Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-01-08
VERNON.
The yyhIthed Golden wedding.

The informal reception given by Mr.. and
Mrs. Addison Withheld upon their golden
wedding anniversary Tuesday, Jan. 8, was
particularly pleasant and long to be re-
membered occasion. Nearly all Of the Yer
non people came to congratulate them dur
ing the afternoon and evening and quite a
company came from Brattleboro at 4:35
and returned at 0:30. Messrs. Frank
Brasor and Fred Swift furnished most en-
tertaning music appropriate to the occa-
sion. Especially so was the song DARBY
and JOAN" which seemed to inspire j. A.
Brown, Esq, with many pleasing recollec-
tions of the past lives of the bride and
groom, as when called upon he related
many pleasant anecdotes from the time of
their marriage down, and stated that they
were the fifth couple, who were married
about the same time in this town, who
have lived to see their golden wedding an
niversary, making one couple in 90 as the
average in this place, and as it is said only
one in 1000 is the general average, Vernon
appears to be good town to live in. Roll
lin Childs of Brattleboro supplemented
these remarks somewhat humorously, re-
ferring to Mr.. Whithed's remarkably long
service as postmaster, having been in &C
tual service as clerk from 1S45 to 1860 and
his commission dating Feb. 20, 1860, and
| continuing to the present time; also to his
weekly trips to Brattleboro every Tuesday
| during the past 80 years to attend the
meetings of the board of trustees of the
Vermont Savings bank, on which occasions
| it has been his custom to attend to multi
| tude of errands, which, at a penny each,
would have made Mr. Withheld a multi
millionaire.
A very happy surprise of the evening
was the presence of DR.. j. B. Learned of
| Northampton, whose first settlement as a
| physician was in this town in 1866 and at
the hotel of Mr.. Withheld, where he first
"put out his shinge" The doctor paid
the highest compliments to his host and
| hostess of those days and to the entertain
ment of the Withheld hostelry, and in re-
| ply to some questions alluded to the ne
cessity of better instruction in hygiene and
better physical and moral culture in our
schools to enable the coming generation to
celebrate golden weddings.
Although it was well understood that
| Mr.. and Mrs. Withheld wished no presents
from, but the presence of, their friends, it
was thought best to discipline them little
and in behalf of the Vernon people NJ. |.
Reed requested them to accept a purse of
$50 in gold, and their son, II. l.. Withheld,
of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and daugh-
ter, Mrs. c. F. Kenney, of Danvers, sent
them $50. Other choice memorials were
sent, including a choice book and flowers
from friends in Brattleboro, and box Of
most beautiful roses and flowers from Bos-
! ton.
Refreshments consisting of sandwiches,
| cake, coffee, fruit and confectionery, of
Mrs Whithed's best, were served during
the afternoon and evening.
Mr.. Withheld is descendant of John
Withheld of Boston tea party fame, and
Mrs Withheld from John Hawkes., who
was closely connected with the early strug-
giles in the settlement of Deerfied, Mass.
Mr.. Whithed's parents were Marshall and
Ruth Wright Withheld. Marshall Whit
he'd came from Mortified in the early
part of the century and built the yellow
building near Vernon Centre. He engag-
ed in the mercantile business and kept
public inn. Later he built the house now
owned and occupied by the son, Addison.
Marshall Withheld was appointed post
master April /, 1928, and the office has
ever since been at its present location with
the exception of about eight months, when
1t was held by Amos Washburn at Vernon
Station. Addison became clerk in 1915,
and on the death of his father in 1850 re-
celved the appointment, so that his service
as postmaster covers more than half cen
| tury-a record almost never equalled in The
history of the post-ofiice department.
He was the successor of his father as
| town clerk and treasurer, in which capac-
| ity he has served the town since 1857. He
was elected trustee of the Vermont Saw
! ings bank of Brattleboro in 1865, and has
ever since been actively identified with the
prosperity of that leading institution. Mr..
! Withheld was the representative from Yer
non in the general assembly of Vermont
in 1872 and in 1876. He has also filed
many offices of trust and honor, the duties
of which he has uniformly discharged
with scrupulous fidelity.
| Mr.. Withheld was born Jan. 80. 1924,
and he was one of a family of three bows
and five girls. One brother, L. F. Whit
he'd of Bernardston, Mass, and four
sisters,-Luca A. Miller of St. Paul,
Adeline Coan Isabelle and Sylvania Whit
he'd of Cambridgeport, Mass still
! living.
Mrs. Withheld was Edith Lee, one of the
five children of Major Eli and Rebekah
Lee of Vernon. She has one brother and
sister living-Rev. DR.. John S. Lee of
Canton, n. Y, and Miss Hattie r. Lee of
] ' tIuOus
Mr.. and Mrs. Withheld were married at
the home of the brides parents, Rev. VIM.
5. Ballou of West Brattleboro officiating.
Mrs. Whithed's brother and sister, and two
of Mr.. Whithed's sisters who were present
at the wedding are still living.
Three children were born to Mr.. and
Mrs. Withheld. One son, Ernest, died in
early youth. Hamilton Lee Withheld
graduated from Tufts college, studied law
in Boston, and is now in business in Grand
/ Forks, North Dakota. He is vice presi-
/ dent of the Vermont Loan and Trust com
| pany and served for time as the MAYOR of
Grand Forks. The only daughter, Isadora
T., is wife of c. f. Kenney of the CONT
| mental National bank of Boston. Mr.. and
Mrs Kenney live in Danvers, Mass. Mr..
and Mrs. Withheld have been prominent
workers in every worthy cause in Vernon
Tor half century, and have been among
the most active supporters of the Univer-
salist church. All their acquaintance
join in congratulating them on reaching
this golden land mark, and unite in wish
ing them peaceful and happy journey I'M
I'll they reach the golden sunset of life.
Mrs. Bell is among the sick ones.
Gilbert Ray has had another shock of
DaralVsis -