The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-02-01
GOLDEN WEDDING,


the fiftieth anniversary, or Golden
Wedding, of Lewis E. Jennings and
wife.
Although the weather was bitter
cold and the roads in an extremely icy
condition. over seventy neighbors,
friends and relatives were present.
Among these were all the living chill
dren and grandchildren, and of those
who attended their wedding fifty years
ago, the brother, Squire L. Jennings
and wife, Mrs. Nancy Cole and A. J.
Jennings were present. Those at the
first wedding living but not present
are Mrs. David Jennings, of Ravenna,
kept at h ONE by her illness, Mrs. E.
A. Whittlessy, Tower City, Dakota,
an d Mrs. Listina. Green.
In the present shifting, restless con-
dition of American life, the career of
father Jennings has an exceptional
and peculiar interest. He is now the
oldest continuous resident of Ravenna
was born July IA, 1911, on the home
stead farm, where he has ever since
| lived. He courted and married mis-
wife and all his children were born
under the same roof. Helped to clear
the old homestead of its forests and
has made all the now visible improve
ments, and with his plow has turned
it's surface over and over. He knows
every obstruction, and it seems that to
him every stone and pebble must be
familiar objects. Here all the associa-
tions of his life center. Recollections
of his childhood, of brothers and sisters,
of parents, courtship and marriage,
and birth of his children. Here his
parents went to their final rest, and
some of his children. Memories, joy
Gus and sad, all connected with the
dear old home. Within his memory
this county and State have been chang
ed from a comparative wilderness into
we'll cultivated and fruitful farms, the
roads Iioa4 the bride path and cordu-
roy to their present condition. Small
hamlets have grown to cities, and in
the implements and methods of his
own calling there has been a complete
revolution. The wooden plow, heavy
hoe, iron fork, scythe, sickle, fail and
fan of his boyhood have given place to
the improved implements of today.
These old friends, once useful and nee
essary, have long since been laid away
and no farmer would now think of
boasting he could reap and bind an
acre of wheat, or NOW three acres of
grass in day. And I am sure that
mother Jennings does not regret that
the old cards, spinning wheel and
loom are no longer part of the neces-
sary employment of well regulated
household.
In the year 1832.a four horse wagon,
containing the family and worldly
possessions, OF the owner, started from
Pennington, Maine, on the long and
tedious journey to Warren Co., Ohio.
A daughter of that family, Miss Eliza
beth Knowlton, was the future bride
and present wife of Lewis E. Jennings.
During the journey she frequently
drove the four-horse team-a feat re-
quiring no little skill when we consid-
er the state of the roads at that time,
and one which few of the girls of today
could accomplish. After weeks of
weary travel, in October they reached
Ravenna, putting up and staying to
rest themselves and weary team at the
house of Lewis father, who, at all
earlier day had migrated from the
same town. They were received with
the old time hospitality, the family
were rested and the teams recruited,
but the time soon came when the jour-
ney must be resumed. In the mean
time Lewis and Elizabeth had become
acquainted and like other
Youths and maidens sitting in the moon.
| Dreamed DER the old fond dream from which
| we wake TOO soon -
Lewis saw prize within his reach
and with his ualshrewdness, resoiv-
ed to make it his. He convinced the
parents that it would be a good thing
to tighten their load by leaving tbs
daughter, and Oh his part agreeing to
take her on the next summer.
might tell of the long cozy eve
nings spent by these happy lovers in
the chimney corner by the old kitchen
fireplace, but the young of today could
not appreciate it, and the old folks all
know how it was themselves. Lewis
90 doubt was an ardent lover and soon
said: "Your mother needs son, my
parents want daughter" So, on
January 2zd, 1888, they were married.
The wife, widely separated from all of
her own kindred. cast her lot with
her husbands relatives, and among
strangers.
The following Summer; Lewis, true
to his, promise, started with his wife
on bridal tour to Warren Co., to see
her pal oncs, travelling in one-horse
wagon, or Dearborn, as it was some
times called, vehicle without springs
but stylish in those days, and the best
conveyance to be had, a wide contrast
between it and the Pullman car of to-
day. The journey occupied as many
| days then as hours new.
The bridal tour over the couple re-
turned to their home and the young
wife to her household duties, rearing
large family and caring for and min
istering to the comfort of the aged
father and mother of her husbandS
which they continued to do until their
death, discharging that difficult duty
so as to retain their love to the last.
Mother Jennings life has been one Of
toll and forgetfulness of self, and I
am sure I do not pay her too high q
compliment when 1 say she is the
peer Of those best of women, the Pio-