The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-10-24
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
Joyful Golden Wedding, Bright Day
and Beautiful Presents.

A Joyful Golden Wedding, Bright Day
and Beautiful Presents.
The golden wedding of Mr.. and Mre.
d. r. Kellerman was celebrated on
Sunday. October 4th, 1896. at their
beautiful home, Vine Wood, north of
Mound City, Kansas. The unbroken
family of ten children participated in
the festivities of the occasion, coming
from their homes in Massachusetts.
Ohio, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas.
During the previous week the various
members have been arriving, and when
thel asst came in, the parental house was
overlooking.
The weather was charming and the
celebration was delightful in every re-
spect. Nearly 200 guests from Mound
City and vicinity joined in the pleasure
of the occasion.
The presents we're very numerous.
The children gave two beautiful gold
watches, the people of Mound City and
elsewhere presented two easy chairs,
two large portraits of Mr.. and Mrs.
Kellerman. two pictures, large sack of
flour, golden thimble, spoons, fruit
dish, pens, stamp holder. vases, bowls
and other appropriate gifts.
The exercises before noon were en-
tirely private. the children and grand
children participating. The little ones
carried branches of golden rod which
they waved, cheering Justify, when the
presents were offered. At intervals
they repeated in concert:
Happy days roll onward
Leading up the golden year.
Finally procession was formed,
headed by the youngest, passing in
front of the grandparents and express
ing their sentiments in profusion of
kisses and shouts of good cheer.
When the guests arrived in the after
noon. they we're received by Mr.. and
Mrs. Kellerman, assisted by the sons
and daughters. They passed under an
arch Of goldenrod at the porch, thence
through the parlor and the north room
where the presents were displayed and
then found seats in the shade by the
east porch. Here the concluding exer-
cises took place. These consisted of
brief addresses by Mr.. Williamson, one
of the sons-in-l and by the Rev. Mr..
Lift, friend of the family; also the
reading of few of the many letters of
congratulation from distant friends.
The three generations represented
are the 4th, 9Th, and 9th. of the Keller
man family in this country. Frederick
Kellerman, descendant of Napoleon's
marshal of that sirname, came from HoI-
land during the Revolutionary war. but
deserted the British at once and assis-
ted the Americans. After the war he
married and remained in Pennsylvania
where the succeeding families resided
In 1910 D. X. Kellerman came to central
Ohio, then the far West, untraversed by
railroads. He married Ivy Ashbrook,
October 4th. 1876. In Fairfield county
he cleared and cultivated large farm
which before many years he paid for by
persistent and we'll directed labor. Here
most of the children were reared. Later
he moved to his present place and soon
C inverted it into a model farm on which
is seen fine herd of short horn cattle,
Mr.. Kellerman has persistently refused
~ frsn dc 20
cept political offices. though his interest
in politics is deep. He has devoted
himself to his chosen work and his sue
cess has been commensurate with his
efforts. He has always been leader in
public improvements and interested in
everything that looks to the elevation
of mankind.
All the children but one are married
and many professions and occupations
are represented. Two are farmers, one
is lawyer, one University professor.
one Universalist minister. Rev r. S.
Kellerman, of Orange, Mass. one agent
in the U. S. postal service. and the
others are engaged in the mercantile
business. One son-in-law is farmer
and the other banker. In the language
of many of the friends, the mother of
such family may well be proud of her
sons and daughters.
The latter part Of the day was spent
in social intercourse, during which
time refreshments were served. The
guests departed at shutdown and thus
ended this bright and ever to be re-
membered golden day.