| On the 22d day of
March, 1860, in the town of Winchester, Ind., William D.
Stephens, a young man of 24 years, let Lavina Cox, a charming
young lady of 19, to the marriage alter.
After living some years in the
states of Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, they decided to move to
Kansas and settled in Trego County March 27, 1887, where they
have lived continuously until the present, not being out of the
county over two weeks at one time.
This period covering as it
did, the pioneer days, they endured hardships incident to such
life, and at the same time such discouraged because of reverses
and crop losses. They held the old homestead however until the
9th of March 1910, when a sale was made of the 160 acres for
$6000 cash.
But before leaving the old
homestead they decided to celebrate their Fiftieth Wedding
Anniversary the 22 inst., when 25 neighbors and friends and 46
descendants, including children, grand children, great
grandchildren, sons and daughter-in law, gathered at the old
homestead. One daughter-in-law, 4 grandchildren and 5 great
grandchildren not being able to be present.
Promptly at 12 o'clock the
dinner was spread and the bountiful supply of good things
supplied and prepared by the children was enjoyed by all
present, and after the excellent menu was served; a few hours
was spent in social conversation, exchanging experiences, while
the younger folks engaged in out door games upon the lawn,
enjoying the happy occasion until the sun was hidden in the
Golden West.
Rev. W. E. Scott made a (?)
presentation speech offering Mr. and Mrs. Stephens, the
following presents, which caused the faces of the aged guest of
honor to beam with pride and joy: Wilton velvet rug; fancy (?)
plate and card receiver; $5 (?) gold; gold watch chain and watch
set; gold cuff buttons and brooch; good band plate and sauce
dishes; gold band tumbler; gold band cups and saucers; gold
bowled sauce ladel; gold bowled sugar shell; gold plated cream
ladle; gold stick pin and waist set.
As the friends withdrew
congratulations were offered the bride and groom wishing them
many happy returns of the their wedding day anniversary and that
they might live to see and celebrate their diamond wedding.
One peculiar feature of this
celebration is that Mr. W. D. Stephens and his estimable wife
boast of having this record, that neither themselves nor any of
their descendants, including son-in-laws, numbering 54 in all
are users of intoxicating drinks, tobacco in any form or profane
language. Can anyone comp (?) record?
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