St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-16
THE COL EN- ANNIVERSARY
A Reception TO Mr. and Mrs. John
DE Grazy OH the FifIieIh Anniver.
sary of their Marriage.

'Tis fifty years-the VOWS oflove unbroken,
Recall the scenes of that December day
When first so long ago, the words were
spoken,
And life's united gear began to play.
Mr.. and Mrs. John De Graw were ten
dered reception in Unity church club
rooms last evening in honor of the hftleth
anniversary of their marriage. Mr. and
Mrs. De Graw have been for years proml-
nent members of Unity church, and nearly
every member, old and young, was present
last evening to extend personal congratula-
tons on the event. Mr.. De Graw, who Is
the head of the firm of j. De Graw & Sons,
is a hale and active, though gray-haired,
man, rs wears of age. He was born in
Pennsylvania. and, when about 20 years
old went to Cincinnati. Mrs. De Graw is
native of Bath, Eng. and SO years old.
She came to Cincinnati when s years OF
age. At the present time her health is
not very good, having suffered from an
acute illness about week ago. She was,
however. carried to the church in a chair
last evening. and received her friends sit
ting. Her maiden name was Mary Farmer,
and she and Mr.. De Graw were married in
Cincinnati Dec. Is. 1886. They were original
abolishonistS, belonged to an abolition
church in Cincinnati and were active pro-
motors of the famous underground rail-
road" by which so many slaves escaped to
Canada.
THEY CAME TO ST. PAUL
in 1858. and have resided here ever since.
They have three children, they being
Mrs. David Ramaley, Hiram G. and Sgd
ney r. De Graw, both sons in business with
their father. Mr.. and Mrs. Ramaley and
the two sons and their wives aided the
elderly couple last evening in receiving
their friends, fully 200 of whom were pres
ent. including nearly every member OF the
church as stated and number OF Others,
including Mr.. and Mrs. Peter Berkey, Mr..
and Mrs IL. G. Gates, Rev. and Mrs.
Richard Hall, Lowell s. Weymouth, Min
neapolis: Mrs. George HendrickSon and
Charles E. Mayo. After all had extended
congratulations Mr.. Ramaley called the
assembly to order and read few congratu-
Iations from friends unable to be present.
Rev. Clay MacCauley, recently pastor OF
the church. sent his sentiments In little
poem entitled Weaving" the first stanZa of
which is given above Rev. A. A. LiyermOre
of the theological seminary at Meadville,
Pa, an old neighbor of Mr.. and Mrs. De
GraW in Cincinnati, sent very cordial
letter. Mr.. Ramaley read a letter also
from the Rev. Christopher r. Elliott, of
Dorchester Mass, who, as president of the
Dorchester branch of the Society of True
Helpers. sent greetings to Mrs. De Graw,
who organized the society and gave it its
name. Miss Della Long read short origi-
nal poem. Mr.. RamaIey read poem writ
ten for the occasion by Rev. w. G. Gannett
of Chicago. ex-pastor of the church. At
the conclusion of these exercises the whole
party passed down stairs to the parlor and
seated themselves for refreshments. Nh
and Mrs. De Graw and the family took
places in front of the stage curtain. on
which was fixed two pieces of cord knotted,
representing two lives linked together, with
the dates 1886 1886. A very pleasant hour
was passed in discussing the refreshments
and the anniversary.