrs. F. M. Tymony, took her where she found a home and a mother's love, care and watchfulness. She was ever found at church, Sunday School and prayer-meeting and dearly loved them all. On the Wednesday evening before taken sick on Friday, filled her usual place in the prayer meeting choir and she will not be a stranger in the heavenly choir. When about fourteen years of age she confessed her faith in the Savior, who she has been taught was her sainted parents Savior and was by Bro Lindsey baptized in the same church where those same parents also confessed their faith years before. Darling Etna, bright and joyous was her young life, singing at work or play, laughing and cheerful she was as a sunbeam to home, school and classmates, and when this sunny nature was eclipsed in death, dark indeed would be the cloud if we did not know from her pure innocent life how bright is her crown. She spoke of mamma and papa as if she had always had known them and as not very far away. And in the hard fight she had with that dread disease pneumonia, she had a vision of them and expressed a desire to go to them for she said they were so beautiful and were beckoning for her to come. She dearly loved the only brother and his name was often spoken by her while so ill and suffering so much. And as she lay in her white casket in the church she loved so well among the beautiful flowers given by loving friends and Brother Lindsay speaking words of hope and faith she seemd like an innocent child tired of play fallen asleep among the flowers no purer or spotless than her own spotless character. An only brother and two aged grandfathers are the nearest earthly relatives left behind. Several uncles, aunts and cousins mourn for the absence among them and realize the one more tie in the bright beyond. (poem follows) One Who Knew Her Well. >From "The Higbee News" dated 9 May 1891--DIED, in Higbee, on Monday evening, May the 4th, after a protracted illness, Mrs. W. M. Lessley, aged 24 years. Mrs. Lessley was a general favorite with all that knew her. Her remains were followed to the Christian church Wednesday by the largest crowd we have ever seen assembled there. A touching funeral discourse was delivered by Elder W. b. Anderson, after which the remains were laid to rest in the Hines burying ground beside a sister who preceeded her some years ago. Mrs. Lessley leaves a kind husband, two little children, an aged father and mother, and many other relatives and friends to mourn her untimely death. To the bereaved ones we extend our heart-felt sympathies. >From "The Higbee News" dated 16 May 1891--IN MEMORY--Nannie L. Lessley, was born in Randolph county, Mo, on the 29th day of Nov. 1866, and departed this life May 4th, 1891. She was the daughter of H. E. and Elizabeth Pattrick. She was united in marriage to M. W. Lessley Oct 6, 1886. In October 1884 she confessed her faith in Christ and was buried with him in baptism, and from that time to her death was a faithful and exemplary member of the Christian church. She was a sweet little girl-one loved by all the little children with whom she played. During her school days was loved and admired by her teacher and school mates; and after she grew to womanhood she was loved and admired by all those that became aacquainted with her. She was a kind and loving wife, and affectionate mother, and a devoted christian. The great desire of her life was to make those happy by whom she was surrounded. Her affliction and suffering was long severe; but she held up under it with that fortitude seldom witnessed by human eyes; and as she approached the shores of the river of Death her faith grew stronger and stronger, and her hope brighter, and when the time came she launched out upon Death's turbulend waters perfectly confident that her Savior would meet her on the other shore and give her a happy admittance into that Celestial City not made with hands eternal in the heavens. Happy are they who die in the Lord. But she's gone--yes gone; but not gone so far the we cannot go to her if we will only be faithful; and in a few short years at most we will be permitted to pass over to the other shore where she now stands watching and waiting for those whom she loves. >From "The Higbee News" dated 22 Oct 1892--Died, in Higbee, on the 17th, of consumption, M. W. Lessley, in the 29th year of his age. Funeral services were held at the Christian church Tuesday evening by Elds. Dorsey and Anderson, after which the remains were followed to the Hines burying grounds by a large number of relatives and friends, and laid to rest by the side of his wife, who proceeded him a little more than a year ago. Mr. Lessley leaves two children the oldest of which is about five years old. >From "The Higbee News" dated 12 Nov 1892--IN MEMORIUM--In writing of the dead, how natural for the friends of the deceased to speak in glowing terms of their virtues, while they draw the veil of secrecy over their imperfections. In this short notice of our deceased brother, may William Lessley, I desire to be honest and true to facts that the dead may be honored and the living comforted. May William Lessley was born in Randolph county, Mo, May 5, 1864. In his youth, he was not unlike other boys of the same disposition and temperment; full of pranks and boyish glee, yet always kind hearted and obedient to parents and teachers. His life up to manhood was spent on the farm where he formed industrious and business-like habits. In September, 1882, he made the good confession of faith upon which our Savior said He would build His church and was baptised by bro. William Anderson. To this faith in Christ he held tenaciously for ten long years, exhibiting in his 13 months sickness its wonderful power to cheer and comfort the christian in times of sorrow, sickness and death. He was married Oct 6, 1886, to Miss Nannie L. Pattrick, with whom he most happily lived until separated by cruel death, who took his beloved companion from him in March, 1891. Two children were born of this union--Shelton, 5 years old, and Etna May, 2 years old, who survive, and are kindly cared for by their grand parents. Thirteen months previous to his death, which occurred on the 17th day of October, 1892, brother Lessley was attacked by that slow but fatal disease--consumption, (with which his wife died), and most heroicly battled against its ravages with such christian fortitude and cheerful resignation that none but the most hardened skeptic could deny him a home in heaven. As he approached death--which was not a surprise to himself or his relatives and friends--his hopes grew brighter and faith firmer, so that of death he freely spoke as the entrance into that world of bliss where he would soon join his beloved nannie who had gone on before. Oh, for a death so peaceful and sweet as his! His funeral was preached by the writer in the Christian church in Higbee, and the overflowing house which seats 600, showed the esteem in which our dear brother was held. Such a life as his does not go out in darkness, but shines on and on until the perfect day. Farewell dear brother until we meet above. W. P. Dorsey This child may or may not belong to this father. From "The Higbee News" dated 29 Apr 1904--Born, on the 28th, to Gus Lessley and wife, a daughter. >From "the Higbee News" dated 6 Dec 1907--The youngest child of Gus Lessly and wife has whooping cough and pneumonia and is not expected to live. >From "the Higbee News" dated 13 Dec 1907--OBITUARY--On Saturday morning, Dec 7, 1907, the dark death angel hovered over and plucked from their hearts and home the darling baby boy of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Lessly, aged twenty-one months and twenty-one days. That dread disease among children, whooping cough, with penumonia added, was more than the little sufferer's strength could stand, though the fight lasted through several days. Funeral services were held at the home by Revs. Robson and Houck, and interment was made in the city cemetery. (poem follows) >From "The Higbee News' dated 13 May 1910--W. A. LESSLEY DEAD--William Augustus Lessley, whose serious illness was noted in last week's NEWS, died at the home of his father in Higbee at 2 o'clock Monday morning, May 9, 1910, after a brief illness of Bright's disease and liver trouble. He was born on a farm near Higbee on july 1, 1875, and was therefore in his 35th year. Several years ago he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business with John F. Smith and was engaged in that business with Clarence Feland, under the firm name of Lessley & Feland, at the time of his death. The funeral was held from the residence at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning, the people turning out en masse through respect and sympathy for the bereaved family. The procession to the cemetery was an exceedingly large one, and when that place was reached a crowd almost as large was found waiting. After a few words and a prayer by Rev. E. Y. Keiter the body was lowered to its long home. Besides a wife and four children, the deceased is survived by his father, three brothers and two sisters, all of whom have the warmest sympathy of the entire community. >From "The Higbee News" dated 13 Apr 1900--It is with deep and prfound regret that we chronicle the untimely death of Mrs. Anna Mae Lessley, wife of W. A. Lessley, which occurred at their residence in Higbee, yesterday morning. Deceased, aged 24 years, leaves a husband, and a babe about six weeks old. The remains will be intered in the city cemetery at 2 p.m., today. The news extends sympathy to the bereaved husband and relatives. >From "The Higbee News" dated 20 Apr 1900--Anna May Ward, daughter of Edward and Mary Ann Ward, was born August 13, 1875, at Dubois, Ill, and died in Higbee, Mo, April 12, 1900. She joined the Higbee Baptist church August, 1897. She was married to W. A. Lessley July 7, 1898. God blessed this union with a son, born Feb 22, 1900. It seems sad to us that the child is left without a mother and the young husband without the help and consolation of a devoted wife. But God knows best. "All things work for good to them that love the Lord." Besides the husband and son she leaves a father and mother, two brothers, and Ruby, an only sister, aged 9 years, The family, the church, the community, has lost a member, but let this sweet, sweet thought comfort us, that those who die in Christ we may meet in the glory land. Brief services were conducted at the home and the body laid to rest in the city cemetery. >From "The Higbee News" dated 16 Dec 1898--G. W. Lessley, who left here Saturday for Potsboro, Texas, to see his aged father, James Lessley, who has been sick for some time, writes that his father died Saturday evening and that he only reached there in time Sunday evening to see him buried. Mr. Lessley, at the time of his death, was over 80 years old. Kathy Bowlin