There's not much left of Newbern these days, but once upon a time it was a thriving village on the Lucas-Marion county line due north of Chariton.
But without a railroad and reliant entirely on the rural neighborhood around it, the village declined as population diminished and it became possible to travel elsewhere with ease to trade.
But that decline was in the future when this optimistic description was published in The Voter, published at Knoxville on May 28th, 1874, citing The Chariton Patriot --- where it had been published on May 6, as the source.
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Of Newbern, one of the best of our live Marion county towns, the Chariton Patriot speaks thus: "Twelve miles north of Chariton, in Dallas township, Marion county, in the sear and yellow leaf, can be found the village of Newbern. One of the live institutions of the towns is Price & Welch's flouring mill, an establishment that would do credit to any country town. The milll, being complete in every detail and in charge of competent millers and clever and accommodating gentlemen, is doing a great deal of work in a satisfactory manner. The Newbern brands of flour give satisfaction wherever used and quite a foreign trade is being built up by Price & Welch.
The next institution of the place is Wm. Oliver's store, where a good variety of goods is kept. Oliver is a jolly good fellow and doing a nice trade. L. Victor, a blind man, keeps a general variety store and should receive a generous support. Prof. H. Welker Zentz is principal of the Normal Institute, a live, active school. Yielding to the solicitation of the citizens, Dr. Kneeland, formerly of Chariton, has located here for the practice of his profession. Two hotels, two wagon and three blacksmith shops about complete the business interests of Newbern.
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