Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--SOLD ON THE BLOCK--George Grossman (Turner) the colored man who died in Fayette January 6th, mention of which has been made, was the last negro in Howard county to be sold on the block. In 1885 when Col. R. C. Clark was prosecuting attorney, Turner, along with several other negroes, was tried and convicted for vagrancy. The others were able to pay their fines but Turner was not. Therefore, he was officially sold at the South front door of the Court House. Andy J. Herndon, then County Clerk, was the highest bidder for Turner and the price paid was $30. Turner remained on Herndon's farm for about 30 years and generally made good help. He was, of course, paid regular wages, but never saved any of his money. Col. Clark is authority for the statement that Turner was the last negro sold on the block in Howard county--Fayette Advertiser. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--A LETTER FROM THOS. LONGDON--Thos. Longdon, who is with the famous 89th division in France, to which most of the other Higbee boys belong, writes his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thos. London, from somewhere in Belgium, under date of Nov 31: "Dear Mother: I will answer your most welcome letter, which found me well, and I hope when you receive this it will find you all the same. We came from France to "somewhere in Belgium," and we found it a pretty lively town and some good Belgian people. They are sure happy, though not as happy as we are, for the war is over, I guess. We sure have some time, and these boys are all the time joking and fussing, but they don't mean it. They are all fighting men. We have gone through the war together and we are coming home together, and we have our times together. Tell everybody hello, but tell them I can't write to them all yet, but will try to write each a letter. I wish I was there to eat a good turkey dinner with you. I think we will be home inside of ninety days, and if we are we will have a real time when I do reach home. I will have a good story to tell and it will take a month to tell it. And it will be a true story of rough fighting and a well trained bunch of men. The 89th has done its part." In a second letter from Waxweiler, Germany, "I was sure glad to hear from you and glad you are all well, but sorry to hear that father was not so well. Tell him not to work so hard and wait until I get back and he won't have to work hard. Well, mother, have the pig big and fat when I reach home, for I want one big ham of him and his ribs. All the boys are writing and they are sure happy, and we were the same way when we went over the top. We never got excited or nothing like that. We wanted to get the work over, so took it easy, I am sending some post cards from this town, Maxweiler Germany. But I don't think we will be here long." Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--W. I. Williams received a letter this week from his son, Jesse, who is in France with the 89th Division as a cook, and who has been in the thickest of the fighting, in which he stated that the day before the armistice was signed a big shell exploded within fifty feet of his quarters, killing several men. He reported all of the Higbee bunch as being well and all looking forward eagerly to the time where they shall receive orders to pack their grips for the good old U. S. A. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--Geo. Asbury, who landed in New York from France a few days before Christmas, and who was taken to the hospital at Camp Dodge Ia., returned to the latter place Sunday after a short visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Asbury, of east of town. He was wounded in the back, it will be remembered, and is a long way yet from being well, but is improving slowly. He was a member of a machine gun company and on the day he was injured was back of the front several miles resting up, and for the amusement of himself and the crowd, being quite a horseman, undertook to master an unruly horse, several of his comrades having wagered that he could not ride it. Having quieted the animal, he was just starting to mount it, when a big shell burst just above him, a fragment of which cut off the horse's head and then struck him in the back. He did not lose consciousness until he had adjusted his gas mask, the command to don which was given at the crack of the big shell. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--Born, on the 24th to Mr. and Mrs. Asa Warford a son. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--Earl Shafer returned Saturday from Camp Funston to remain. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--Ernest Fowler returned home Saturday from Camp Funston to remain. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--W. R. Pattrick, who has been suffering from a severe attack of bronchitis for some time, went to Kansas City Monday to consult a specialist. He was accompanied by Mrs. Pattrick. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--Milton Jackson, who returned from France two weeks ago, arrived Wednesday for a visit with his sister, Mrs. R. R. Walton. Mr. Jackson saw some hard service and was caught in a gas attack, but has entirely recovered from all effects of it. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--Mrs. Mattie Embree, who has been at Moberly several weeks nursing her sister, Mrs. Walter Shifflet, who has been very ill from pneumonia following the flu, came home Wednesday for a short rest. She reports Mrs. Shifflet as being very weak but states that she is gradually improving. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--Bert Enochs, who spent Saturday and Sunday at Kirksville, informs us that he will move to that place, and will probably leave next week. Mr. and Mrs. Enochs will be missed by a wide circle of friends and are given up with a great deal of regret. All hope their absence will be only temporary. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Patrick of near town and Mr. and Mrs. Miller Robb went to Moberly yesterday to attend the funeral of J. O. Stipp, a nephew of Mr. Pattricks, who was killed by a New York Central train in Cleveland, Ohio, Monday. Young Stipp was in the army and was on duty when he met with the accident which cost him his life. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--J. H. Bradley, who recently moved to Moberly, left Monday with his family for Glendale, Arizona, with the intention of making it their home should they like the country. They were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. John Lay, who also recently moved to Moberly from near here, who will spend some time in the west for Mr. Lay's health, he having developed symptoms of tuberculosis following an attack of the flu, and from which he has not fully recovered. The best wishes of a host of friends follow them. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--Clint Leedom, one of Moberly's best known printers, and quite well known here, especially among members of the republican party, he being one of the country leaders, died at his home in that city Monday from cancer of the throat, with which he had been afflicted for a year or more. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--The case of the state vs., Vernie Magruder, tried in circuit court in Fayette last week, resulted in a hung jury. Magruder was charged with racing a horse in the public highway and running into a buggy being driven by Mrs. O. S. Pitney and seriously injuring the latter. Magruder's defense was that the horse ran away and that he could not control it. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--Edmund Burke was here Sunday from Moberly, the guest of his mother, Mrs. Mary Burke. On his discharge from the Navy a few weeks ago he lost no time in reopening his law office in Moberly and announcing as a candidate for city attorney, an office he came within a few votes of landing two years ago. He has no opposition this time and will be Moberly's next city attorney, as the nomination is equivalent to election. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--ROTHWELL SWEENEY MARRIED? Mrs. Lusetta Harris received a letter the first of the week from her grandson, Rothwell Sweeney, who has seen some hard service in France as an anti-aircraft gunner, is which he stated that he was married, and that his bride was now in school taking a course in English. As he failed to state the date of his marriage or give the name of his bride, Mrs. Harris about half inclined to think that he was only joking. She expressed her doubt in her reply, but told him if he was married in reality to bring his bride right along and that she would be a mother to her as she had been to him. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--DAVID RICHARDS DEAD--T. C. Walton, secretary of the Higbee Knights of Pythias lodge, received a message Saturday informing him of the death of David Richards at his home in San Luis Obispo, Cal., on the 24th. Mr. Richards was a former well known citizen of Higbee and had many friends here who will be pained to learn of his death. He is survived by his widow, two sons and two daughters. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--Born, on the 23rd, to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Summers, a son. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41-- A LETTER FROM DAVID SHARP--Mr. and Mrs. Luke Sharp this week received the following letter from their son, David, who is in France with the 89th Division, bearing date of December 10th, which we are permitted to print: "It has been some time since I had a chance to write to you, so I am taking the first chance. We are marching almost every day. At night we are "stopping" with the German civilians. They have been treating us fine. "We left Halles, France, on Nov, 23, and have made 224 kilometers, which is 140 English miles. On our march we passed through the lower part of Belgium, across Luxemburg and are now about 50 miles into the heart of Deutchland. We certainly have seen some very beautiful country. Belgium and Germany are more beautiful than France. "Here are some of the towns we passed through: The first stop was Stenay, a town we captured the night of the 10th when we crossed the river. From there to Meix, Belgium, a distance of 25 miles, with a full pack for one day's hike, is a record. We spent Thanksgiving day there. The next day we marched to Muisson, to Heinlangy, to Harben, Steinheim, (Germany) Grosselettgen, to the place we are now. We had the mountains in western Germany to cross, which was sure mean hiking. "We will probably be here for some time then we will move to Coblenz on the Rhine. I don't know how long we will stay there--quite a while--then sail for the States. "I received a few letters and two of the old reliable papers Sunday. They were the first I had seen for quite a spell and I sure enjoyed them. "The night you people celebrated the armistice we had the worst fighting we have had. But nothing could stop the boys from crossing the Muese river. We knew on the 10th that the armistice would be declared, but it was too good to be true and we did not believe it. I believe peace will be signed before log and will return home as soon as transportation can be afforded. "The German army has been demobilized and we meet them in every town. When we are billeted in a town and meet a soldier, he salutes as if he belonged to our army." Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--HAYDEN BLAKELY MARRIED--Hayden Blakely, who sailed for France with his regiment several months ago, but who got no further than England, on account of the armistice, was married in that country on New Year's day to Miss Martha Edwards, and hopes to be home with his bride in a short time. The NEWS joins other friends in congratulations and best wishes. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--A DOUBLE WEDDING--Mr. John Lindsey Andrews and Miss Opal Dougherty and Mr. Olan Alexander and Miss Eunice Dougherty, two of the most popular young couples residing in the Myers vicinity, sprang a surprise on their numerous friends Thursday by quietly slipping away to Moberly where they were united in marriage, but by whom we could not learn, and leaving immediately for a short trip to St. Louis. Mr. Andrews is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John F. Andrews of south of town and is a most exemplary and worthy young man. His bride is the pretty and accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Claibe Dougherty, and one of Howard's most capable teachers. Mr. Alexander comes from one of Howard's best families and is held in the highest esteem by all who know him. His bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Dougherty and is one of the vicinity's most winsome and popular young ladies. The NEWS joins other friends in congratulations and best wishes. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--Mrs. Belle Murphy is the happiest woman in Higbee this week, her sons, Mark and Paul, being at home. The latter, who arrived from France, where he had been with the Engineers for several months, only last week, came home Saturday night, surprising his mother, who did not even know that he was in the country. He will return to New York about February 8, to remain until he is mustered out of the service, when he will return to Higbee, likely to remain. Mark, who has been in the Navy for several years, came home Tuesday to remain, having secured his release from the service that he might take charge of the store of his grandfather, M. Murphy, who is now in his 80th year and who, though strong and vigorous and maintaining all his faculties as in his younger days, has decided to retire and take life easy. And we do not know a person in town who deserves a rest more than Mr. Murphy, who has been on the job day and night, almost for thirty years. He has prospered as he deserved to and built up a big business, which his grandson, who is a "chip off the old block," will no doubt keep going in the same vigorous and successful fashion, as he is a hustler and capable of putting over anything he undertakes. He has our very best wishes for success. Miss Lulu Murphy, who has been her father's chief assistant for several years, will leave in a short time, we learn, for Excelsior Springs, and may make it her home, the waters there having about restored her to perfect health. Along with her host of friends, the NEWS hopes her residence there will be only temporary and that Higbee will always be her home. Friday, 31 Jan 1919, Vol 32, No 41--Mrs. William Cadmus visited friends in Moberly and Elliott the first of the week. Kathy Bowlin, Additions, corrections, comments welcome.