Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-05-07
THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING.
Uncle Henry Green and Wife Celebrated
the Fiftieth Anniversary-Oyer 200 Old
Neighbors and Friends Assisted
Them to Observe the
Occasion.

Occasion.
1t falls to the lot of but very few
couples to travel life's journey togeth'
er for fifty years, meeting and farinG
its ups and downs, its joys and sorrows
and finally at a ripe old age, in the
sunset of life, to have gathered about
them hosts OF friends to help celebrate
the anniversary of one of the most inn
portant events that can occur in the
life history of young people.
Such it was to Henry Green and wife
who live five miles west of this city, on
the state road in Grattan township on
one of the finest farms along that high
way.
His old neighbors intended to make
it surprise but we understand Uncle
Henry found it out and then told his
wife. The invitation cards read thusly:
"Pioneer surprise on Mr.. and Mrs.
Henry Green at their old home in
Grattan, Tuesday, April %, 1t being
their 5Oth wedding anniversary. No
presents. Picnic dinner by all at II
m. sharp. Pioneer address at p. IN.
by +. {. Watkins, followed by gen
eral old settlers love-feast. A chance
for all to tell their age and who killed
the bears, etc. Come early and meet
many OF the old neighbors and friends.
There were probably not less than
two hundred and fifty people present
and the numerous carriages that lined
the grounds about the house and barns
would have done credit to fourth Of
July celebration, or the grove of
Methodist camp meeting on big Sun
day. Uncle Henry and wife are pio-
neers of Grattan township and not
resident in this whole section of
country are more honored and re-
spected.
He came here in 1914 when not "A
up the land on which he has
always lived had resounded through
the forest and his nearest neighbor
Luther Cook, who came when he did
lived three miles away. His boarding
place was at Joseph Fisk's a distance
Of four miles from which place he
would walk early in the morning, do a
days work clearing up and return at
night his only companion being "a
trusty axe. Clark Demorest's father
and mother lived where Cary Epson
now resides in the same old house,
they had a daughter by the name of
Mary A. Demorest. Young Henry
Green had an eye on her and very
naturally his thoughts while laboring
to lay the foundation for a house
would run in the direction Of some one
to keep it for him and they soon cen
tered on Mary. So fifty years ago the
18th day of April they were married at
the Demorest residence and shortly
afterward began house keeping.
1t wasn't like the setting up of house
keeping that the young people OF today
enter into when they get married,
there was none of your fine ingram or
carpets, nor large bed-steads
with springs, nor sideboards, gasoline
stoves, patent creameries and the like.
Butter and eggs couldn't be carried to
market in elegant carriages, but these
young folks did not mind the incon-
venience and hardships of life in those
days they toiled early and late look
ing on the bright side whenever dis
confronted them, and
today are happier for it. A beautiful
farm and enough worldly goods to
make them comfortable in their de-
clining years is their reward. They
are the only couple and uncle Henry is
the only man living on the line of the
state road who has kept the old farm
and made it continual residence since
time OF purchase. Mrs NJ. ~. Lessi-
ter who weilds facile pen writes it up
as follows:
Never was there day of greater re-
joicing in Grattan than April 2Sth,
when 269 relatives and friends from II
different towns and cities gathered in
memory OF the fiftieth anniversary of
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Green's wedding.
Think of the joyous occasion SO seldom
realized and the meeting of friends
separated for years. Every room in
their pleasant home was sweet with
choice howers, tables were set out in
the yard and after sumptuous feast
on roast turkey, chicken PIE and all
the good things known to modern cook
ing came "a feast Of reason and flow of
soul" The literary exercises were
opened by singing "Blest be the tie
that binds" when o. l.. Watkins read
letter of congratulations from Rev.
and Mrs. G. G. Miller he being for
mer pastor Of Ashley, finishing with
a fine poem, also letter from their
daughter Gertie and husband, MIR. and
Mrs. George Stevens OF Towner, N. d.,
who were unable to be present, another
daughter Mrs. Frank Bowman of Oak
field, assisted by all her family sang
beautiful sunset of life" Mrs. Jerome