The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-01-07
Ouer the Bridge Of Memory
and
Orer the Bridge of Hope.

Over the Bridge of Memory
The fifty years have come
To twine their tokens lovingly
Around the heart and home.
One with the bridal wreath. SO fair
AS that of Forty
Each with the growth of love and care
The passing years have given.
One with the Laurels of the Field
OF Salem Heights. that gave
The brave right arm, our homes to shield,
Our country's life to save.
And while it guards the victory won.
Its labors do not cease;
The good left arm it's work has done,
In all these years of peace.
Thus come they with the fruit between,
The golden tinted leaves,
The promise in their golden sheen
OF coming golden sheaves.
Over the Bridge of Hope they come
To meet these memories:
To ask for this beloved home
All future ministries.
The crowning OF each coming year
With goodnes as of yore;
Reunion, and reunion here.
And at the Fathers door.
The leading OF the hand divine
Along the valley road.
And over all the streams of time,
Until the welcome word
Is spoken by the loving throng
To whom the bliss is given
To join the household and the song
OF God Is redeemed in Heaven.
This bride and groom of fifty years
hold and enjoy high place in the
esteem of the people of Morristown. The
former was Miss Mary Jane Sweet, a
native of New York state, and the latter,
William Woodruff Beers, was born III
Morristown. They were married at
Honesdale, Pa, December 81, 1S47--each
about one hundred miles from home
and have resided in Morristown ever
since.
Through this family there runs a
marked patriotic vein and record for
its exhibit that is enviable. Thir-
ty five years ago, in August, 80,
Mr.. Beers leftshis home and family and
went to the front, serving in Company
G of the gallant Fifteenth New Jersey.
under Captain Ira J.. Lindsey, until
May 8, 1868, the date Of the dread battle
Of Salem Heights, where a painful
wound caused the loss of his right arm,
about the same time that Captain Lind
sley lost his life. To-day Mr.. Beers, with
empty coat sleeve, is a familiar figure in
local Grand Army circles, where he is
held in high respect by his comrades.
Mr.. Beers now holds the position OF
of court crier in the Morris County
Courts, in which place he has served
well and faithfully for twenty-nine years.
On the side of Mrs. Beers there is also
an interesting patriotic history. Her
father, Lorin Sweet, served as captain
In the war of 1919, and many an inter
esting Renaissance did he tell of those
days, one Of particular note being the
story of an unsuccessful attempt to palm
off some seasonable horsemeat at an
officers dinner after months of privation
without meat. Mrs Beers can boast
also that her grandfather. Benjamin Ben.
edict, and an uncle, Noah Benedict,
served their country in the war Of the
Revolution.
Another interesting historical note
connects itself with the ancestry of Mr..
Beers. His grandmother, Mrs. William
Woodruff, whose maiden name was
Prucia Meeker, in the early days dwelt
at Lyons Farms near Elizabeth, and re-
called being driven with the family away
| from their home by the approach of the
British Soldiers in the Revolutionary
time. She herself was lost in the woocs
for some time, but a brother-in-law, in
the same party, was wounded and made
prisoner, taken to New York and never
again heard of by the family.
A large number of relatives and friends
called and extended congratulations
during the afternoon and evening; in.
Guiding the following: Mr.. and Mrs. j
Frank Beers and daughters Ella and
Olive and son Clarence Of Newark; Mr.
and Mrs. VIM. L. Beers and daughters
Lncy and Edna of Boonton; Miss julia
Beers, Morris Plains; Mr.. and Mrs. L. P
Burnett and daughter Lizzie and sor
Arthur, Newark; Rev. and Mrs. J
Macnaughtan. Mrs. Abbie A. Doty
Miss Carrie M. Schenck, Miss Maria G.
Schenck, Miss Emma Cory. Miss Nancy
Arnold, Miss Phoebe Casterline, Miss
Adeline Casterline, Mr.. and Mrs. Walter
Casterline, Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Var
Dorm, Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph II. Berry
Mr.. and Mrs. w. G.. Byram, j Soaring
johnson, Stephen Pierson, M. D., r. w
owen, NJ. D., Tneo. Pierson and Roy
Nelson Berry.
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