Extracts from the Elsberry Democrat, Sept. 1903 to Jan. 1904
Elsberry Democrat (Elsberry, Lincoln County, MO), Jan. 8th, 1904.

Extracts from The Elsberry Democrat, Missouri.

Friday, Jan 8th, 1904.

New Years Reception.

For seven days the Christmas Bells had rung out their delight, and nothing but the sigh of the echo lingered when there was a rhyming and a chiming, a swinging and a ringing of the bells, heralding the New Year, foretelling joy and merriment. How satisfying it is to feel when our old pleasures die, some new one still is nigh. The old year closed with its many parties during the holidays and the New Year was welcomed by a large reception given by Misses DAWSON, WIGGINTON and MARTIN, Jan 1st, ? .30pm at the home of the Misses MARTIN, in compliment to Miss FOSTER of Dallas, Texas.

This beautiful home still wore the Christmas livery, and was decorated in green and holly. In the parlor stood the receiving party. Misses Ruby MARTIN, Lilian DAWSON, Mabel FOSTER, Birdie MARTIN, Ida WIGGINTON and Marie NAXARA.

Miss Ruby MARTIN wore a stylish gown of new plaid silk trimmed in lace. Misses Lilian DAWSON and Mabel FOSTER two pretty blonds, wore white percale lawns that were dreams of tucks and insertions. Miss Ida WIGGINTON's gown was a becoming voile over pink silk richly trimmed in lace. Miss NAXARA wore white chiffon over taffeta silk elaborately trimmed in rose applique. Miss Birdie MARTIN looked lovely in a handsome white cloth.

In the library, a most inviting nook was around the punch bowl in the bay window, where two young girls, Misses Lizzie DAWSON and Malinda WIGGINTON served refreshing punch. Their faces were so bright and sweet, their way so winning and graceful, they looked like little fairies.

Delicious refreshments were served in the dining room by Misses MARTIN. The guests stood around a table artistically decorated in red and white roses, with long streamers of red ribbon entwining the chandelier, and extending to the corners of the table and there tied in pretty bows. The color scheme, red, white and green was carried out in the brick cream and cakes.

After all the guests had been presented, the receiving line broke ranks and joined the guests in tripping the light fantastic.

During the evening, all the young ladies took advantage of the leap year and made a number of proposals. This proposal contest became quite spirited, and the young men were much astonished at the lack of embarrassment and the nonchalant air of the girls, but nevertheless enjoyed their new departure in lovemaking. At the close of the contest a vote was taken and Miss NAXARA was awarded the prize.

Immediately after the prize was presented, Messrs CANNON, BLACK, CULBERTSON and McDONALD lifted their glasses and gave toast to the Louisiana girl.

Miss NAXARA, in brilliant oratory that would have done credit to an older man. Then from other gallant beaux there came spontaneous toasts, complimentary remarks to the bewitching belles.

Mr Conley CULBERTSON and Miss Evie CULBERTSON delighted the company with four piano selections. They responded to several requests and in each captivated their listeners. Mesdames DAWSON, MARTIN and SMITH assisted the young hostesses in their entertaining. There was no more joyous entertaining in the Old Year than this New Year reception, and if we may judge the ending by the beginning, the New Year promises much happiness.

Friday September 18th 1903.

Mrs Wm MARTIN and daughter Miss BIRD, and Treavey BRADLEY were in St Louis Wednesday.

Friday November 13th, 1903

R H MARTIN was in town Friday, and is looking pretty "puny". He is just out after a short spell of lumbago.

November 27th, 1903

Mrs Nick MILDENSTEIN of Foley visited Joe STEPHEN's family Monday.

January 1904

Master Otis MARTIN has been trying his luck at "trapping" during the cold weather. He had a steel trap and an old trigger trap set, and says he would have had two rabbits one morning, but a dog ate one and his cow ate the other.

January 15th 1904

Miss Ruby MARTIN returned to Forest Park University Monday. She visited her mother during the holidays.

January 29th 1904

Mrs Wm MARTIN was called to St Louis Tuesday by the sickness of her daughter, Miss Ruby, who is attending school in that city.

Mr MASSIE of Brussels was in town selling tobacco. Mr MASSIE is an old establish tobacco raiser.

February 5th 1904

Mrs W L MARTIN, who was called to St Louis last week by the illness of her daughter Miss Ruby, came home Thursday bringing Miss Ruby with her. We are delighted to report Miss Ruby convalescent.

[Transcriber's Notes: William L Martin was Mayor of Elsberry in 1900. (ref US Census) He was son of Thomas Gideon Martin, b. 1820, and grandson of Louis (Lewis) Graves Martin, b. 1798, all born in Virginia, and lately of Lincoln County, MO.

Ruby (born 1885) and Birdie (born 1887) were his daughters, Otis his son. WL Martin died about 1901. I have a mountain of papers copied from Troy Courthouse, and am just starting to transcribe them now.

The Richard H Martin mentioned was 2x great grandfather of Howard Watts, and the Mr Massie mentioned was probably Henry F Massie, elder son of Robert G and Elizabeth F Massie.

Our Martin family in MO all descend from Louis Graves Martin b. VA, 1798, son of Brigadier General Joseph Martin, a Revolutionary soldier.]

File submitted to HERITAGE PAGES of LINCOLN COUNTY, MISSOURI by Shirley (Massie) Simms, 15 Jul, 2004.

NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or their legal representative, and contact the listed county coordinator with proof of this consent.

Return to Lincoln County, Missouri
Newspaper Clippings Index  |  Heritage Page  |  Home Page