Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1895-01-18
Family Gathering.

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Christmas day (Which was the fiftieth
anniversary of their marriage) pass
ed of very pleasantly. There were
not as many present as were expect-
ed, on account of the severity Of the
weather, but those that were there
seemed to enjoy themselves. The
following sketch was written and
read by grand daughter:
''Fitty years ago to>day at her
fathers house in Troy township, in
the presence of friends and relatives.
a young girl gave her hand in mar
rage to the choice Of her heart.
They then started amidst the sound
of the merry sleigh bells for pleas
ant ride TO the city Of Elmira. They
shortly moved to Wyoming county,
to start their new life near the banks
of the Susqnehanna. In couple of
years fair young life was given to
their keeping, but only for few
short weeks when it was called to
bloom in paradise. 1t was very
hard for the young parents to part
with their darling girl. Within the
next two years son was bern to
them, how fond The father Of his
little boy. During this time they
lived in a number Of different places,
as the husband worked in saw mills.
Two years latter they moved to
Blakely, in Luzerne county (now
l.ackawanna) where a daughter was
born to them. They passed through
some hardships from different causes
they were not sick and knew what
poverty meant. After ten years of
married life spent in Wyoming Co.,
and L,izerne they made up their
minds to try the far West, but when
they reached Elmira the mother
wished to see her parents before
proceeding farther. On reaching
her childhood home, her parents
persuaded them to remain near them
so they settled down within a short
distance of her old home, where they
sent their children to school, When
the little girl was nine years old the
mother was called to the bedside of
her brothers dying wife, who left
three motherless girls, the eldest
eight years and the youngest but
five days old; she took them into her
family and was as a mother to them
for seven years, and the baby, until
her marriage. Lo! what is this
The sound of carnage in our land {;
which called many of the fathers
and sons of our country to the field
of battle, away then went the father
OF the motherless babes, next she
bids adieu to the companion of her
life and sees him 60 forth to join the
soldiers fighting for their country.
she was left to take care of her fami
ly as best she could; her son was
now fourteen, and large enough 10
help his mother carry on the work
of the farm. AS they were now iiv.
ing on the old homestead. her par
ents being aged and needing some
one there, their choice fell on them
to he the stay of their old age.
Time passed on one day while at
dinner, who should open the door.
but the long absent husband and
father; what joyous meeting, ex-
cept for the thought that he had re-
turned for only few short weeks.
when he must return to duty. When
he went, their son went too, for the
far distant Carolinas; but the Lord
watched over them there, as will as
the ones remaining at home, and the |
years soon passed, that again saw
peace in our happy land. Two |
years later, her mother was called to |
the golden shore; her father remain.
ed with them five years longer. In
The mean time their son had married
and had two little sons that were the
Joy OF their grandparents at that
time, for they were bright little
boys. The aged grandfather loved
The eldest one very dearly but did
not live to know much of the other
one. Time passes on and her two
girls leave for homes Of their own.
After this they removed to their
mountain home, al which
hey are living in their old age, with
.nme of their grand children around
hem, most OF the time. They have
wo grandsons. nine granddaughter
nd the niece they brought up, has
wO sons and two tlnuvhtera-