The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-03-29
RIeHFY-FIRsT BIRTHDAY.
Happy Surprise-Exchange of Greet
ings and Congratulations.

lnSS ana congratulations.
On Monday afternoon last, about fifty of the
elder ladies and gentlemen of this city and vi
cinity paid their respects to Mrs. Jacob Nyce,
on the occasion OF her eighty-first birthday, by
very happy surprise visit. Those having
the arrangements in charge conducted them
50 skillfully that she was wholly ignorant of
the intentions of her friends until they ap-
peared enn'asse upon the scene, armed, not on
ly with kind feelings and good wishes, but
with overlooking baskets, which were set
aside for future reference. Between four and
five O'Clock the contents of the baskets were
brought forth and the oomna0y were served
with a sumptuous variety OF refreshments, it
being deemed fitting occasion to eat, drink
and be cheerful The latter was observed by
every one with an inspiring relish. Memories,
stirred again by such an occasion, revived the
spirit of youth and age grew young again. A
number of matrons returned after an absence
of forty years to spend an hour in the en-
chanted regions of sweet sixteen. OF the
company present there were ten persons
whose united ages would be sevon hundred
and forty years. In the midst of the enjoy
ments circumstance occurred which furnish
ed quite a coincidence. A telegram was
brought in reading as follows:
WAsHINToN, D. c., March 25th, 1877, Mrs.
MARGARET NYoE. Bill for your pension pass
ed both Houses to-day. c. FOSTER.
The pension is on account of her son, Will
liam Nyce, who enlisted in '62 and went with
his company to Toledo but was taken sick and
died before being mustered into service The
bill for a pension was introduced by Gen.
Buekland, during his first term in Congress,
but was not passed Until Monday,
Mrs Nyce, although living beyond the lin
it of four score years, still enjoys degree of
health, both in mind and body, not uc,. lIy
seen. She was born in Cumberland county,
Pennsylvania, March %, 1871. Sixteen years
later she removed to Ohio, where in 1911 she
was married to Jacob Nyce. The license for
their marriage was issued by the first clerk
of the Pickaway county Court of Common
Pleas Among the returns it was indicated
as follows:
Jacob Nyce to Margaret Graham Septem-
Der 23d. Solemnized on the following day by
James Robinson, Y. D. NJ"
In May 1858 they removed to this city, then
ellled Lower Ssndusky, and built the first
frame house on the west side Of the river, on
the lot which is now the corner of Main and
Crogan streets Her husband, Jacob Nycc,
died on the 18th of April lS4S. Many of those
who assembled on the occasion of her birth
day to exchange congratulations were friends
and companions here half q century ago. The
scenes which memory revived present striking
contrasts with the scenes which surrounded us
to-day. Those were days Of hardship, toll and
exposure, and the representatives of those
times who live also in these days of ease, COM
fort and luxury, have fund of memories to
draw from as exhaustless as the changes which
have occurred are great. Among the guests
we noticed one lady, Mrs. Mitchner, who was
the oldest person present, Oldest in years, be-
ing now eighty-three, but more vigorous and
active than many another woman only half as
old Whether those of US on the sunny side
of life will live to celebrate our birthdays at
three score and ten, or four score years, is a
question which our grand fathers and mothers
now living very much doubt. The ripe old
age, which brings one at the west windows OF
life after three quarters of a century, should be
regarded as the result of a correct life. The
principal may be strong physical powers, but
such product of years is obtained only by
multiplying by good habits, and for this rea-
son those whose withered hands we clasp are
worthy of our congratulations.