The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-25
MR.. D0DGE'S HAPPIEST DAY.
FIFTY YEiRS or MfRRIED LIFE WIN
MS P1RTNER'S D4UGHTER.
Seven Sons, Nine Grandsons. and Hundreds Of
Friends Concentrating the Aged Couple
In their Handsome Home ir Tarrytown.


Friends ConRratuIntIng the Aged Couple
In their Handsome Home ir Tarrytown.
The Hon. william 4. Dodge and Melissa
Phelps daughter Of his business partner wero
married in the old Phelps mansion at 80 Cliff
street. nearly opposite the site OF Phelps, Dodge
x Co.'s present warehouse. on June "a, 1928.
He had determined that he would not become
engaged until no was OF age. but on the very
day he was twenty-one years OF age he and Miss
Phelps plighted their troth. Both had pre-
viously united themselves to the same church.
that OF the Rev. DR.. Gardner Spring. which
stood where the Times office now stands. DIR.
Spring performed the marriage ceremony.
Friends OF the couple gathered in their splen-
did summer residence in Tarrytown yesterday
to celebrate the golden wedding. 1t was an
nounced on the cards Of invitation that
there were to be no presents. At about
II o'clock the first OF hundred carriages
grated along tho roadway that winds from the
wide. hospitable gate past picturesque. arti-
fetal lake. along a smooth -shaven lawn. under
n Roman arch made for the occasion OF ever
greens and decorated with flowers. up TO the
broad piazza where the aged bride and groom
were waiting to receive its inmates. The house
was soon afterward filed with guests. The
windows. doors, mantcls. and even the furni-
ture were frnged and festooned with ropes Of
flowers Among the first 10 arrive were Presi-
dent McCosh Of Princeton College. the Rev Dr.
William Adams. President Of the Presbyterian
Theological Seminary; = II. Chittenden. Cyrus
". Field. ex-Mayor wickham. Morris X. Jes-
sup. DIR. Willard Parker. and William Walter
Phelps. Mr T.. 5. Jairray came in his yacht. the
Skylark. From her prov rs she lay at anchor
under the hill on which the mansion stands
An OF Mr.. Dodro'- seven sons were present
William F.. AnsonG the Rev. j.. Stuart. Gen.
Charles C.. Norman w. George T., and Arthur
NJ. Dodge. Or his fourteen grandsons nine
were present. The ole. at Of these grandsons is
iirst child Of Arthur II. Dodge, tho Youngest
son. was baptized yesterday, IL WAS named
Murray Wlthcrhee. after IN old college friend
OF It's father. This ceremony was performed at
noon by the Rev. d. Stuart Dodge. nm uncle Of
the child the water being held in a silver yes
sci by another Of the family. Beside its mother
stood its grandfather Postmaster General
Jewell
that could not enter looked IN from the piaz2as
through the open windows, Mr.. william +.
Dodge. Jr.. acted ns master II ceremonies. Tho
Rev DIR. Marvin II. Vincent OF the Church 81 the
Covenant IN Park avenue. this city. offered
lumber merchant of Georgia, who came North
especially TO attend the golden wedding.
ieLd Of tho afIection and ., respcc, With
States always mentioned his fathers
name The Rev. H. Stunrt Dodge alluded with
a smile to whit he termed the mythical story Of
the descent Of the family from the royal race Of
the Stuar's He was quite willing he said. 10
tion. Turning to his mother he told u story Of
a little girlFwhO. hearing the adage. An hon
est man 4 the noblest work Of God eN-
| claimed: - No. no: my mamma Is the noblcst
work of God" Gen. Charles G. Dodge spoke Of
| the reverence and affection that had always
been felt oy his brothers and himself toward
| their father He was followed by Mr.. Arthur
Murray Dodge; and then Mr.; William +.
Dodge Jr.. read poem written by Mrs. Eliza
| beth c. Kinney. his fathers only living sister.
| II wHs printed in gilt letters. and handsomely
| framed. The writer prayed in closing: