The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-10-05
SILVER WEDDING A PLEASANT
EVENING.


party of the friends of Mr.. and Mrs
NJ. Gray, of this city, gathered to-
gether at their pleasant residence, to
pay their respects to them on the
rweuty-fifth anniversary of l,eir mar
,iage. Hearty were the hand-shakings
aud congratulations to the host and
hostess, and then the company joined
in pleasant converse. and the hours
sped away.
The immediate friends of the family
had taken advantage of the occasion
10 make some valuable presents to the
happy couple. They were indeed
beautiful as we'll as valuable, and We
yiv below a list of them:
Silver Cake Dish from Bro. P. Tay-
lor; Doz. Fruit Spoon from Milt. Tay-
lor and wife; La ge Butter Dish and
knife from J. s. Patterson and Sife;
Card aud Boquet Stand. Mr.. and Mr..
Gordon; Silver Tea Set from MIR. to
Mrs. Gray; Silver Spoon holder from
w. P. Gray: Silver Saw and Cake
Kuife from Charlie and Frank Patter
son; Silver Model and Boquet from
Laura Stevenson.
! When the evening WAS somewhat
spent, and arrangements had been
completed for partaking OF the refresh
ulents os the evening, Rev. Sutherland
announced the hymn
Blessed be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love-
which WAS suug, Mrs. w. III. Whitley
presiding at the piano. After singing
Rev. R. H. Hollyday was called up
and spoke in substance as follows:
On an occasion such as the present,
while uniting with our worthy friends,
Mr. and Mrs. Gray. in celebrating the
swehty-fifth anniversary of their mar
ried life, it seems to be devolved upon
me, having known them from early
| life, to speak of memories that are past,
and of anticipations Of the future.
Ny first recollections OF Mr.. cray,
carry me hack to the time when he
was just vergiDg into manhood, and
whiie lie was visiting friends in Find
lay, some thirty year. ago: and / have
known him since then as an earnest,
Christian man. and as "a devoted Christ
ian worker, especially in the Sabbath
School
| Ny first recollection of Mrs. Gray,
commence thirty-five years ago, in the
home of her father. WIN. Taylor, in
Findlay, when the two SONS and two
daughters were yet children-Patter-
son, a boy just entering his teens
Charlotte, now Mrs. Gray, little girl
Minerva, still smaller, and Milt very
little round faced boy.
When IA girl. Mrs. Gray was in the
social circle peculiar for her life and
cheer-her face always wreathed in
smiles, she could then, as she does yet, |
enjoy q laugh, and this genial. so.ial
disposition made her a favo'ite in the |
circle of her acquaintance. / remem- |
Der her in the Sabbath School aud
bible class. / remember her again as
coming into the church. Mr.. H |
here read the names of eighteen per |
sons who, on the 23d of February,
1850, were received into the commun |
ion of the Presbyterian Church, OF
which he was then the pastor, among |
which was the name of Charlotte Tay |
lor, now Mrs. Gray OF this num-
i Der five have passed away by death. |
four have removed from US, seven are |
still with US in the church here, four |
of whom are present with us this even |
ing.
! Time passing, we came to the close |
of September 1852, when the event oc-
cured, the twenty fifth anniversary of
which we celebrate to night, AT that
date find the following entry in my |
diary: "Wednesday morning, solemn
lied marriage between Milton Gray and !
Charlotte Taylor II was a bright |
morning. the invited guests We're
gathered in the parlor of the family |
home While We waited the appear
auce of the happy pair, 1 received tbi.
Message from the groom "Brevity is |
the soul of w.t." meaning, as sup
pose, a short ceremony on that occa-
sion. The parties camb in. the cere
mony was ended and congratulations
were extended when the brides father |
remarked: Il did not think my daugh |
ter would turn gray so soon."
A quarter of a century has passed
since then, and what memories cluster
along those passing years. Some of
Joy, some Of sadness. During these
years. Mr.. and Mrs. Gray have resided
! in Sendusky city, then in Springfield,
returning some sixteen years ago to
Findlay.
They are the happy parents Of a |
daughter Emma and a SOL Will. Tbey
have not given their daughter away,
but in her marriage have added Bro.
Gordon to membership in their family.
One sweet babe they had-she is !
jewel with the Savior il heaven.
SWhile thus glancing at the varied
incidents of the years past, am sure
that all here present tonight will unite
with me in the hope that Mr.. and Mr..
Gray may live to enjoy health and
labor for the Master another quarter
of century, and Ie pri .ileged to cele
brate the fiftieth anniversary of their
married life in a golden ioeddiBg."
Rev. Sutherland said he was, in
view Of the pleasant character ot the
assembIage, and of the expressed wish |
of Bro Holly day, thar our good |
| friends should live to enjoy the fiftieth .