Golden Wedding - Mr. and Mrs. L.N. Ellis

ELLIS, CRARY, HOPKINS, MATHER, JONES, MARTIN

Posted By: Janet Schuldt, Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/2/2012 at 16:09:01

Pocahontas County Sun, Laurens, Pocahontas, Iowa, USA January 5, 1911

GOLDEN WEDDING

Mr. and Mrs. L. N. Ellis Celebrate Their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary Surrounded by Children and Grand-Children.

December 25, 1860 was a happy event in the lives of Lewis Nehemiah Ellis and Martha Ann Crary for that day at Monroe, Wisconsin, they plighted their lives to each other in the marriage vows. Fifty years after, at their home in Laurens, Iowa they celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of that happy event. Then they looked forward to a roseate happy pathway through life, now they look back over a pathway full of hardships and trials strewn with no small amount of heart aches and mistakes, but still happy in the thought that they have fought a good fight and have come off more than conquerors.

For sixteen years, the newly married couple lived in Wisconsin but in 1876, they moved to Buena Vista County and ten years later to Laurens where they have resided for a quarter of a century. In early life, Mr. Ellis learned the carpenter trade with his father and has followed his trade most of his life He takes a keen interest in all public questions and is slow to take up with innovations, preferring to travel that road which he has traveled so long so honestly and honorably. During all these years his wife has been a true helpmate.

Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ellis, two of whom have passed away to the beyond, Lucius A., who died in infancy and Mrs. Rachel Hopkins who died in Laurens. The living children from the oldest are , Frank M., of Wright, Minnesota; Albert B., of Wright, Minnesota ; Henry L., Wichita, Kansas; Herbert C., Laurens, Iowa; Mrs. Pearl Mather, Laurens, Iowa ; Mrs. Viola Jones, Wright, Minnesota and Mrs. Geneva Martin of Laurens, Iowa. There were forty grandchildren, thirty-five of whom are living and twelve great- grandchildren. Parts or all of these families were present at the golden wedding, except the family of Henry L. Ellis who was quarantined with diphtheria

The celebration took place at the home in Laurens which. was beautifully and elaborately decorated for the occasion with cut flowers and various other decorations prominent among which was an old fashioned house with a fire place, all placed in the front parlor to remind the bride and groom of the early days. Each of the children presented the bride and groom with pieces of gold after which all sat down to a table that fairly groaned under the weight of good things to eat. The celebration was held Monday, December 26.

Mr. Ellis was born in Illinois, March 28, 1840 and Mrs. Ellis was born in the same state in July of the same year, thus it will be seen that both are nearing the allotted time for man on earth but both are still hale and hearty and Mr. Ellis worked at his trade every day that it was fit to work during the past season.

Mr. Ellis spent several months in the service of his country during the Civil War as a private in the 8th. Wisconsin regiment, better known as the "Old A b e " regiment.

Here's hoping that Lew and his good wife may celebrate many more happy wedding anniversaries and that they may receive a double portion of the good things of life in their declining years.