The Coal Field Directory 1921

Roy Richard Northrup Born Feb 5,1920-Died Oct 24 1944

         This Memorial is at the Rich Hill Grade School Flag Pole

POW Transport Ship:	October Sinking: Arisan Maru, 24 October 1944

The Tribune and The Rich Hill Tribune

 The Rich Hill Tribune

The Rich Hill Tribune began publication in 1890 as a weekly four-page paper, appearing each Thursday and covering news from Rich Hill and Bates County, Missouri . The publishers and editors were J. Claud Oldham and Robert E. Pritchard. Ownership of the paper changed in 1900 to George F. Huckeby and Perezza A. Pritchard, and the name changed to the Tribune.

Pritchard left the paper in December of 1902, and Nannie R. Huckeby joined the editorial staff. The December 18, 1902 issue states: “For her long and faithful work in the mechanical part of the office, my associate Nannie R. Huckeby joins us in the business management of the paper, and any favors shown her, will receive our entire and unqualified endorsement. “

On January 1, 1903, the paper’s name changed back to the Rich Hill Tribune, expanding to eight pages with George P. and Nannie R. Huckeby as publishers and editors.

The Rich Hill Tribune began its sixteenth volume with the September 7, 1905 issue in which the paper advertised a contest to increase readership and to collect past due notices: “We are now for the first time making an effort to extend and increase our circulation and shall be glad to have our friends help us by paying subscriptions to any one of the twenty-five young ladies who are soliciting subscriptions in our voting contest, thereby helping them to win a valuable prize while they favor us with their subscriptions. If you owe back subscriptions, hand it to them and thus give them so many votes toward getting at least one of the prizes offered. If your subscription is paid up, one dollar will extend your subscription one year and help the young lady in her effort and you will get the worth of your money in the paper.”

The details and rules of the contest took up most of page 4 of the newspaper with the heading “NOW ON-The Tribune’s Big and Popular Piano Contest”: first prize offered to the winner would be “a fine first class Straube Piano – valued at $400.” The contest ended with the announcement of the winner: “Miss Julia Dubach Gets The Handsome Piano.” The contest was a huge success, and the Tribunewas “satisfied with the result. What we expected was subscribers and we got them; and a large number of back subscriptions collected at no greater rate than it would have cost us through an adjustment agency. The Tribune is not going out of business as a result of the contest either, but has just ordered a supply of new paper.”

On June 6, 1907, after George P. Huckeby was appointed postmaster at Rich Hill, Claude A. Brown joined the Tribune as manager and editor and was there until September of that year. Although Huckeby tried to continue running the paper, on January 2, 1908, he issued his “Retiring Statement,” explaining that the “management of the Tribune changes with this issue. Finding it impossible to do justice to the paper and give the attention demanded by the post office department to the duties of the post master, we have turned the Tribune over to Mr. George B. Dowell, a young man brought up in a printing office, and well qualified both by education and practical knowledge of the business to make the paper a success.

The general policy of the paper will not be changed, politically, morally, or socially….Mr. Dowell is the son of the popular mayor of Adrian, editor of the Adrian Journal and comes to us highly spoken of by all who know him, thus leaving the paper in the hands of just such a successor as we have been looking for. We retire from the management of the Tribune with no animosities, and with good wishes for all. Huckeby and Huckeby.”

On June 24, 1909, Albert Matteson and Luther Fry assumed management of the paper. Both men had been with the Tribuneduring the eighteen months it was published by Dowell.

The Rich Hill Tribune ceased publication in early 1911.

Provided by: State Historical Society of Missouri; Columbia, MO

Add from The Rich Hill tribune., July 28, 1910

The Rich Hill Tribune (Aug.27,1908)

Sells-Floto Shows comes to Rich Hill Mo. Sept 8,1908

From,a Rich Hill Family Scrap Book

Says-Rich Hill gateway
This early day photo of the east entrance to Rich Hill's famous west park shows a number of men gathered. The occasion date and identity of the men are not known.The man on left might have been the town marshal as (by magnifying glass) a star is pinned on his shirt. The man fifth from left was wearing a type of badge,perhaps from a lodge.Maybe some of our readers can shed light on what this picture is all about. Photo Courtesy Bates County Museum of Pioneer History.

Story from Tom Perry

Exclusive Music Store
In 1887, Mr. John H. Freeborn launched into the musical instrument business in Rich Hill, which was unusual considering this community was composed entirely of day laborers, factory workers, and coal miners. However his guessing paid dividends in a short time and he had about all the business he could handle. Mr. Freeborn's place of business occupied all of the 25 x 100 ft. building where the American Legion Memorial is now situated, and was filled with all kinds of musical instruments, sheet music, etc. It seemed at the time he had used poor judgement in establishing a music store in the town, then but a few years old, but had plenty of customers from the first days opening. He was one of the most progressive men of the town and built for his home a large residence on South Eighth street, where the Mrs. Louis Vodry family lived in the 1950's. Unfortunately Mr. Freeborn dropped dead while alone in his store in the summer of 1889.