The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-06-01
A Golden Wedding.

n Gotdeu ~euutnk
Editor of the Register:
So rare an occurrence of this nature
is we'll worthy of notice. In this chang
ing and death-ruled world, seldom is it
permitted to human pair to celebrate
the Fiftietk anniversary of their we'd
ding day. Long ere this, generally, the
inexorable messenger has called one, or
the other, if not both of the parties, TO
that land, where they neither marry.
nor are given in marriage"
Not only is a return OF the hftieth
wedding day an epoch in the history OF
the parties concerned, but it may also
be regarded as such in the community
where it occurs. A brief account, then,
of the proceedings on such an occasion
may not be out of place nor unaccept-
able.
On Wednesday, the 9th of May, 1865,
Rev. David Hervey and his wife reach
ed this "golden age" and in celebration
of the event, children and grand-chll-
dren, with few other kindred and dear
friends, assembled at an early hour Ia
the house where the venerable couple
have now resided for thirty-five years.
This is situated in Brooke county, about
four miles east of Wellsburg.
Arriving Just at the "nick of time,"
viz: when the groaning table was in
viting the guests to come quickly, and
relieve it of its burden, your correspond
ent cannot tell what occurred in the
early part of the day; nor can he de-
scribe the arrivals as they took place,
of now son with his wife, then a
daughter with her husband, each with
their little ones, to gladden. the hearts
of the grandparents; here an old friend
who began life almost at the same Pc
riod with the host himself, and then a
more youthful one, who had never seen
him before hoar hairs aud other marks
of time had appeared. ... 80.
But this matters not, if only a faith
ful chronicler can be had of the more
Important ceremonies of the day, which
had Just commenced on the writer's ar
rival; and he can safely assure his read
ers OF the cIedibility of his statements,
inasmucn as he can assert with all con-
fideuce that here "Pdrs tMi," especially
at the feast We must be excused, how
ever, from all attempts to describe that
table. Words cannot do justice to such
a subject, but the acts of those present
/
did.
After dinner was over, the whole par
ty reassembled in the parlor, and the
venerable couple thus surrendered by
their children and loved ones, were ad-
dressed by their son, James Hervey,
ESQ, of Wcllsburg, in very neat and
| impressive manner. We Will try to
give brief synopsis of his address.
The first part WAS taken up in pre-
Sonting comparison between the state
of the country, its population, man
ners and customs Fifty years ago, with
what the same are now.
Brooke county was then twenty-One
years old, having been organized
| in 1877, and twenty-ODe years before
that, in 1776, the first court was held at
West Liberty, the county seat OF Ohio
county. The remains of the old court
house, log building, was standing
few years ago. The log school house,
sixteen by sixteen, with a win
dow six panes wide and one high, was
the seminary Of learning which sent
forth many men and women quite our
equals in every respect.
In Isis, fifty years ago, James Mon
| roe WAS ITtSlutub VI luC phiOSu DOdCCo,
! and the three States west of Virginia
were in their infancy. The world then
knew nothing ofTailroads, steam vessels
or telegraphs. Mr.. Hervey then spoke
of the vast domain since added, and of
territory then rOamed by the buffalo
and that "lShmaelitish" race, the Indian,
who are so difficult of pacitication.
Forts were erected at an early period
for the protection of settlers, one of
which stood two and half miles from
the place where they now are, on the
farm now occupied by Thomas Bucha-
nan, Esq. In this fort grandfather and
grandmother Hervey took refuge in case
of peril, and there the late Rev. James
Hervey, ID. D., was born.
The very farm, on which they now
are, was taken up by their grand-par-
ents, by what was called the TOma-
hawk right, or settlement right, and
the patent therefor was signed by Pat
rick Henry, under date of May 9Th,
1885. They were of Scotch Irish descent,
both born in Ireland. Some interesting
incidents in their history, as also in that
of their maternal grandparents, Faris,
were then recOunted, and this part OF the
address was closed by stating that the
continuous ownership of that farm had
been in the Hervey family for period
about ninety years, and its occupancy
by them siXty-three years.
He then remarked that Grandfather
Faris and family were parishioners of
the Forks of Wheeling Church, which
in 1918 vas under the pastoral charge
of Rev. James uervey, who, fifty years
ago this day celebrated the rites of
matrimony between our father and
mother, at the old Faris Mansion" The
voice of the speaker then trembled, and
! he was overcome with emotion, but
soon recovering himself, he said: "This
event in its fifteenth anniversary we
this day celebrate. /, on behalf of, and
at the request of the children, present
this book, the Bible, to you as a token
of respect and esteem from US your chill
dren. As engraven thereon, it is: "7O
Father and Mother, from James, John,
FariS, Mary, Ddrid, Margaret, Uittidm,
Dorothy and Jane, their children, May
9Th, 1868, the .6fieth anniversary Of their
marriage"
So saying, he stepped forward, and
laid upon the table, before his hOnored
parents, one of the most magnificent
copies of the Sacred Scriptures to be
procured. 1t was truly fitting and ac
ceptable offering from children to pa
rents, as significant Of the fact how we'll
they have besn taught to revere Gods
word.
Thy word ia everlasting truth,
Hev pure is every page,
That holy book shall guide our youth
And well support OUR AGE
We need not trespass on time or pa
| tianca in lenptheninp ont this descp pSD-