The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-10-24
Golden Wedding.

Saturday, October Goth, was the fifiieth
anniversary Of the marriage of Mr.. and
Mrs. w. L. Hayes, and the.eyent was cele-
brated by gathering at the homestead in
Penheld of the three daughters, four sons,
their husbands. and wives and nine chill
dren. Besides these were present a few
near relatives who attended the wedding a
half century ago, few others related to
the sons and daughters by marriage, and
the pastor and wife, Rev. and Mrs. J. L.
Sanford.
The last meeting OF the entire family had
been in August, 1875, and some of the
brothers, closely confined in. business rela-
tions or professional life, and living hun
dreds Of miles apart, had not met in the
eight years
But nothing quite approaching the inter-
est, tender Joy and gratitude of this COM
ing home had been experienced since 1865,
when the close of the war and discharge of
regiments allowed the family to come to.
gether after the solemn separations i'm
posed by its perils.
The wreck of a railway train causing de-
lay made il uncertain that the last family
expected would reach there, but late Fri
day night all had safely arrived.
The home had been built for large
family, but its capacity in dining-room and
dormitory was none too ample when
hers-and-sisters-in-lsw and grandchil-
dren came to be included.
The daughter-In-law residing there had
wrought into beautiful design the most
brilliant and graceful of autumn leaves and
fastened to lambrequin over one of the
parlor windows, in a lovely transparency,
greeting the brothers and sisters with a
I" Welcome Home"
The weather was pleasant, the roads
good, and every circumstance conspired to
make this long looked-for meeting one of
the happiest events in the history of a
family who have been peculiarly blessed
in the unity and congeniality among its
original and acquired members.
Very full genealogical records of its an
cestry are preserved in the family, embrac-
ing all branches of its immediate progeni-
tors, and in one line complete biographies
of each successive generation covering a
period of more than three hundred years.
Much interesting history connected with
the early settlement of New England is in
cluded in these family archives, and good
deal to gratify honest pride in a noble
lineage; but taught to consider that honors
and titles conferred upon their grandfathers
would have very little impelling force in
helping later generations along, that which
chiefly interests the present family is the
experience of the father and mother whose
personal recollections embrace the half
century since they founded the home in
Penfeld.
W. L. Hayes, only son of Andrew Hayes,
was a native of Fairfield County, Conn,
and lived near Long Island Sound until
his parents came to New York State when
he was ten years old.
In 1929 he came to Penfield with Ray
mond Starr, its first merchant There were
then but fourteen families in the township,
and the three individuals remaining there
who lived there when he came were all chill
children nfty years ago. There were only
six or seven families in Spencer, all in the
region of the mills, and Litchfield had no
settlement.
Mr.. Hayes worked year for Raymond
Starr, then purchased one hundred and
thirty-fve acres of the land which after:
ward he made his farm and home.
He worked in Elyria on Ely's block, on
the original Beebe House, Court House,
and several of the prominent buildings OF
its early days.
In October, 1888, he returned to Har-
persfeld, Delaware County, N. Y, and
married his former school-mate and pupil,
Miss Aurilla Lindsley, second and young
est daughter Of Daniel Lindsley, and
neice Of Raymond Starr.
The lateness the season made it neces-
sary TO make the journey by canal and
steamer before navigation should close, and