MOHOWARD-L Archives

From: "Mike & Kathy Bowlin" <>
Subject: [MOHOWARD-L] Higbee News, 25 Aug 1911
Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2001 09:04:20 -0500

25 Aug 1911--WANTS CUSTODY OF CHILD--Last fall Wm. Wheeler of near Higbee
was sued for divorce by his wife, Lena Wheeler. The case was tried in the circuit court in
this city and created no little interest. Mrs. Wheeler lost the suit, Judge Waller deciding
she had no grounds for divorce.
Following this Mr. Wheeler was sued for a dental bill by a Higbee doctor.
Wheeler claimed that the work was done for his wife after he had placed a notice in the
papers notifying the merchants that he would not be responsible for her debts, as she had
left his home. This case is at the present time under advisement.
And now comes the third chapter to the story. A child was born to Mrs. Wheeler
last January, after she and her husband were separated. He claims that he was not
allowed to see the infant and on the 20th of January it disappeared.
Since that time Mr. Wheeler has been making a quiet search for the baby, and two
weeks ago he learned that it had been taken to St. Louis and placed in the Bethseda
Foundling home. A visit to the home proved that the child had been legally adopted by a
German family in St. Louis and is at present living with them. Mr. Wheeler claims the
child is his and he intends making a fight for possession of it. With this end in view he
today had three witnesses served with summons to appear in Judge Gladney's court and
make affidavit concerning their knowledge of the parentage of the child. Two of the
witnesses failed to put in their appearance, but the third, Miss Sallie Adams, was on hand
and in answer to questions gave her testimony.
Investigations at the Foundling Home proved that the child had been placed in
that institution on the 20th day of January, just 20 days after its birth. Miss Adams is the
woman who placed it in the home, according to records kept there, although today she
testified to having been only a witness at the time the infant child was left at the St. Louis
institution. The authorities there state the child was left at the home by Miss Adams and
had been legally adopted by the German family mentioned, and that it can not be turned
over to Mr. Wheeler or any one else until its parentage is proved.
When asked if she knew that Mr. Wheeler was the father of the child Miss Adams
replied that she did. She said she was merely acting for the mother. When asked why the
child was placed in the institution under the name of Lucy Parker instead of Lucy
Wheeler she said that the mother had said she would not let it bear that name, and sooner
than have Mr. Wheeler get possession of it should kill the child.
Attorneys Whitecotton & Wight represent Mr. Wheeler--Moberly Monitor, Aug
21.

25 Aug 1911--WIFE ABANDONMENT CHARGED--Upon complaint of Mrs. Clint
Fowler, filed with Prosecuting Attorney Murrell, Clint Fowler, of near Higbee was
arrested yesterday afternoon upon the charge of wife abandonment.
When taken before Justice A. C. Gladney, young Fowler waived formal
arraignment, entered a plea of not guilty and was released upon giving a $500 bond to
appear for trial next Tuesday.
According to the wife's story she and Clint Fowler were married a little over a
year ago and settled on a farm near Higbee. They lived happily together until she was
taken sick something over two months ago. About two weeks ago he brought her to her
parents' home in this city, where she remained until last Friday at which time she went to
the home of her sister, Mrs. John Melton, of Concanon street. He never saw her after she
went to the Melton home, although he told her when she started for her sister's that he
would be with her right away. He didn't come, and telephone inquiries brought forth
evasive replies and after persistent questioning she was informed that her husband had
decided not to live with her any longer. She was advised also to go out to the farm and
get her part of the furniture. This information, she says, came as a great blow to her, but
in order to learn just what had been transpiring at her home since she left, she went out to
the farm. She says she learned that her husband, after taking her to Moberly, had gone
back to the farm and sold off all stock and personal effects, even to a barrel of sugar that
had been placed in the house just before she left. She says also that he had taken off all
of the good furniture and left for her share a lot of practically worthless rubbish.
She says what she found there convinced her that she had no recourse except to
apply to the law for redress, which she did by laying the matter before Prosecuting
Attorney Murrell, which resulted in her husband's arrest yesterday afternoon--Moberly
Democrat, Aug 18th.

25 Aug 1911--A FATAL ACCIDENT--May Burton Killed and Two Companions Injured
by Alton Passenger at Steinmetz--This town and community was shocked intensely
Friday morning when the news came of the terrible railroad accident at the Steinmetz
crossing, five miles west of Armstrong, in which May W. Burton, son of L. T. Burton, a
prominent dry goods merchant of this city, was so badly injured that he died in a few
hours; Ed. Schaefer, son of a farmer of near Glasgow, was badly injured, and Leon
Markland, son of County School Commissioner Levi Markland, was also hurt.
Ed Schaefer worked for L. F. Fife, west of town, and Thursday morning he drove
a horse and buggy belonging to Mr. Fife to the Howard county fair at Fayette. May
Burton and Leon Markland went to the fair about noon in an auto. All three of the boys
remained over at Fayette to take in the show at the Airdome, and it was a late hour when
they left Fayette. We have not been able to learn just what time. Any way, Ed Schaefer
made arrangements to bring Burton and Markland home with him in his buggy. It being
late in the night, and the boys tired, they went to sleep while on the way home in the
buggy, and instead of taking the Armstrong road at the Walcott place, the horse turned
into the Steinmetz road, the nearest way to the Fife home. The Herald is informed that
the boys were passed by two colored men just before they reached the Steinmetz
crossing, and they say the boys were sound asleep and the horse was going in a very slow
walk.
There is a bad crossing--what is termed a blind crossing--at Steinmetz, where the
accident occurred.
The switch there also runs beyond this crossing, making two tracks. A long
freight train went "dead" at Steinmetz at 9:45 Thursday night, on account of the train
crew having been on the road 16 hours. Another crew was sent over from Slater to take
out the train which was headed west; but owing to so many passenger trains being due
after the arrival of the train crew, the crew did not get orders to get out with the train
until 3 o'clock and it was to follow passenger train No. 23 west. That is the early
morning train that is due here at 3 o'clock. This train was late Friday morning, and it
reached Steinmetz about 3:40 a.m.
The freight train that had been on the siding all night closed up the gap at the
crossing to follow out train No. 23, and it was just at this time that the horse walked
slowly across the main track and stopped with his head right up to the freight train,
leaving the buggy in which was seated the three boys asleep squarely across the track,
and in less time than it takes to tell it, No 23, west bound, whistled for the crossing and
struck the buggy and horse. The horse was killed instantly and the buggy smashed into
splinters. The train was stopped and the injured boys picked up and taken on the train to
Glasgow. Mr. Morgan, the agent at Steinmetz, knew Leon Markland but did not
recognize the other two boys. Markland was up on his feet walking around, but was so
dazed and shocked that he could not tell the train crew his name, or the names of his
companions, or how they happened to be on the crossing. We are informed that Burton
regained consciousness before the train reached Glasgow, and gave the train crew his
own name and that of the other boys and told them where they were from.
Dr. Temple, of Glasgow, examined Burton's injuries upon arrival there and told
him there was no possible show for him, whereupon Burton asked that Dr. Hume be sent
for, and also asked the doctor to give him something that he might die easy.
R. M. Taylor took Dr. Hume, L. W. Hume, Levi Markland and L. T. Burton to
Glasgow in his auto, reaching there about 5 o'clock. By this time young Burton had
lapsed into unconsciousness, and he died at 6:30. Roper Evans took Mrs. Burton over in
his auto, but the unfortunate son was dead before his mother saw him.
Young Burton's injuries were the worst of the three. We are told that a hole was
cut at the base of the skull in which three fingers could be inserted, both shoulder blades
broken, breast bone crushed, scars on the head, hip dislocated, and in fact badly bruised
all over the body, and the physicians are puzzled to understand how it was possible for
him to live nearly three hours in the condition that he was.
Young Schaefer was also badly injured, having the bone of his left arm between
the shoulder and elbow badly crushed, had an ugly scalp wound, and was hurt internally.
It was thought at first that there was but little chance for him to recover, and it was
several hours before he regained consciousness. He rested well Friday night.
Leon Markland, while badly shocked, was the most fortunate of the three victims
of the terrible accident. He had a scalp wound, a cut on the shoulder, and was also hurt
in the back, but none of his injuries were considered serious by the physicians who
examined him. He was brought to his home in this city from Glasgow in an auto Friday
morning.
The crew of the freight train, we are told, said they saw the horse walk onto the
railroad track but did not have time to prevent the accident before the fast passenger
train dashed by.
The Steinmetz crossing is sure a dangerous one at the best, and the Alton should
install an electric bell there at once for their own protection of the public.
Leon Markland seems to have a charmed life. Several years ago, when a small
boy, he was thinning corn with a number of other boys near New Franklin, when a
thunder storm came up. The boys took refuge under a tree, and the tree was struck by
lighting. One of Markland's companions was killed, and he was severely shocked.
Again in this accident a companion of Markland is killed, and he escapes with slight
injuries.
The remains of young Burton were prepared for burial in Glasgow and brought
here on the noon train Friday.
May W. Burton was born at Higbee, Mo, August 4, 1888, and was 23 years and 14
days old at the time of his death. He professed religion and united with the Christian
church at Huntsville. He removed here with his parents from Huntsville, and some time
ago, with his parents, was received by letter as a member of the Armstrong Christian
church. The deceased was very popular with the young people and had many warm
personal friends. The funeral services were conducted from the Christian church in this
city Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock by Elder J. R. Powell, of Huntsville, Mo. Burial at
Roanoke cemetery---Armstrong Herald.

25 Aug 1911--One day last week, presumably Thursday or Friday, while nearly
everybody was at the fair, some scoundrel or scoundrels dynamited the long hole of water
in Bonnefemme creek opposite Chas. Ridgeway's and as a result thousands of dead fish
from the size of minnows to ten or twelve pounds, are floating on the surface of the water
there. Mr. Ridgway took deputy Game Warden C. B. Eaton to the scene and to say that
he was worthy at the sight he beheld is putting it mildly, and woe unto the scoundrel who
committed the deed. One day last year while the fair was in progress here some
scoundrel dynamited the big fish pond on David Crews' farm near Steinmetz and killed
thousands of fine crappy and bass. A little dynamite turned loose in the hip pocket of
such scoundrels will send them nearer heaven than they'll ever get otherwise and they
should be thus "elevated."--Fayette Leader.

25 Aug 1911--DOROTHY MAY DUNCAN DEAD--Dorothy May Duncan died in the
hospital at Moberly, at 6:20 p.m. Tuesday August 22, 1911, after an operation performed
that morning for tubercular effection of the glands of the neck, from which she suffered
for more than 2 years in a patient manner. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John
Duncan, who live 6 miles east of Higbee, and was born at Collinsville Ill, Feb 8, 1904.
Services were held on Thursday at the Botts cemetery, by Rev. F. H. James, where
interment was made in presence of a large number of relatives and friends.

25 Aug 1911--WHEELER-ASBURY--Mrs. Jas. L. Wheeler and Miss Beatrice Asbury,
both of near Higbee, were united in marriage at the bride's home, three miles east of
Higbee, on Wednesday evening, August 23, 1911, at 8:30 o'clock, Eld. E. Y. Keiter
officiating. The wedding was a quiet affair, only the immediate family being present.
Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler are popular young people and start in life with the best wishes of a
host of friends.

25 Aug 1911--S. E. Robb yesterday sold his farm of 118 acres near Possum College,
Howard county, to Ted Edwards. We did not learn the price paid. Mr. Robb will begin
at once the erection of a residence on the 80 acres of the W. H. Burton farm just
southeast of town which he purchased of Mr. Burton last spring.

25 Aug 1911--We learn that May W. Burton, who was killed at Steinmetz last Friday
morning, was to have been married soon to one of Armstrong's popular young ladies and
that his wedding suit arrived the morning of the accident.

25 Aug 1911--Born, on the 24th, to Bouey Comstock and wife a son.

25 Aug 1911--Afton Fainter and Miss Zarinda Hines, both of Renick, were married here
Sunday by Rev. E. Y. Keiter at his residence.

25 Aug 1911--Myrtle, the 3-year-old daughter of Sam Robb and wife of near Sharon
church, died Friday of last week. Interment at Sharon after funeral services by Rev. I. M.
Turnage.

25 Aug 1911--From Miss Lillian Bradley, who returned last week from a visit with
relatives at Pueblo and Colorado Springs, we learn that S. Lessley's family, who removed
to Los Angeles following Mr. Lessley's death something over a year ago, are again living
in Colorado Springs.

25 Aug 1911--A letter to the NEWS announces the birth of a son on the 16th to Geo.
Carter and wife of Taylorville, Ill.

25 Aug 1911--Mrs. William Mayo, aged 75 years, died at her home in Huntsville on the
20th, of paralysis. She is survived by her husband, who is in his 85th year, and two sons
and three daughters.

(This will end my posting for the year 1911. Sept 1911 through May of 1920 were posted earlier, and they should be in the archives
of both the Randolph and Howard county, email sites for searching. The next posting, hopefully tomorrow, will begin with 4 June
1920, and should continue through the year 1953.)

Copyright notice: All transcriptions in this email are copyrighted by their creator. They
many not be reproduced on another site or on any printed or recorded media, CD, etc.
without specific written permission from Kathy Bowlin. Although public information is
not in and of itself copyrightable, the format in which it is presented, transcriptions, notes
& comments, etc. is. It is however, quite permissible to print or save the files to a
personal computer for personal use only. Permission is granted to public libraries, and
genealogical and historical societies to print and bind for the use of their patrons.

Kathy Bowlin
506 W. Ohio
Butler, MO 64730
Additions, corrections, comments welcome.

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• [MOHOWARD-L] Higbee News, 25 Aug 1911 by "Mike & Kathy Bowlin" <>