Webster, 50th Wedding Anniversary 1899

WEBSTER, STAPLES

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/6/2020 at 13:03:24

Source: Decorah Republican Jan. 26, 1899 P 6 C 1

FIFTY YEARS AGO.
The following communication comes to us from the southwestern corner of the county and relates to worthy and well known residents of Waucoma and the parents of Ace Webster. They have issued about two hundred invitations to friends to join with them in the celebration of their golden wedding anniversary. The date is Jan. 28th, but as that comes on Sunday next the occasion will be observed on Friday (tomorrow) at their home.
On the 28th day of January, 1849, Miss Phoebe A. Staples and Joseph P. Webster in the town of Palatine, Ill., were joined in the holy bonds of wedlock. A half a century ago that day they solemnly pledged before God and the world to love, cherish and protect each other. How well those promises have been kept is attested by there fifty years of joyful, uninterrupted wedded happiness. As a monument to their integrity and the truthfulness of those vows they can look with pride to two sons and many grand-children as the fruits of that holy union. Well may they view with pride these sons, their wives and children, for God in his goodness has showered a full measure of blessings on them and theirs.
"Father Time,” with his fifty years, has dealt leniently with this couple.
It is true he has woven silver threads among their locks, and left some imprints of his foot-steps upon their brows, but in his swift flight he has carried them gently with him and at the ages of seventy-five and seventy years he bears them along in his embrace still enjoying the health of strong and vigorous man- and womanhood
Of the “then” and “now,” as with this couple, many changes have taken place. Fifty years ago "Uncle Sam" and his bride (the "Goddess of Liberty”) of scarce more than a golden wedding age, had not matured into the full vigor of man hood and womanhood, as a nation. As yet they know liberty in name only. During the lapse of the years, they, like this couple, have had many trials to overcome. The nation has faced those trials of life, and like the nation this respected couple stand strong and firm in the conviction “ well done.”
During the flight of these many years Mr. and Mrs. Webster have witnessed the hand of liberty strike the shackles from off all mankind in our broad land, and not satisfied with well-doing at home, in her true American generosity and goodness of heart, go out of the borders of our own land to do unto others as we would they do unto us. They have seen the wagon train from the golden gate to the statute of the Goddess of Liberty changed to steel bands and the time of transit reduced from as many months {illegible} than the number of days. From slow communication by boat they have noted {illegible} until to-day conversation by the sound of our voice is carried on across the continent. All these and many more changes can they bear witness to in these fifty years.
While we know the sun of their youth has traveled up and past the meridian and is now on the last and downward arc of the circle, it is our wish that it setting will be prolonged to the full limit and that no cloud shall dim its luster; and when, perforce it must sink below the horizon into the Great Unknown, may God’s full blessing rest upon them.