West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-11-30
Golden Wedding.
WAUsEoN, O., Nov. IS, 81.

anything from the point of my pen,
and so, as my father and his family
have many friends who read the
FREEMAN, and to whom an account
of a home-gathering here, to cele-
brate the fiftieth anniversary Of the
day on which he united his fortunes
with those of my dear mother,
would be of interest, take the priv
ilege Of addressing you.
As your acquaintance with us
dates back to the halcyon days Of
long ago, at the old home and birth
place of all the children who gath
cred under the parental roof yester-
day, save two Gone of whom could
only be with US in spirit, having
gone to that better land above, at
the early age Of eighteen years, a
sacrifice to his country's honor [
will refer briefly to them.
There were present and sat down
at the wedding dinner:
My father and mother, Rev.
and Mrs. Jacob D. Leonard.
George E., his wife and three
children, of Peru, Ind, his daugh-
ter Jennie being detained by the
sickness of her babe, Wyman Leon
ard Hall, who would have repre-
scented the fourth generation at the
table, had he been permitted to
come.
Mrs. Mary &. Bonar, her husband
and three children, of Wauseon, O.
Mrs Virginia Beach, with her
two youngest children, of Racine, o.
Mrs. Cynthia Morse, her husband
and two children, Of Ellsworth,
Kansas.
Mrs. Ella Fraquar, and husband
and one child, of Ellsworth, Kansas,
and the writer, his wife and daugh-
ter, with whom many of your read
ers are somewhat acquainted.
In the morning, the aged father
and his wife Of fifty years journey
ing in this world of joys and sor-
rows, hopes and fears, comings and
goings, attended divine services
with all his living family (save
one daughter), once more around
them, and sat down at the Thanks
giving dinner with six children,
two daughters-in-law, two sons-in-
law, and thirteen grandchildren,
and it was a happy occasion to all.
Just before sitting down to dim
ner, while all were gathered in the
parlor, Bro. George, as the oldest
and spokesman, stepped forward,
and in short address thanked the
dear old couple for their tender care
and watchfulness over us during
our lives, and expressed the joy
with which we came from our dis
tant homes to celebrate this happy
day. He then spoke Of the time
having come when age and intirm-
ity had laid their hand on them,
and of the duty of the child to be-
come the staff and stay of the pa
rents declining years, and in token
of the willingness of these children
to assume that duty, said he was
deputized by them to present their
honored and revered father with
"this cane to assist him in his
walks through the remainder of
this life"
The cane was a heavy ebony
stock, with crooked gold handle,
on one side of which was engraved:
1881. Golden Wedding. Novem-
Der, oath, 1881"
On the other side:
"Presented to Jacob d. Leonard,
By his Children"
The writer then on behalf of the
children presented them each with
a pair of gold-bowed spectacles,
There were numerous presents
from the grandchildren, and among
others, saucer of gold coin in va
rious denominations, from twenty
dollars down to one, was on the Ia
BILE.
In the evening the friends and
members of the church of which
they are both members, came in
and spent an hour or SO with us,
leaving them a purse of gold as a
reminder that they valued them
and their services in this commu-
nifty.
Taking it throughout it has
been a never-to-be-forgotten day,