National Republican., 1875-11-17
rurY YEARS Aeo.
Golden Wedding Of Hr. ana Mrs. Hiram
Irown
FALLS CHURCH. FAIzvAx COUNTY, VA.

Brown.
FALLS CHURCH, FAInrAx COUNTY, VAL
November Is, 1875. :
70 the Editor Of the National Republican:
SIR: Saturday evening, the 18Th instant, Cat
the family residence, Falls Ohurch,) was the
happy occasion Of the celebration Of the golden
wedding Of Major Hiram Brown and his estimi able
wife. The fact that the family Is highly respected
and widely known, not only in Washington but
throughout New England, added interest to the
event and brought together . large company OF
relatives and intimate friends.
Among those present from Warrington were
ex-Mayor Matthew G. Emery. wife and daughter;
Colonel Samuel Emery, wife and daughter; Hon.
8: Z. Bond and wife; n; I; Gage, esq, principal
0,E 9, sss1on schools MsoE NJ De%s5 Of the Treas;
the National hotel; John U. Wilson, Treasury
Department.; Miss Page; Captain ]. b. Patterson
Davis Baker, wife and daughter; Mira Bur.
roughs; Mrs. s. L. Bliss, Mrs. Eastman, Miss
Minnie Russell, Miss Adele TAFT, Miss Lizzie
ofthose who came from their far New England
homes to honor the occasion, we mention, trst,
Hon. Isaac W. Smith, wife and two daughters, Of
Manchester, New Hampshire. The gentleman
holds the honorable position OF Judge OF the Su-
prems Court Of the State, and though SO highly
trust, am satisfied, from the love he bears the
aged couple and hts own interesting family, that
other preferment Next comes Colonel WIN. II.
Head and wife, of Hooksett, New Hampshire, rela-
tives. The gentleman, brother Of the we'll
known General Matt Head, who became so famous
as Rdiutant general Of the State during the war.
Mrs. q. W. Stevens, of Manchester, New Hamp-
shirs; Miss Helen W. Howe, of Haverhill, Massa-
To those from distance We add Mrs. H. ]. King,
of BinghsEtop, New York, and Miss Helen and
immediate neighbors OF the deacon and wife, there
were present Rev. Il. W. Pond and wife, Rev. D.
sd Ms aDs SS es a@a
Sargent, wife, son and daughter Ada; A. II.
Raymond, wife and son; Mr.. Isaac Crossmsn and
Febrey, Lille and Kate; Mr.. Eastman, Mr.-Mer-
riheld and family and others.
The exercises of the evening were opened by
the reading OF the xix Psalm, and remarks there
on by Rev. b. W. Pond, followed by Whittier's
beaItifxl poem. entitled "The Golden Wedding"
finely read by ]. L. Bond, OF Washington.
q. A. L. Merriheld, ESQ.,, OF Falls Church, In
behalf of the neighbors and friends, spoke of the
residence Of the family among US, and testified TO
lowed by ex- Mayor Emery, of Washington, who.
hayfrk known Mr.. Brown intimately from his
early manhood 10 the present, spoke teelingly oil
his great worth and strict integrity, ana that,
through h a long, eventual life, under all circum-
stances, be had exempliied the character Of
widely known was he for strict integrity and
honesty. that almost without exception all
troubles and differences arising in the neighoor-
hood were with general consent referred TO DR..
Brown for settlement.
Rev d. H. RIDDLE, pastor ofthe First Presbyte-
riau church, OF Falls Church, then offered some re-
marks, and closed with impressive prayer, after
which Judge Smith recited, with hoe effect, an
original poem, entitled FIFTY Years Ago" (" whicn
was subsequently sung to the tune Of "Auld Lang
Syue." At this stage OF the proceeclugs, Miss
Clara q. Baker. y resident OF Washington, and q
member of st. Johns church, Georgetown, was
led TO the piano, and favored the company with
several fine solOs, on the conclusion Of which q
speedy adjournment TO the dining-room took
place, and on entering there met the sight tables
groaniDg with every conceivable luxury in the
eating llne-cOld turkey, chicken ham, biscuit
and coffee, cake OF all kinds, fruits, ice cream and
water ice, &C., and last but net least the man.
moth wedding and BRIDES cake, each being highly
With entering began joility aud cheer, and the
next hour was spent as IL only can be after q
bountiful repsst and surrounded by friends. When
the supper was ended and hearty Congratulations
spoken the large company l9ined in the doxology
and separated, all voting It an unusually Joyous
The presents were beautiful, valuable and many
in number, only few Of which Will take the
space to name A fine bronze clock, pair Of golden
candIesticks, silver tea set gold lined; gold
As Major brown has a large circle of friends
and acquaintances in Washington, where he re-
sided for ten years subsequent to 1862 will give
q brief history of his lille. He was born in the
town of Hooksett, N. IL, January ., 1sol, and
cupation he was both farmer and stonemason,
and in 1928 contracted and furnished the stone for
the Boston market'house: In 1887 he removed
from his native place to Manchester, N. H, now
a iourishng city Of 10000 population, but OF that
time village OF about 900 Inhabitants. He was
The building of canals dams, foundations, streets
snd other improvements, and was elected the first
mayor of the then new city. He was for five sue
cessiye terms in the Legislature, held the othce
of justice of the peace, and was for many years
deacon in the First Congregational church OF
Manchester.
He was an officer Of the State militia at twenty
one years Of age serving six years as captain OF
company, and was major OF the celebrated "Amos-
keag Veterans, !" which organization was, during
President Pierce's administration, invited by him
TO visit Washington, and during their stay were
present at a grand banquet given in their honor
at the White House. At this supper Major Brown
had the honor of seat at the right Of the Presi-
dent, while JEFF. Davis was his opposite on the
left. For some years he was employed by the
HOlyoke corporation Of Massachusetts superin-
tending the building Of locks, dams, &C., connect
ed with their works. In 1862 Major Brown re-
moved to the city of Washington, where for eight
years he was under Rogers and Mullett, employed
in experimenting the building OF different por-
tions of the Treasury Department.
He served as commissioner Of the First ward
pIOyed by the Board Of Public Works superin-
lending the construction of streets, sewers, sc.
OF his career in Washington many are familiar,
and all know and can testify to the faithful per-
foImance OF the trust reposed in him by the gen.
eral and city government. A triae less than
three years ago he removed to the pleasant viii
lage OF Falls Church, Va, about seven miles
from Washington, where he purchased q fine
farm Of two hundred acres, on which he has re-
Gently built q large and commodious dwelling
house. Here, surrounded by wife, children and
friends ard possessing the love and respect of all
who know him, performing all duties Of good
the measure ofa well-ordered, active, Christian