Friday, 22 Aug 1913--CYCLONE SOUTH OF MOBERLY--At 6 o'clock Friday evening while a part of Moberly was rejoicing over a heavy rainfall, a cyclone was in progress south of the city. The worst part of the storm was about four miles south. There was wind, lightning and hail with but very little rain. A cow belonging to John Edwards was killed by lightning. Another cow and a horse were shocked, a porch was blown from Charles Ragsdale's farm home and his chickens were recovered before dark. Henry Mast's silo was damaged beyond all hope of repair. The door and one side were blown from Roy Thornburg's kitchen. The side houses were lifted over the fence and left in a pasture. There was great destruction at the home of Mrs. Eupha Anderson and her daughter, Miss Sallie. Their barn is eighty feet long and the roof on the opposite side of the main fury of the storm was damaged. The roofing and stripping was split loose from the rafters, which were broken, but only a very small section was blown away. A door was torn from the hinges and about half of a tree was blown through the opening into a horse stall. There was sand and wreckage among the beautiful forest trees on the lawn surrounding the Anderson home. A sugar maple, thirty feet high, was split clear to the roots. An immense elm was twisted off and the remaining stump was struck by lightning and reduced to splinters. A mammoth oak tree, three feet in diameter, was snapped off like a reed. Devastation followed in the path of the storm, trees were struck by lightning and blown down, fences were laid low and windows were broken by the immense hail stones. The storm lasted less than one hour, but those who were in the path of the Missouri twister do not long for a repetition of the terrifying experience. Earl Ragsdal is also the loser of a fine silo, which was blown over in the storm. Roy Thornburg had a heavy watering trough situated in his barnyard and after the storm he found it at a distance of fifty yards from its former place. The farm of James Davis was in the cyclone south of Moberly and west of Elliott on Friday evening. Just before the storm Mr. and Mrs. Davis and two neighbors went to the orchard to get some peaches. They noticed a strange looking cloud and started to the house. Before they had gone many feet the cloud which looked like a wall fell to the ground. The four sought shelter in a barn and succeeded in getting two children to a place of safety. The residence of Mr. Davis was blown from the foundation and landed sixteen feet away, against some apple trees. All of the apples were blown from the trees and many of the trees were blown down and a grove of twenty-five young walnut trees was almost totally destroyed--Moberly Monitor of the 17th. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--Will Harris, a popular Fayette barber, died in a St. Louis hospital on the 16th, following a nervous breakdown. He ran a shop in Higbee at one time and had many friends here who will learn of his death with deep regret. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--FATHER AND TWO SONS DROWNED--Glasgow, Mo, August 16--L. L. Cook and his two sons, Raymond and Jewel, were drowned in the Missouri river here last night while swimming just below the Chicago & Alton railroad bridge. The father was taken with cramps while he was teaching the younger son, Raymond, to swim. The other boy went to the assistance of the two and all three were drowned. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--The Moberly police received a dispatch Tuesday from the police at Trenton, Canada, saying that they had under arrest Ernest Roberts who had confessed that he had murdered Bobby Rodgers in Moberly in 1906. As no such murder took place, it is likely that the confession was made in order to get a free ride back to the United States. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--GOOD ROAD WORK--The people of Higbee and vicinity did their full share of work on Wednesday and Thursday, there being a big turn out, and all working with a will. The roads in all directions were worked as they had not been in years. All told, some 200 or more, with shovels, scrapers and teams were on the job early and late during the two days, and the work accomplished was of a permanent character and will last for many months to come, and in some instances, years. Some mighty good work was done on the Moniteau hill east of town, a big force spending all of Wednesday on the job. A big dinner was served on the ground and at the noon hour, the gentleman who is making the survey through here for the Standard Oil pipe line, made a rousing talk on good roads which added to the enthusiasm, and encouraged more and better work the next day. We have heard dozens express themselves as delighted at the plan of Gov. Major in setting aside these two days for such a worthy purpose, and all expressed the hope that the custom would become permanent. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--Harley Wagner, the Blues crack first baseman, is able to be out again after a week's spell of sickness, having been overheated in the double-header against Windsor. He will be at his regular place Sunday, but from his looks it will be several weeks before he gets all of his ginger back. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--MRS. MARTHA ROBERTS DEAD--Mrs. Martha Roberts, wife of Miller Roberts of Hoxie, Ark, died at the home of her sister, Mrs. W. T. Roberts, of near Myers, on August 15, 1913, aged 54 years, 7 months and 13 days. She was born and reared in Audrain county, and was married to Mr. Roberts in 1876, and is survived by him and two sons. Funeral services were held at the home on Saturday by Eld. Porter and interment made in Mt Pleasant cemetery, Howard county. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--O. L. Farris, who has been suffering from severe stomach trouble for several months, was confined to his bed a day or so last week, but is out again, we are pleased to state. He informs us that if he doesn't get relief soon he will go to Arizona for a month or so. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--G. F. Dougherty and wife took their 3-year-old son, who is suffering from throat trouble, to Kansas City, Wednesday, to consult a specialist. They were accompanied by Dr. J. W. Winn. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--John S. Rule, wife and daughter, Miss Rosella, will leave Tuesday for a month's stay at Colorado Springs for the benefit of Mrs. Rule's health. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--T. R. Hamilton received a letter Tuesday from j. J. Dobson of Lewiston, Mont, informing him that he was at Rochester, Minn, under treatment of the Mayos for stomach trouble and appendicitis and that he would be operated on in a day or two. He sent his regards to all his old Higbee friends, each of whom joins the NEWS in the hope that he will soon be well and strong again. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--Edwin, the 12-year-old son of W. L. Cave and wife, was made happy last week by the receipt of letter from County Superintendent of Schools, S. B. McCully, informing him that he had made the second highest average in the eighth grade examinations for 1912-14, (Kathy's notes: suspect this should have been 1912-13) which entitles him to a 3-year tuition in the Moberly High School and also a 4-year tuition in the Huntsville High School. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--Mrs. M. A. Finnell, aged 78, died suddenly at her home in Huntsville on the 9th, of apoplexy. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--BURTON MAN DISAPPEARS--George Willbank, a farmer residing near Burton, left home last Friday week and has not been heard from since. He marketed $175 worth of wheat at the Fayette Mill upon that day and after paying some accounts here and sending some money home, he left for Boonville with about $105, according to information given to Sheriff W. H. Dollard. It is said that he joined an old friend, a physician at Boonville and accompanied him upon a professional call to his old home in Cooper county. He was later seen leaving a saloon in Boonville by way of a back door. Mr. Willbank is about fifty years old and has a wife and several children, some of whom are grown. One of the sons was sent to Boonville, but no information could be obtained regarding the father. Mr. Willbank is an occasional drinker, but does not get drunk. He is a good farmer and stands well with his neighbors. Sheriff Dollard with the assistance of the Fayette and Boonville officers will investigate the matter at once--Fayette Advertiser. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--MRS. MARTHA KIRBY DEAD--Mrs. Martha Kirby died at her home southwest of town on August 18, 1913, after a protracted illness, aged 74 years. Mrs. Kirby, whose maiden name was Moon, was married to Joseph Kirby on July 26, 1858. They were the parents of twelve children, ten of whom survive. She also leaves 24 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was a devout member of the Baptist church, with which she united in early girlhood. A kind and loving mother, an ideal neighbor and sincere friend, she will be missed by a wide circle of acquaintances. Funeral services were held at the home Tuesday by Rev. L. M. White and the body laid to rest in the family burying ground on the farm by the side of her husband, who preceded her to the great beyond some three years ago. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--Joe E. Jones returned Tuesday from a visit with relatives and friends in Taylorville, Ill. He was accompanied by his aunt, Mrs. W. A. Davis, and son, Walter, who will spend several weeks. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--Willard Brundege is building an addition to his blacksmith shop, the second he has had to build this summer. Brundege is certainly some hustler. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--Ernest Brooks will leave in a few days for Quincy, Ill, where he will enter a business college. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--Chas. Kirk left last week for Illinois, where he will engage in mining. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--Born, on the 11th, to Ben Bailey and wife, a daughter. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--John F. Andrews, one of Howard county's most progressive farmers, is sporting a new auto, purchased last week. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--Mrs. Grant Morris and children of Windsor, Mo, are the guests of her parents, W. W. Adams and wife, of near town. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--Mrs. J. E. Rucker was stung on the eyelid Monday by a bumblebee, and as a result was very sick for several hours. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--Geo. McGill and wife left Wednesday for Stoddard county for a short visit with their son, James, and will sail early next month from New York for an extended visit in England and Scotland. Mr. McGill, who is a great sufferer from asthma, is making the trip on account of his health. Should the change benefit him to the extent he anticipates, he may extend his visit a year. The NEWS joins his many friends in the hope that he will be completely restored, and that the trip will be the most pleasant and enjoyable he and Mrs. McGill have yet made. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--Y. L Atkins, who has been in Wyoming for several months, arrived Monday for a visit with his brother, A. G. Atkins, and other relatives, and will spend several weeks before leaving for Oklahoma for a visit with his son. Mr. Atkins likes the West very much and may return there. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--Thos. Williams, who fell from a barn loft several weeks ago and dislocated his left hip, and who has since been going about on crutches, had the hip put back in place Wednesday. Friday, 22 Aug 1913--MRS. WICKMAN DEAD--Mrs. Margaret Wickman, 63 years of age, died at the county farm Saturday of paralysis. She lived near Higbee but had been at the county farm about a year. She was the mother of eleven children. Her body was taken to the undertaking parlor of Patton & Sons and is waiting until all the children are heard from--Huntsville. Kathy Bowlin, Additions, corrections, comments welcome.