The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-02-24
r.. .,oidan wedding.

Uouse Mendoza, on Tuesday last. 1t was
thu nroudest day OF Uncle Johns life; for
hi, friends had come from near and from far
to take part In the congratulations and wit.
ness tho renewal Of those sacred obligations
90 faithfully kept by this aged couple
through half century.
The town made 1t holiday, and during
the afternoon the citizeno crowded to the ho
tel to shake hands and congratulate their
fellow towusman long before the hour an-
nOunced for the beginning OF festivities.
About five o'clock the crowd around the no.
tel was very great (probaoly 1000 people
were there), and In response to calls Mr. ana
Mrs. Hoffman appeared and welcomed all IN
their we'll known hearty manner. Iherc' 'oo'
was then enacted $ repetition OF q courtsh'p
episode OF 30 odd years ago. Among the
guests present was Mr.. Jnstus Rev, OF MOT
rison. H.. once a rival OF Uncle John for the
hand of Mary Ann Mann. 1t seems on one
,ccasion the two men met at her home, and
dur,ng the visit one of them asked for water.
The lady produced beautifully decorated
glass pitcher from which she poured The wa
ter. On Tuesday Uncle John produced the
same pitcher, presented by Mr.. Rev, saying:
"This is the pitcher; that pointing to Mr..
Rev is the man who gothic water, and am
the chap who got the girl, and this tintroduc'
ing Mrs Hoffman, is the girl" Amid loud
cheer the lady again poured for the same
Young CO men water from the same old
pitcher and they drank.
The Ottawa delegation consisted OF about
40, nearly filling special car, including Mr..
A. NJ. Hoffman and family, f. e. Hathaway
and wife, w. w. Taylor and wife, !. Brewer
and wife, j. s. Armstrong and wife, ID. X.
Gregg and wife, s. 8. Willis and wife,
Stephen Arnold, Patrick Barton, Munster;
John Stout and Miss Lizzie Stout, the Misses
Raymond, Col. d. +. Hit, Williss orchestra
and others. They arrived little after s p. NJ,
after being joined at Aurora by Judge Dick
cy and others. The brilliantly illuminated
residence OF Mr.. Hoffman, some four miles
from town, was passed on the road, and the
sound OF cannon firing the semi-centcnnial
salute was heard rs the cars entered the city
The hotel was crowded to sutiocatlon when
the cars arrived, for the ceremony was about
to be performed, and it was with great diff
Guilty that the members OF Mr.. Hoffman's
family could join their friends up stairs.
At $50 the band played the wedding
march, announcing the ceremony in the din.
ing room of the hotel. The room was densely
crowded-so densely that 1t was with difficult
ty that all open space could be procured in
which to perform the ceremony When 1t
was possible, the happy couple stood up, the
bride dressed in becoming black silk. Uncle
John first having welcomed his friends,
Elder Batcheller, the wel.known pioneer
preacher OF the county, performed the cerc-
mouy. The bride, as 10 sometimes the case,
under the excitement of the ceremony, made
little mistakes in the responses, but prom.
ised to love, honor and obey her lord as she
had during the past fifty years! when the
house could stand it no longer and broke
INTO . roar OF laughter and applause. The
ceremony completed, Mr.. T. p. Snyder, on
beh alt of the company, took the happy cou-
pie completely by surprise by unveiling two
most elegant portraits OF themselves, the
presents were deposited in the reception
rooms up tairs, among which were gold
and silver cups and saucers, by the Misses
Raymond, Ottawa; !. several gold pieces by
the Hoffman's OF Ottawa; d. X. Jacoby, a
large gold gobl ct and pair OF gold napkin
rings; Mrs. b. II. Duncan, fine gold cream
pitcher and sugar bowl: Justion Rev, $40
gold piece; n. Matsen and others Of Prince.
ton, q beautiful, large, gold-lined nut-hold-
er, surmounted by golden squirrel with an
acorn; D. r. Jacoby, call-bell and cup on
a stand; f. X. Wormlev, watchfob and
pickle jar; Mr.. aud Mrs Albert Ray, knife
and large spoon in case; county officers OF
La Sale county, a fancy card receiver, hand
painted; Mr.. and Mrs. +. c. Allen, Ottawa.
o beautiful cream jug; Mrs. Allen, Chicago,
a berry dish; s. N. Gillett and others, a cake
and berry set; John Topper, cup; county
officers, a flower and fruit stand; ID. r.
Gregg, glass and gold berry dish; Mr. and
Mrs. j. s. Armstrong, u $40 gold piece; Hrs.
NJ. Perkins, gold piece; Mrs. Levi Kelsey,
fine old lace; John Hoffman, picture group
of his family; George N. Gray, gold memoir
al plate; G. G, Hoffman, god.headed cane;
J. j. Geraghty, o cake basket; and others.
Az soon as the dining room could be clear
ed of people, the tables were set for the ban.
Guet. This was most elaborate spread, got
ten up in Mr.. Rogers best style, the tables
being loaded with all the delicacies of the
season. During the evening between 800
and 900 guests partook, over $50 taking seats
at one time, so that the banquet lasted from
about $50 until after O'Clock.
Quite programme Of toasts was planned,
but was not entirely carried out, owing to
the inconvenience Of speaking through noise
In and around the dining room. l.. s. Sea-
man acted as toast master. Those responded
to were: 1.-THE Bride and Groom," Ivy the
Groom; 1.-THE City of Mendoza" by F.P.
Snyder; "The President of the U. by L.
s. Browne; "Our Country" by &. W. An
drew; "Our National Banks" by Col. Dick
Taylor; Education" by 3. N. Heslct; THE
Press" by Robertson, of Sandwich Gazette
1.-THE Pioneers" by Judge Dickey; an origr-
nal poem, by f. s. Holbrook, Chicago; "Agri. |
culture" by John Hoffman; concluded by an
impromptu "Auid Lang Sync" by Uncle |