Friday, 22 Jan 1915--HOW HUNTSVILLE GOT ITS NAME--We have often wondered, as doubtless many others have done, how Huntsville, Randolph's progressive county seat, came to have its streets laid out "catawampus" with the world. the following, taken from the Huntsville Herald of last week, tells how it happened, as well as how the town got it's name: Another chapter that could be added to the early history of this county is how this city was named Huntsville. There were at that time four good citizens, Gideon Wright, Henry Winburn, William Goggin and Daniel Hunt, owning land which cornered very near the center of the county, which was then and is now an elevated, beautiful, sanitary site for a city, and these four citizens agreed that each would donate to the county twelve and one-half acres of land for a "seat of justice" or, as in more modern phraseology, a County Seat. Probably because of the lay of the land each of the four gave a triangular piece with the agreement that a court house building was to be erected thereon with the tower thereof directly over the point where these lands cornered. This making the hypotenuse of these four triangular tracts of land the four sides of the city; and all streets of the city run on an angle of forty-five degrees and the four corners of the building face the four corners of the compass, North, South, East and West, causing many visitors and some citizens to be at times lost in the city, and to doubt that the sun rose in the East and set in the West. These fifty acres of good land having been legally conveyed, the next question for the few residents of the county to decide was what their "seat of justice" should be named. In appreciation of their generosity, the four donors of the site were given the right to name the newly born city. Tow of the, Mr. Goggin and Mr. Hunt, hoping that their names might be perpetuated, expressed a choice; Mr. Goggin that of Gogginville, and Mr. Hunt that of Huntsville. The citizens, being divided as to the name, agreed that a day should be set for holding an election and all residents of the county be invited to come to this city and vote on the two names proposed with the understanding that the name receiving the greatest number of votes should be the name of the city. Much interest was taken in the election, the voting being by public outcry and was rather close, but the friends of Mr. Hunt being in the majority, or the name of Huntsville being more euphonious than Gogginsville, the former received the greater number of votes. It is said that after the choice of names was thus determined, Mr. Hunt, to celebrate the decision, very generously rolled out a barrel of bourbon onto what is now known as the court house square, knocked the head out of the barrel, supplied the necessary tin cups and invited the crowd assembled to join in the christening of the newly born city. Thus is that instead of Gogginsville this city is "on the map" as Huntsville. We might add that there are many relations and descendants of Daniel Hunt for whom this city was named, in the country, and prominent among those who reside elsewhere is Gov. G. W. P. Hunt, of Arizona, a former citizen of this county. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--Z. T. BARRON A SUICIDE--Zack T. Barron, aged 66 years, one of the best known farmers of the Elliott vicinity, and one of the most highly respected men in the county, shot and killed himself at his home some time between 8 and 11 o'clock Friday morning of last week. We understand that a note was found in his pocket directing where he wanted to be buried and stating that he was in his right mind and was just tired of living. He is survived by his wife and six sons and six daughters. Funeral services were held at the home by Rev. Linn Saturday afternoon and interment made in the family cemetery. Mr. Barron was well known to many Higbee people, doing most of his trading here, and was looked upon by all as a mighty good man, and one whose word was as good as his bond. His untimely death came as a great shock to all who knew him, and the sympathy of all goes out to the bereaved. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--PARDONED FOR HIS WIFE'S SAKE--A recent dispatch from Jefferson City says: "A knowledge of the troubles of Mrs. Lee Robb of Randolph county to support herself and baby while her husband was serving a 2-year sentence in the penitentiary for grand larceny induced Governor Major today to release Robb. The woman came here with her baby when her husband was placed in prison to be near him. She obtained employment at $3.50 a week in a boarding house and paid fifty cents per week for a room and the same sum to a woman to look after her baby while she was at work, which left them but $2.50 a week for their support." Robb, it will be remembered, was sent up for having robbed S. E. Robb, a distant relative of a lot of clothing and a few dollars in cash. with his wife and baby, he struck town from Oklahoma or Arkansas, footsore and weary and applied to Emmett Robb for help, after proving to him that he was a distant relative. Mr. Robb not only took the wanderers in, but rented them a house in town, bought them furniture and groceries and got the husband a place at the mines at about $2.50 per day. About a week later, during the absence of Emmett and family, who had gone to church, Lee and his wife came to the house and finding no one at home but Mr. Robb's blind brother, Jos. Robb, proceeded to take all they could get their hands on in the way of wearing apparel, including the blind brother's hat, and striking out through the country for Fayette, where they were arrested the next day. A term in the pen may cure such base ingratitude, but we doubt it. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--The Moberly Monitor is after Judge Rucker for his vote for women suffrage, claiming that he sadly misrepresented the sentiment of his district, which he most certainly did, the majority against suffrage in the recent election being 3,420. but the Monitor needn't worry. The Judge's days in congress are numbered. He will be succeeded two years hence by a gentleman from Carroll county. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--G. R. Rennolds last week filed suit in the circuit court against the C. &. A. railroad, for damages from a meadow fire caused by a passing train. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--Alex Cleeton formerly of this place, had his residence in Moberly totally destroyed by fire Friday night of last week, the fire originating from a defective flue. He carried but $250 insurance on the house which was valued at more than $1,000 and but $250 on the contents, only a part of which was saved. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--Joe E. Jones, Higbee's former popular deputy postmaster, was here from Independence the first of the week visiting his brother, Isaac, and family, and other relatives and friends. He has a good position in one of the big banks at Independence, and is making good. He reports the health of his father and mother as being excellent, but states that the former, who is now in his 75th year, is gradually losing his sight. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--Ed. Turner is going to give some customer a $25 set of silverware on February 26. Call at his shop for particulars. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--Mrs. W. H. Jenner and little daughter, Ruth of St. Louis, were the guests of W. H. Welch and family during the week. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--Walter Jones returned to his home in Des Moines, Ia, Wednesday, after a visit with his brother, John, of east of town. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--Mrs. Mose Blansett, who has been dangerously ill for several days, was no better at the hour of going to press, and her recovery is a matter of grave doubt. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--There is room for thought in the statement of R. C. Clark, superintendent of the Reform school at Boonville that of the 550 boys in the institution, not one of whom came from the farm. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--Paris Dougherty writes us from Kennewick, Wash, under date of the 9th: "Please find enclosed $1.00, for which please keep THE NEWS coming. It is like a letter from home every week. We had pretty good crops all through the Northwest last season. While times are not quite as good as usual, there seems to be no scarcity of money, and everything that moves at all goes at a good price. Wishing the NEWS and all inquiring friends a happy and prosperous New Year, I remain, etc. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--Price Grimsley of near Yates and Miss Pearl Melville, daughter of Hiram Melville and wife of northwest of town, were married at the home of the officiating ministers, Rev. J. H. Linn, of near Huntsville, on the 16th. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--J. J. Angell and wife and R. L. Angell, wife and children of Centralia, and R. F. Angell of St. Charles, Ill, visited at the home of Robert Llewellyn and wife during the week. It was the first meeting between J. J. and R. f. Angell, brothers, in thirty-five years. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--Clint Davis, one of our colored citizens, is now in jail at Huntsville awaiting trial in circuit court on a charge of carrying weapons, having been bound over by Justice T. B. Magruder. Davis had been employed as a driver by Dr. G. M. Nichols for some time and on a recent trip took the doctor's pistol from his grip. The doctor reported the loss to Mr. Williams, who found it, fully loaded, in Davis' pocket. The latter was also heavy "loaded" otherwise, but showed no symptoms of wanting to use the gun. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--CHRISTIAN CHURCH CALLS PASTOR--The Christian church at this place, which has been without a pastor for the past six months or more, at a meeting of the congregation and official board last Sunday, called Eld. W. S. St. Clair of Columbia as pastor. He will preach the first and third Sunday in each month, but will preach the fifth Sunday in this month in place of the first Sunday in February owing to an engagement with another church. Eld. St. Clair is considered one of the strongest ministers of the Christian church in this part of the state, and those who know him best congratulate the church here on securing his services. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--Mrs. Charlotte Pipes, formerly of Salisbury, and a sister of the late A. G. Atkins of this place, died at her home in Oklahoma on the 13th. She was 86 years old. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--OLD RENICK CITIZEN DEAD--S. C. Talcott, aged 66 years, died at his home in Renick on Monday from paralysis, with which he was stricken several months ago. He is survived by his wife, five sons and three daughters. Mr. Talcott had been the Wabash station agent at Renick for years, and was one of the road's oldest and most faithful employees. His first vacation was taken last summer when he spent a month in the west. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--MILLER WHEELER DEAD--Miller Wheeler formerly of this vicinity, died at his home near Riggs, Boone county, on Friday, Jan 15, 1915, of tuberculosis, aged about 29 years. Interment was made at Riggs. Deceased was the son of the late Frank Wheeler, and besides a wife and three children is survived by his mother and three brothers. He was a kind hearted and loving husband, father and son, and stood in the highest esteem of all who knew him. The NEWS joins in warmest sympathy to the bereaved ones. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--Through an oversight last week we failed to note the departure of Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, tow of our oldest citizens, who left for Spickard, Mo, where they will make their future home. They are perhaps the oldest residents in the town, having come here when the present townsite was nothing but woods and underbrush, locating here about the time the M. K. & T railroad was built. Mr. Smith erected the second house in the town--the little house which still stands just north of Feland's furniture store--which was erected for a post office. Mr. Smith was always identified with the town's best interests and its steady growth from a straggling village to its present proportions was a source of pride and pleasure to him, as well as to Mrs. Smith. The latter will ever be gratefully remembered for her lovely christian character and her ministrations to the sick and unfortunate. No better people ever lived among us and their going is a matter of general regret, and the best wishes of the entire community go with them. We heartily recommend them to the good people of Spickard as people of whom any community should be proud. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--GREEN PERKINS DEAD--P. G. Perkins, formerly of this place, died in Fayette on the 15th at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lulu McGee, of blood poison, aged 68 years. He is survived by his wife and eight children, among them being Mrs. Dave Chaney of this place. Mr. Perkins was born and reared in this community, and for many years was a citizen of Higbee, moving to Fayette some twenty years ago. He had many warm friends here who will learn of his death with the deepest sorrow. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--REED-HARRIS--Will Reed and Mrs. Carrie Harris of this place were married in Moberly on Monday evening by Eld. E. Y. Keiter. It had been rumored for some time that they were to be married soon, and the event caused no surprise, although they took no one into their confidence. The NEWS joins others in congratulations and best wishes. Friday, 22 Jan 1915--THOMAS T. MARTIN DEAD--Thos. T. Martin, aged 75 years, died at his home southeast of Renick on the 16th, after a short illness. He was one of the county's best known men and leading farmers, and is survived by his wife, three sons and one daughter. Funeral services were held Sunday at the home by Rev. E. Y. Keiter and interment made in the Davis cemetery near Renick. Kathy Bowlin Additions, corrections, comments welcome.