The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-11-24
HALF CENTURY RESIDENTS.
Gather at Birthday Party Given by
Mrs. Alvord.

Gather at a Birthday PartV Given Dy
Mrs. Alvord.
The assembling of fourteen of the old
time lady friends of Mrs. Alvord at the
home of Mrs. j. Fl. Cooper on Park
avenue Friday afternoon was In
many respects one of the most notable
gatherings that has occurred in this
city in great many years, the occa-
sion being the seventy fifth birthday OF
Mrs. Alvord, the mother of Mrs. Cooper.
Those present were Madames Alvord,
Wells, Wharton, Parker, Robinson,
Bacon, Dewey, Leonard, Nicoll, Carter,
Holt, Burr, Hatch and Bartlett.
In point of age Mrs. Charlotte Bacon
was the Oldest, being nearly IS years OF
age; next to her Mrs. Mary Wells, 81
years; then Mrs. E. S. Hatch, 70; Mrs.
E. D. Holt, rs; Mrs. K. Fl. Leonard,
II; Mrs. R. Parker and Mrs. A. Bart
lett, rs; Mrs. j. Alvord, Is; Mrs. S. Ell.
Burr, Is; Mrs. Fl. Nicoll, 70; Mrs. G. A.
Dewey, "a; Mrs. M. Carter and Mrs. [.
Robinson, 81; Mrs. A. Wharton, 81.
All are pioneers in this county, hav-
ing lived in, or in the immediateevIcin-
ity of Kenosha for from torty-six to
sixty three years. Of the ladies pres
ent Mrs. S. FL. Burr is the Oldest set
tier, coming to Kenosha in August,
1885. In 1886 Madames Hatch, Holt,
Bacon and Alvord came; in 1913 Mrs,
Bartlett came; in 1915, Mrs. Carter;
1916, Mrs. Leonard and Mrs. Dewey;
l849, Mrs. Nicoll; 1852, Madames
Wells, Wharton and Robinson came.
After the ladies had assembled Mrs.
Cooper called in Mr.. Petersen and had
group photograph of the ladies taken.
Afterwards the ladies sat in their
easy chairs and had an old fashioned
afternoon visit, comparing what the
Young folks of today consider their
| hard times with those the pioneers
experienced.
In the relation of their experiences
were many incidents of the spinning
wheel and loom-the old time quilting
the husking bees-they had parties
then and dances, instead of balls, re-
ceptions and tunctions-went visiting
in the afternoon instead of calling, and
as one old lady remarked, /" took their
babies with them and were proud OF
them, too"
In those days the Thanksgiving tur-
key and Christmas goose somehow
tasted different than they do now, and
at church the ministers preached a
sermon from text in the bible instead
of giving talk or lecturing, and every
body "jest riz up and sung the hymn
and was attentive to the sermon"
The period from 81 TO '66 was. IAN in
teresting topic to them, some of the
ladies having had sons in the army,
and some had seen the horrors of hos
pitals-camp and general.
The Spanish American war came in
! for share of their consideration, and
all were strong in their belief that the
United States should retain the terri
tory over which it now has control.
After spending the afternoon in a
real old fashioned way, at 5 O'Clock
they were invited to the dining room,
vhere they sat down to table taste
fully decorated, and presided over by
Mrs. Cooper, and were served with
delicacies by Mrs. Alvord's grands
daughter, Mrs. Blanche Christian, as
sisted by Mrs. j. B. Davidson.
After tea and few parting words
they separated for their homes, never
to meet again, perhaps, until that
meeting on the other shore"
Well might they say:
| life! we've been long together,
Through pleasant and through stormy
| weather,
| Ills hard to part when friends are dear.
Perhaps twill cost sigh or tear
Then steal away-give little warming,
Choose thine own time-say not 'good night -
But in some brighter cline bid me good
morning.