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From: "Mike & Kathy Bowlin" <>
Subject: [MOHOWARD-L] Higbee News, 31 Dec 1920
Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2001 00:31:53 -0500


Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--Born, on the 23rd, to Mr. and Mrs. Pete Gruber, a
son.

Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--Born, on the 24th, to Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Lilly of
Chicago, a daughter.

Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--Gov. Gardner, upon the recommendation of the
Board of Pardons, granted six holiday paroles this year, among them being John E.
Collins, who was sent up from Kansas City for 25 years for second degree murder and
who had served almost five years. On the night of November 15, when three desperate
murderers, in an attempt to escape, overpowered the guard on the third floor and made
their way to the lower floor where they shot W. I. Williams, Collins came to the latter's
assistance, and although unarmed, helped capture the desperate men.

Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--T. W. Woods and two sons, Frank and Donald, spent
Christmas in Moberly with the children's grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Hopson.

Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--JAMES CHILDERS DEAD--James R. Childers, one
of Moberly's best known citizens, died at his home in that place Wednesday night of last
week, after an illness of several weeks.
He was 60 years of age and is survived by his widow and four daughters. For the
past four years he had been constable of Sugar Creek township and deputy sheriff. He
was a candidate for sheriff in the August primary.

Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--WHEN I WAS A BOY--B. F. Blanton, the veteran
editor of the Paris Appeal, who for the past year or more has been writing some intensely
interesting articles for his paper under the heading, "When I Was a Boy," (60 or 70 years
ago), had the following article in last week's issue:
When I was a boy about everything was different from what it is now and in
nothing more than in the celebration of Christmas day and the week following it. You
must remember while reading this that I am writing of Christmas as it was in the small
towns of the country of long ago--and they were all small towns in Central Missouri
when I was a green, country boy. To digress a little here I must say that the average
country boy of 12 or 14 years is not half so green and gawky and knows twice as much
about current affairs as did a boy of 20 when I was one of them. But to go back to the
Christmas as it was in those days when people were all honest, generous and ready to
held a neighbor. There was scarcely any Christmas spirit manifested in the country.
Farmers would just work on that day just as they did on Monday. There was always
plenty of Christmas cheer on hand in the shape of liquor, cider game and cake that was
cake and none of your wind-pudding angel food cake that is so popular now. But those
good old-fashioned pound cakes were rich with butter and sugar and fit for an angel.
Making the old-fashioned pound cake seems to be a lost art and I am sorry for I think I
could die easy if I could just eat one more of those like mother used to make. The young
people would have parties and it would often become the "awful" duty for a bashful boy
to kiss a bashful girl. They would sing and dance Weavly Wheat and had more
enjoyment in that way than young people get now in the real vulgar "shimmy" dance
accompanied by a fifty dollar orchestra. Old Santa Claus never heard of Central
Missouri, especially in the country, but as we had never heard of him and his reindeer
and his great pack of toys, we did not miss his visit. But we had plenty of good things to
eat on Christmas day, much more than the average family in the cities will have to eat on
Christmas day of this year of grace. We had turkey and dressing, quail and occasionally
venison, and lots of rich cake and custard. Santa Claus was not the only thing that we
had never heard of and that had never visited us country Jakes as some of the smart
Aleck's in the small towns called us. Cranberries and ice cream had not made their
appearance in the country but as ignorance is bliss I am safe in saying that young and old,
bond and free, were better contented and far happier than are the people of today. And
that is not all. I honestly believe that people were more religious then than they are now
under the preaching of a lot of machine made preachers of the present day.
The first Christmas tree that I ever saw was set up in Taylor's shop in Fayette,
Mo., in 1853 or 1854. It was small, only about four feet high, but was laden with many
cheap toys for the Taylor children. It was trimmed with colored paper or calico. I never
knew which, with a number of star candles in among the presents. It drew like a mustard
plaster and was visited by a great many people, both young and old, as it was perhaps the
first Christmas tree ever seen in Fayette. But I know now that it was cheap and common
compared to the beautiful Christmas trees of the present day. Yes, we were all poor and
happy, when I was a boy.

Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--FRAY-MARSHALL--Saturday afternoon at 5:00
o'clock the marriage of Miss Maude Marshall to Estill Fray was solemnized at the home
of the officiating minister, Dr. C. H. Boving.
The accompanying friends Dennis Graves and Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Christian.
The bride is the daughter of Wiley Marshall and wife living three miles south of
Moberly. She is a graduate of the Moberly high school and has scores of friends among
her former school mates here.
The fine young groom is from our neighboring town of Yates. He and his bride
left on No. 9 on a bridal visit and on their return will be at home to friends in
Yates.--Moberly Democrat.

Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--John J. Murdy was here from Slater Saturday to take
Christmas dinner with Dr. and Mrs. C. F. Burkhalter, with whom he made his home for
several years, it being the first dinner of the kind he had taken with them in five years, or
since before he left as a soldier for Panama.

Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--While out hunting Monday, the 17-year-old son of
Norton Combs of Harrisburg accidentally shot himself in the left arm, the wound being
such that amputation was necessary.

Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--The following from here left for St. Louis last night
to attend the funeral of Mrs. G. L. Williams, which will be held today at 2:30; Mr. and
Mrs. Medley Burton, H. W., Tole and J. W. Burton and Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Walton. Mr.
and Mrs. C. C. Hone and Thos. Burton attended from Moberly.

Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--It was our intention to issue no paper next week, but
to take a few days' needed rest, but a legal advertisement having come in prevents the
NEWS missing fire one week. But we have decided to take the week off any way and
shall go to Iowa for a visit and shall try to forget for a few days the thousand and one
vexations and worries incident to the newspaper game, to say nothing of the hard work.
We will leave all cares and responsibilities with W. D. Welch and Raymond Shafer, our
linotype operator, so if the next issue is better than usual, which we do not doubt in the
least will be the case, our readers may know what to attribute it. So goodbye for a week,
and may every day of the New Year bring to each of you the rest and good times we hope
to enjoy.

Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--MRS. G. L. WILLIAMS DEAD--The many
relatives, friends and acquaintances of Mrs. G. L. Williams of St. Louis were shocked
beyond measure when word came Wednesday telling of her death in a hospital at 11 a.m.,
that day. Her relatives, however, were partially prepared for the shock, J. B. Tymony, her
brother-in-law, who had come to Moberly for a visit with his daughter, Mrs. C. C. Hon,
telephoning Medley Burton on his arrival that she had been taken to a hospital the first of
the week, and that it was not believed possible for her to recover. Her death was feared
in the course of a few months, at best, but no one believed she would be called so soon.
No particulars are known, but it is quite certain that her death was sudden and
altogether unexpected. On her return home from Oklahoma, where she was called four
months ago by the death of her sister, Mrs. W. W. Settle, her health began to fail, her
malady developing into anemia, and despite all that medical science could do, and
unceasing vigilance on the part of her devoted husband and nurses, she was called away.
Funeral services will be held today at 2:30 in the Union Avenue Christian church
of which she was a member and one of its most indefatigable workers, and interment
made in St. Louis.
Annie Wisdom Burton was the youngest child of the late Joseph W. and Sallie
Burton, and was born on the old home place which adjoins town on the southwest, on
February 15, 1873, and was therefore in her 48th year. She was united in marriage to
George L. Williams on December 22, 1891, and their companionship of 29 years was one
of unalloyed bliss, growing more devoted to each other, if possible, as the years rolled on,
the only cloud to mar their lives being the death of their only child, Hazel the idol of their
hearts, at the age of 11 years.
In the hope of finding some solace in church work, and to better prepare herself to
meet her child in the home beyond the skies, Mrs. Williams, always a willing and
anxious church worker, redoubled her efforts along this line and soon was looked upon a
one of her church's most tireless workers, and was generally recognized as one of its
most prominent members, as was Mr. Williams, each being prominently identified with
the Union avenue church since their removal to St. Louis some twenty years ago.
Before her marriage, Mrs. Williams, by common consent, was considered the
town's most beautiful young lady, but she did not allow her knowledge of the general
opinion to make her vain or spoil her generous and lovable disposition, and it is a source
of gratification to her legion of friends that she retained the same disposition and her
beauty to the end.
Besides her husband, she is survived by four brothers' Toleman, H. W., Medley
and Richard Burton, four half brothers, May W., Thomas, Ben and Speed, and one sister,
Mrs. J. M. Crew.
The NEWS joins their legion of friends in old Higbee in extending deepest and
warmest sympathy.

Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--THOS. D. JENKINS DEAD--Thos. D. Jenkins
Dead--Thos. D. Jenkins, who moved to Moberly from this place some few months ago,
died at his home in that city at 2 o'clock Wednesday morning, December 29, from
pneumonia, from which he had been suffering about a week. He is survived by his
widow, four sons--David and Thomas, of this place, John and Raymond, of Moberly
--and one daughter, Mrs. Emmett Dennis of this place. He also leaves one brother, Evan
Jenkins, of Spadra, Ark., and two sisters, Mrs. David Evans and Mrs. Thos. Towles, of
this place.
Mr. Jenkins was about 60 years old and was born in Wales and came to this
country when quite a young man, since which time, with the exception of some ten years
in Arkansas, he had lived most of the time in Higbee.
He following mining until some three or four years ago when he had his right leg
badly crushed by a fall of rock, and for over a year it was thought amputation would be
necessary in spite of all that could be done, but the injury finally healed, but left him in a
greatly weakened condition, which evidently lent material aid to the malady that resulted
in his death.
Funeral services will be held at the home, 1126 Emerson street, today at 2:30 and
interment made in Oakland cemetery.
Mr. Jenkins was a member of the knights of Pythias, having joined the order in
Oklahoma many years ago, and where he still maintained his membership.
Mr. Jenkins was a quiet and unassuming man and a mighty good citizen and his
death is a matter of general regret.
The NEWS joins other old friends and acquaintances in deepest sympathy to the
bereaved family.

Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--Christmas eve was the occasion of many pleasant
gatherings, one of the most pleasant of which was a 6 o'clock dinner at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. Chas. Deering in celebration of their 22nd wedding anniversary and also of the
wedding of their son, Justus, who was married that day to Miss Martha Robb. Needless
to say, the occasion was a very happy one, and that the dinner, prepared by Mrs.
Deering's skillful hands all that could be desired. Those present: Mr. and Mrs. S. E.
Dougherty, Mr. and Mrs. May W. Spurling and son, Joe, Dan Wilkingson, Earl Roberts
and George Longdon.

Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--DEERING-ROBB--Mr. Justus Deering and Miss
Martha Robb, two of our popular young people, went to Moberly-December 25, where
they were married at the home of the officiating minister, the Rev. W. T. Henson.
The bride is the pretty and winsome daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Robb, who by
her sunny disposition and always pleasing smile, has made herself a general favorite.
The groom is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Deering and is a young man of
the highest moral character and probity, and worthy of the fair prize he has won.
The NEWS joins other friends in happy felicitations.

Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--SHARP-WARE--Mr. Carl Sharp and Miss Bertha
Ware, two of Higbee's popular young people, were united in marriage on Saturday,
December 25, 1920, at the home of the officiating minister, Elder Frank Lofty of
Moberly.
The bride is the pretty and accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Ware of
southwest of town, and possesses all those womanly virtues calculated to make her home
life ideal.
The lucky groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Luke Sharp, and the town never
boasted a more exemplary or worthy young man.
The NEWS joins other friends in congratulations and best wishes.

Friday 31 Dec 1920, Vol 34, No 37--STRUCK BY KATY PASSENGER TRAIN--J. B.
Howell, aged about 65 years, who has made his home near Armstrong for several years,
but who now resides near Burton, spent Monday in Higbee, and early Tuesday morning
started on foot down the railroad track for home, when he was struck by the northbound
train a few miles north of Burton. That he was not killed instantly is almost a miracle as
several passengers on the train said he was knocked fifty feet or more. He was picked up
and put on the train, the idea being to take him to a hospital at Moberly, but he insisted
on getting off here, and as he seemed to have nothing the matter with him but a broken
right arm, he was allowed to stop, when he was brought down town and the arm set by
Dr. T. H. Dinwiddie, the company surgeon. When asked if he didn't hear the ringing of
the bell and the sound of the whistle he said that he did, and that if the engineer had only
slowed down he would have gotten off all right.
From his actions here Monday many were of the opinion that he was slightly off
mentally.

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 St.
Butler, MO 64730
Additions, corrections, comments welcome.



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