Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-03
a Golden Wedding in Lorain County.

A Golden Wedding in LOrain County.
the pleasant town of Elyria was the scene
of happy Golden Wedding on the ev ening of
the 22d of February last. Itwas held at the hos
pitable home of the parties, Mr.. and Mrs. RAY
MoND STAIR, early settlers of the county, and
widely known and beloved. We append the
Elyria Democrats interesting account of the
celebration
Raymond Starr was born in Danbury, Conn ,
jan sth l7s6. Betsy Penfield was born in n
Fairfield, in the same State, March 18th, 1892.
Their parents emigrsted to Harpersfeld, Della
ware Co, n. Y, about the year 1900, at which
place Raymond and Betsy were married Feb
22d; 1909, by the Rev Stephen Fem.
At the gathering for the celebration of the
fftieth anniversary of that event, it was found
that of the original witnesses of the wedding,
thirteen were living; six of them being broth
ers and sisters OF the husband; six, brothers of
the wife. and one aunt, now aged 80 years
The officiating clergyman is dead. Of these
witnesses eleven were present, one of whom
was the aged aunt The average age of each
was 62 years Besides these, there were pres
ent five wives and husbands of the witnesses,
seven children of the aged couple, the wives If
six sons. twenty five grandchildren, two adopt
ed grandchildren, the husband of one grand
child, one great grandchid, two first cousins of
Mrs. Starr, and the wife of one, also one neph-
ew--in all, sixty four.
The occasion was one of much solemnity, and
also of gladness. 1t was ascertained that no
death had occurred among the brothers and SIS
tiers during the whole period of fifty years. But
one child had died, and five grandchildren. A
very happy feature in this family assembly was
the fact that the several families of the Starts
and Pen6eld's had followed each other from the
East, to the then West, in a very limited period
of time, and that here, they and their children
have, with one exception, been permitted to set
tie in the same county, and within few miles
of each other
Appropriate religious exercises were held du-
ring which the assembled happy ones united in
singing two verses of
"Thus far the Lord hath led me e." &c.
Rev. B. T. Noakes, Rector of St. Andrews
Church, in this village, then read the l27th and
I2Sth psalms, and other selections of Scrip
ture, at the conclusion of which be addressed
the company in few words appropriate to the
occasion. He commenced by narrating in.
teresting items aud records peculiar to the
Families, and called upon all present to unite
in acknowledging the proyidential hand of
Jehovah, in permitting the present extraor-
binary assembly, and particularly urged
them to listen to the voice which such Prov
idence should speak to them After advert
ing to the fact that so few deaths had occurred
in the households of those represented, during
fifty years, (only six) and that all of the broth
ers and sisters of the couple were still alive and
vigorous, he called upon them to observe that
although these happy events were the effects of
the Lords special mercy, yet there were in the
lives of the individuals referred to, certain
means to be recognized by which the Provi-
dence of God had brought about such results.
These were the diligence, regularity of habit,
and temperance of life, for which they had al
ways been distinguished. Freedom from the
use of any intoxicating beverage, and, with one
or two exceptions, of tobacco.
The Rev. gentleman then diverted their at
tention from the present family gathering to
that one at which they will probably next ap-
pear-the assembly around the "ireat White
Throne" in Heaven-and urged all present to
unite with him in prayer, that those who were
closely united by the ties IF blood, might all,
at the last, become members of the household
of faith, the family of God.
Prayer was then offered and the ceremony
terminated. Such mercies as we have recorded
are not ordinarily the fruits of the piety of the
present, but rather of preceding generation
Accordingly we find that the Grandfather of the
aged wife was celebrated among his friends for
the fervor with with which he loved to plead
the promises of God concerning the children
and the ehildren's children, of those who fear
the Lord and walk with Him.
The evening of this eventful day was passed
in the interchange of social greetings, in which
number of friends residing in the village, who
are not related to the golden group participa-
ted with the liveliest emotions of pleasure. 1t
was the first occurrence of q "Golden Wedding"
that was ever celebrated in this place; and many
and hearty were the congratulations which |
were offered the venerated couple, in having to-
gether travelled the pathway of life for a half
century, and been spared to greet nearly all of |
their relatives and descendants, in their own |
hospitable mansion.
At about nine o'clock, the guests were invited |
into the dining room, where refreshments were
served from a table graced with beautiful
bouquets of delicate flowers, and covered with
an abundance of the good things of earth"
had been invoked, the company partook
with feelings OF gratitude and pleasure un-
usual on festive occasions. While the re-
freshmenis were being served, the sound of
music was heard without, which revealed the
fact that the members of the Elyria Comet
Band had stolen under the window, and the
strains of "0ld Lang Syne" soon
echoed beautifully on the evening air. This
was followed by "Old Folks at Home" and
several other appropriate pieces, performed in
.he matchless manner peculiar to this excellent
Band, and which added a Lew feature of inter-
sst to the joyous occasion.
At about ten o'clock the company bade their
esteemed friends an affectionate good bye, and
,etired; some to meet them often again, and 9TH
rs probably to see them no more, until they
meet in Heaven; but all wishing them yet many
7ears of life, health, and happiness.
We will only add in conclusion, that there are
indeed few family gatherings, on occasions of
his kind, where all the relatives have been SO
gnally blest with health and worldly prosperi-
y; and which afford more gratifying evidence
# the happy results of lessons of morality, TEN
'erance, and virtue, early and constantly i'm
ressed upon the mind, ere it comes in contact
With the temptations and vices which beset Us,
q the active pursuits of life.