The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-03-31
Golden Wedding.

Fifty years ago on March 18th Phillips
Hill of East Montpelier and Elvira Dodge
of Barre were united in marriage by Rev.
George Putnam, the Methodist preacher at
Barre, and as the last few months of their
half-century of married life were rounding
out, their friends and members of their
family have been making preparations to
celebrate their golden wedding. The re-
suit was that the afternoon and evening of
March II will be pleasantly remembered by
many long after the venerable couple, in
whose honor the company gathered, shall
have joined the silent majority" Mr..
Hill was born and brought up on the farm
where he now lives, and has always lived
there, with the exception of a few years
spent in Barre. Mr.. and Mrs. Hill are both
hale and hearty, in their seventy-ninth and
seventy-seventh years respectively. Eight
children have been born to them, six of
whom are still living, and all, with one ex-
cepton, Mrs. A. b. Leonard of Chicago
were g at home with their parents on this
occasion. They We're S. w. Hill, East
Montpelier with whom the aged couple now
reside; j. p Hill, Worcester, Mass. Mrs. l.
Gilmont, Barre; Asa ID. Hill, Whitefeld, n
H.; DIR. M. w. Hill, Ackley, Iowa. All
these children are an honor to their parents
and hold positions of prominence and use
| fulness in the several communities where
| they reside, both socially and in business.
They have buried one daughter, Mrs. j. F.
Holmes, and one son, Henry H., who was
| II
mont Regiment, and who fell in the service
of his country. One brother of Mr.. Hill was
present, Samuel Hill of Waterville, n. Y.
his first visit in thirty-eight years. Mr.. Hill
has been lifelong member of the Baptists,
and his estimable wife of the Methodists
| Only three persons were present who wit
messed the first wedding-Mrs. Sowles of
Barre, n. b. Dodge of Berlin and Samuel
Hill of Waterville n. Y. Nineteen grand
children are living, eight of whom Were
present. In the afternoon supper was
served and in the evening cake and coffee.
A goodly delegation of the Baptists of Mont
pelier were present in the afternoon, and
left substantial tokens of their regard.
| After supper their pastor, Rev. Il. ID. Mason
of Montpelier, called the company to order
and, after a brief but fervent prayer, pre-
sented them with a table laden with gifts, a
list of which is given below. In the even
ing music was furnished by the young peo-
pie, Letters of regret We're read by Mrs.
Horace Putnam. One of them, from Hosea
and Paulina Heath of Hamburg n. Y, was
a gem that well deserves reproduction, but
space forbids owing to its length. Also
letters from Lewis Dodge and wife, Chicago
A. G. Dodge, Monroe, Wis, and Washing
ton Hill, Monroe, Wis. contained gold coin
which were touchingly beautiful and appro-
pirate The following telegram was also
received;
HELENA, MONTANA, March II, 1856.
Mr.. and Mrs Philips mn, East Montpelier =!
Across the continent we congratulate you at YOU
golden wedding. D. 4. DODGE.
Among the presents was nd-paintec
thermometer case and picture of himself
from George Wheeler, Gowanda, n. Y, il
his eighty-third year, with the following
original lines:
send you my likeness, all wrinkled and gray,
The original likely to soon pass away
fass over the stream, that dark, rolling river,
Where hope to lind rest forever and ever.
Among the other presents were two ele
giant easy-chairs-one for father" the othel
for " mother from the sons a purse of golo
coin $3.50 and silver ($20 from numerous
friends and relatives pair of towels, Mrs
Sowles; apron, Mrs. Samuel Hilli cap
basket Mrs. Joseph Hill pair OF towels
each from Mr.. and Mrs. w. ID. Smith ant
Mrs. Ann w, Burnham gold-lined napkin
ring. Mr.. and Mrs. W. IL. Maloy and Mr.
and Mrs. n. A. Cutler; elegant bouquet
flowers Mrs G. III. Guernsey and daughter
Montpelier neck-stock, j. =, Hill picture
OF herself and baby from Mrs, A. b.. Leon
ard, the absent daughter; album DAME
Hill, Waterville, n. Y; thermometer case
ID, Ii. Hill, Dedham, Mass, and an eiegah
copy OF " The Parallels OF Our LORD iron
w. II. Hill, Dedham, Mass. Notwithstand
ing the very bad condition OF the roads
nearly two hundred persons were presen
during the afternoon and evening. Mr., an'
Mrs Hill have always had the conhdenc
and respect of their neighbors and OF ell VIII
, know them; have both been lifelong an'
consistent Christians and the large com
pany that crowded the old homestead to 1t
; fullest capacity delighted to honor them ol
; this occasion.