[Local Newspaper Clipping - 1911 handwritten on article] INJURIES PROVE FATAL TO ESTHER BOY. Jarrett H. Dudley, the eleven-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Dudley, who reside at Columbia Park near Esther, was run over by a wagon Monday morning and sustained injuries which caused his death at the company hospital at Bonne Terre on Tuesday night. The accident occurred near the Dudley boy's home where he, in the company with a younger brother and another boy, were taking a ride on a wagon driven by Andy J. Bell, a farmer residing 1 mile southwest of Farmington. Mr. Bell had started to the Lead Belt Monday morning to peddle some fruit and other garden stock. After making some sales in Columbia Park, he started to Esther. As he left the Park he noticed the boys hopping on and off the wagon, taking short rides. He paid but little attention to them and knew nothing of the accident until one of the boys screamed when the Dudley boy fell underneath the wagon and was run over. Mr. Bell immediately stopped his horse and went to the injured lad. At first his injury seemed to be only a slight one but when Mr. Bell found that the wheels had passed over the stomach and breast, he knew that the injury was serious, and hurriedly took him back to his home and Dr. Topping was summoned. Later Dr. Williams was also called. The boy's condition gradually grew worse and Tuesday afternoon he was removed to the hospital where an operation was performed as a final effort to save his life. The effort was futile and death soon resulted from the internal hemorrhage from the ruptured liver. The remains were brought to the Dudley home on Wednesday and the funeral was held yesterday. Services were conducted at the Baptist church by the pastor, Rev. E. F. Curle, after which the remains were interred in the Masonic cemetery at Farmington. The News joins in extending sympathy to the bereaved parents in their hour of sadness. NOTE: Online death certificate indicates that date of death was August 8, 1911.

TWO DWELLINGS AT DESLOGE ARE BURNED. Early last Monday morning fire broke out in the four room dwelling occupied by Dr. R. B. Lester at Desloge and destroyed the building and also a four-room dwelling owned and occupied by Dave Fleming, which was next to it. The first caught in the kitchen of the Lester home and is supposed to have originated either from an overheated cook stove or from the explosion of a lamp. Mrs. Lester was the only one in the building at the time and was aroused from sleep by the roof of the kitchen falling in. Practically all the household furniture was burned. Mr. Fleming managed to get all his furniture out before his dwelling was destroyed. The Lester building was owned by Dr. L. G. Williams, of Elvins. The loss on both the dwelling and furniture is partially covered by insurance. Note: The above article came to me as an undated newspaper clipping. However, on the reverse side of the clipping is a public notice which was signed and sealed by the Circuit Clerk on the 12th day of September, 1908, to be published in the Farmington News.

THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, November 7, 1952. 3 COUNTY RESIDENTS PERISH IN NURSING HOME FIRE FRIDAY. Eighteen aged persons perished in a fire that raged through the Cedar Grove Nursing home at Hillsboro last Friday evening, October 31, three of whom were St. Francois County residents: Mrs. Amanda Fields of Esther and Phillip Jarette and Mrs. Jane Phillips of Bonne Terre. Most of the dead were found on the third floor of the three-story concrete block main building, but a number were found on the first and second floors, which were reserved for invalids. The main building, which was a total loss, housed about 55 persons. About 30 of those rescued by nurses, firemen, and volunteers, were brought to St. Louis County Hospital and later removed to the Shamrock Rest Home, 3709 Manola Ave., Pine Lawn. Approximately 85 men and women resided at the home, which has been operated for six years by Mr. and Mrs. James Lewis. About 30 women residents were safely evacuated from a wing of the building that was left untouched by the flames. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were enroute to Hillsboro from St. Louis when the fire was discovered around 5:45 p.m. The alarm was turned in by a nurse who said she saw sparks and fire coming out of a ceiling on the first floor between the main building and a frame annex. Hillsboro firemen were joined by firemen and equipment from DeSoto, Festus, Crystal City and Goldman. Six engines pumped water on the blaze for more than two hours before it was brought under control. Firemen were hampered by 'safety screens" on the windows of the building, which they had difficulty in breaking out to get streams of water to the interior of the building. The Hillsboro water department stepped up its pumping to full capacity of 2400 gallons per hour while firemen were fighting the blaze. In addition to the fire fighting equipment, surrounding communities sent a number of inhalators and all available ambulances to the scene. The rest home, located on four acres of ground on Highway 21 in Hillsboro, about 35 miles southeast of St. Louis, had three stairways in addition to a fire escape from each floor. The main building, originally a residence, was built in 1914 but was modernized and two wings added in recent years. Lewis theorized that many of the residents who died became confused and perished by suffocation. Note: See obituary I posted this date for Mora Jetta Rhodes. She also died as a result of this fire.

The Lead Belt News, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, November 7, 1952. MRS. M. J. RHODES - Mrs. Mora Jetta Rhodes passed away in St. Louis County Hospital on Friday, October 31, 1952. She was a patient in the Cedar Grove Nursing Home at Hillsboro and was moved from that institution after it caught fire, to the St. Louis County Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. She was born in Marqund, Mo., on March 16, 1877, and at the time of death was 75 years 7 months 15 days of age. Her husband, Manuel Rhodes, preceded her in death. Surviving are six children: Mrs. Marie Fulbright of Bernie, Mo; Mrs. Lena Brighton of Clarkton, Mo.; Mrs. Mona Achter, Earl and Raymond Rhodes of Pevely, and Odie Rhodes of Esther; also two sisters, Mrs. Walter Franks of Wellington, Texas; Mrs. M. W. Mouser of Marquand; and two brothers, Cleve and Neil Hahn of Marquand, other relatives and many friends. Funeral services were held on Monday at the Pleasant Valley Church near Marquand, and interment was in the nearby church cemetery. Raymond Caldwell & Son Service.

THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, November 7, 1952. BISMARCK BOY WAS DROWNED WEDNESDAY. Billy Joe Chapman, aged 9 years, son of Mrs. Johnny Keay of Bismarck, was accidentally drowned in a cistern at the home of Mrs. Myrtle Mattingly of Elvins on Wednesday morning, November 5th. Mrs. Keay and the boy were visiting at the Mattingly home and about 10 o'clock he was missed and a search was made about the premises and a nearby wooded area. Failing to find him, the Elvins fire department was called and after searching for some time one of the firemen noticed that an abandoned cistern was uncovered, so they started to pump out the water. When the suction hose was stopped up, one of the men descended into the cistern and found the body, two hours having elapsed from the time of his disappearance until found. The body will lie in state at the Shipman & Sons Funeral Chapel in Bismarck until two o'clock on Saturday afternoon, November 8, when services will be held from the Assembly of God Church, conducted by Rev. Retta Miller, assisted by Rev. H. E. Jenkins. Interment will be in the Masonic Cemetery in Bismarck with Shipman & Sons in charge. Surviving are his mother, step-father, James Chapman, three brothers, Charles Edward, Bobby Gene and Gary Lane, and one sister, Nancy Gale. An inquest was conducted by Coroner Berl Miller at the Shipman & Sons Funeral Home at ten o'clock Tuesday morning. A verdict of accidental drowning was pronounced.

THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, Nov. 7, 1952. FOURTEEN PERSONS INJURED IN WRECK. Fourteen persons were involved in an accident last Saturday afternoon when a 1939 Ford sedan, driven by Rolley Gore, 18, of St. Louis, collided with a 1938 Pontiac sedan, driven by Arson Helms, 43, of Leadington, on High M near Frankclay. Passengers in the Gore auto were Paul Ames of Cantwell, Jerry and Betty House of Irondale. In the Helms car were Frank Davis, Gloria Davis, Brenda Finley, Elsie Helms, Paula Helms, Dora Helms, all of Frankclay; Dolores Sumpter and Darrell Sumpter of Leadington. All were injured and were treated at Bonne Terre Hospital. Paul Ames, suffering from a fracture of both jaws, was moved to Barnes Hospital, St. Louis.

THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, November 7, 1952. DESLOGE COUPLE WED FIFTY YEARS. Mr. and Mrs. Charles McNew celebrated their 50th or Golden Wedding Anniversary with open house at their home in Desloge on Sunday, October 19, when relatives and friends numbering about 75 called to extend best wishes. They received many lovely gifts. The table, laid with a beautiful hand-crocheted cloth, held a bouquet of yellow roses presented to the honored couple by Arvel Watts and Miss Golda Hahn of Flat River, also a large bouquet of yellow mums, a gift from Miss Eveline Williams and her mother. A quartet from the Church of Christ of Flat River and Farmington, composed of Charles Asheny of Bismarck, Arvel Watts, Mrs. Roy Caldwell and Miss Golda Hahn of Flat River, sang several selections. Ourt of town guests were Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Hall and daughter, Margaret Ann of St. Ann's, Mo., a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. McNew who was reared in their home; a nephew, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Talley and daughter, Donna Jeanne of East Detroit, Mich.; Mr. and Mrs. Sam Scott of St. Louis, and Mrs. Edna Talley of Irondale, a sister of Mrs. McNew.

The Lead Belt News, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, November 7, 1952. FRED L. GOVREAU DIES IN DESLOGE. Fred L. Govreau passed away at his home in Desloge on Wednesday, November 5, 1952, at 2:00 a.m. He was a retired carpenter and contractor. Born at River Aux Vases, Mo., on September 18, 1876, he was a son of the late Henry and Mary Dorac Govreau, and at the time of his passing was aged 76 years 1 month 17 days. On June 11, 1901, he was united in marriage to Mina Kellerman, who preceded him in death on February 9, 1941. He is survived by seven children: Jesse Govreau, Maywood, Calif.; Virgil Govreau, Selah, Wash.; Miss Bertha Govreau of the home; Vernon Govreau, Desloge; Mrs. (Meda) Bernell Hobaugh, Berkley, Mo., and Mrs. (Bessie) Raymond Roth, Ste. Genevieve. Also left to mourn his passing are a half-brother, Lawrence Williams, address unknown; two sisters, Mrs. T. H. Counts of Esther and Mrs. Flora Sikes of Ste. Genevieve, fifteen grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, other relatives and a wide circle of friends. Mr. Govreau is in state in the Boyer Funeral Home in Desloge and funeral services will be held at nine o'clock on Saturday morning, November 8, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Desloge, conducted by the Rev. Fr. Edmund Clohessy. Interment will be in the Catholic Cemetery at St. Francois.

THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, February 13, 1920. Alberta Lee, the five-months-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Harris died Saturday night. The little one was taken ill Friday, presumably with influenza, having lived only a few hours. The little body was laid to rest in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Mo. Friday, Feb. 13, 1920. ELVINS NEWS. Mrs. George Downard died at her home here Thursday, February 5 a 8:45 o'clock. She was 42 years old. She was ill for a couple of weeks, first having contracted influenza, which later developed into pneumonia and heart trouble. The funeral service was held at the home Saturday afternoon by Rev. Cal T. Lawson of the Baptist church. Interment was made in the Elvins cemetery. Mrs. Downard is survived by her husband and three children, Mrs. Pearl Reece of Flat River; Gladys, aged 14 and Beatrice, aged 10.

THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, February 13, 1920. YOUNG MOTHER SUCCUMBS TO INFLUENZA THURSDAY. The remains of Mrs. Dale Smith who had lived at Independence, Kansas, were brought here Monday to the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Brown. She had died Thursday, February 5 of pneumonia, following influenza. She was 21 years old. Mrs. Smith was born and reared in Flat River and, as Roberta Brown, is affectionately remembered by many people here. She was a member of the Flat River Church of Christ and had a lovely Christian character. She was married to Dale Smith a little less than two years ago. She left a day-old baby. At the time of her death her husband was so seriously ill with influenza that his life was despaired of. We are told that he is recovering, but he was unable to accompany the remains of his wife here. The funeral services were held at the Brown home in Taylortown Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock by Rev. Del Longgrear. Mr. and Mrs. S. Ramsey sang. Interment was made at the K. of P. cemetery at St. Francois. Besides her husband and baby, Mrs. Smith leaves her parents, six sisters, Mrs. Motished of Independence, Kansas; Mrs. Pigg of Granite City; Mrs. Gover Watson and Misses Neoma, Clara and Myra Brown of Flat River; four brothers, Ben, Clyde, Eugene and Glenwood, all of Flat River.

THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, February 13, 1920. Francis, the four-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Anderson, died Sunday night at the Anderson home in East Flat River. The little fellow had been ill about a week with influenza. The father and an older brother are still quite ill with this disease. Little Francis was buried Tuesday in the New Masonic Cemetery.

THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, February 13, 1920. TAYLORTOWN RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF A PROTRACTED CHARIVARI. The residents in the vicinity of Browne's store in Taylortown have been treated to a protracted charivari this week. Mrs. J. F. Brandley and Lou Hastings, upon a mutual desire to quit the state of single blessedness, were united in marriage Sunday and took up their residency in this neighborhood. A party of their friends gathered Sunday night to give them the time-honored serenade, which usually falls to the lot of those who have experienced a previous matrimonial venture. The assembled company pulled off the charivari in the good old-fashioned way to the tune of the beating of pans and the use of firearms of different kinds, the ringing of cow bells and any other noise-producing device that could be thought of. The newlyweds failed to "come across" so the performance was repeated for several nights following. We have been informed that all the tinware in Taylortown has been beaten into unrecognizable shapes and the nerves of all the women are on edge, but the end is not yet.

Joseph's death certificate says LaBrott Alice K : ) GO SOONERS !!!! --- On Tue, 6/30/09, B. Warner <bkwofc@i1.net> wrote: From: B. Warner <bkwofc@i1.net> Subject: [MOSTFRAN] Obituary: Mary Ann LaBrot To: mostfran@rootsweb.com Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2009, 5:57 PM THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois County, Missouri. Friday, February 6, 1920. DIES OF PARALYSIS. Mrs. Mary Ann LaBrot died Monday morning, February 2, at 7 o'clock aged almost 85 years.  She died at the home of her step-son, David LaBrot.  She had not been very well for some time but the immediate cause of her death was paralysis.  Her son, Joseph LaBrott, was accidently killed about three weeks ago when a quantity of ice fell on him while he was working at the bottom of the No. 1 shaft of the St. Joseph Lead Company.  It is said that she did not recover from the shock of his death. Mrs. LaBrot had been a Christian for more than 65 years, having professed conversion in her girlhood and having united with the Baptist church near Mine La Motte. Her husband and two sons preceded her in death.  Since the death of her husband she has made her home with her children.  For the greater part of the time for the past two years, she has lived with her daughter, Mrs. Thomas Isbell at Elvins. The funeral services were held at the home of David LaBrott Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock by Rev. Del Longgrear of the Methodist church.  The remains were interred at Parkview Cemetery. She leaves to mourn her loss two daughters, Mrs. Thomas Isbell of Elvins and Mrs. Hattie Tesreau of Festus; two sons, James of Mine La Motte and Ben who lives near Cross Roads east of Libertyville. NOTE: I typed the above obit exactly as it was published. I do not know which spelling is correct - LaBrot or LaBrott.           ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MOSTFRAN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, February 13, 1920. R. BENTON ABANDONS SICK WIFE AND CHILDREN. If the story told this week by Mrs. Richard Benton is entirely true, her husband ought to be kicked for leaving his family in the plight in which they were found by neighbors. Benton and his family have been living in the neighborhood back of the Miners Lumber Company yards here. The wife and children became ill a few days ago with influenza. There was only four dollars in money in the house and Benton is alleged to have taken this and went to Oran, leaving the wife and children ill and without money or food. The youngest child, Ruth, aged 16 months, died Saturday. The sad case had been brtought to the attention of neighbors who gave aid. The Lead Belt Womans' Club also provided food and other necessities. The little one was buried Sunday afternoon. It is alleged that Benton had not only been shiftless, refusing to support his family, but has been actually brutal in his treatment of them. The wife tells that he has repeatedly choked and beaten both herself and the little children. She has made a brave effort to support both the children and herself having secured the little furniture they have. She tells of having at different times secured employment for her husband and trying to induce him to work. He would work a few days and quit. Mrs. Benton is a hard-working deserving woman and says she is confident she can make a comfortable living for herself and remaining child if her husband will leave them alone.

THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, February 6, 1920. NEWS FROM DESLOGE. The remains of Miss Etta Turley who had formerly lived in Frankclay but who had recently been working in St. Louis was brought here Saturday and were taken from here to the home of her parents in Frankclay. She was 17 years old and had died of pneumonia. The funeral service was held at the home Sunday morning at 11 o'clock by Rev. A. E. Upchurch of Leadwood, after which the remains were interred in the Bonne Terre cemetery.

THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, February 6, 1920. Alex Wright, aged 38 years, died Monday, February 2, of a complication of diseases. He is survived by his wife and two little daughters, three brothers and five sisters, Mrs. Tom McCutcheon, Mrs. James Adams, Mrs. Roy Cabler, Mrs. Joe Raymo, Silas, John and Abe of Flat River. The funeral service was conducted Wednesday. Interment was made at Doe Run.

THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, February 6, 1920. ELVINS NEWS. Jewell, the year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Polk who live a Davis Crossing, died Wednesday of last week, after an illness of a few days duration. Rev. Cal T. Lawson pastor of the Baptist church, went out Thursday and conducted the funeral at the home, after which the remains were taken to a cemetery near Irondale for interment.

THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, February 6, 1920. ELVINS NEWS. The remains of George Schuler, who was electrocuted Thursday night of last week while at work on an electric shovel at No. 9 St. Joseph Lead Company Shaft, were taken to Festus Sunday for interment. The Schuler family lived in Festus previous to their coming to Elvins. Most of their relatives still live there. They had lived in Elvins for a good many years. ADDITIONAL ITEM: Henry Schuler of St. Louis was called here Thursday on account of the sudden death of his brother, George.

THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, February 6, 1920. ELVINS NEWS. Mrs. Ethel Mary Wilkerson, the wife of Elmer Wilkerson, died Saturday, January 31, at her home here. Had she lived until February 5th she would have been 31 years old. An infant, born to her shortly before her death, also died and was buried in the same casket with its mother. Funeral services were held at the home on Mill Street Monday morning at 9:30 o'clock by Rev. Cal T. Lawson, after which the remains were removed to Doe Run for interment. Mrs. Wilkerson professed conversion several years ago but had never united with the church. Her husband and six children, Rondia, Clifton, Elvena, Eula, Earl and Clio, as well as other relatives and a host of friend, are left to mourn her loss. A number of beautiful floral offerings had been given. A large number of relatives and friends accompanied the remains to Doe Run.