St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-05-11
A GOLDEN WEDDING.
Or. and Mrs. J. B. Darling Of South Ryegate
Celebrate on Tuesday.

and tasteiully decorated with flowers and
evergreens yesterday and in the afternoon
and evening the genial doctor and his
amiable wife received their many friends
with great delight and unbounded hos
ptality. A poem written by James b.
Darling entitled "The Story OF Fifty
Years" was read and was well received.
Poems were also given by Mr.. Jackson
of West Topsham and Shelton Field OF
Wells River. The 1S grandchildren pre-
scented them with writing desk and one
of their number read poem, telling in
most interesting way how each child had
earned the money for the gift. After
singing two verses OF a song composed
for the occasion, Rev. ]. ]. Hall made an
address, congratulating the worthy
couple on their fiftieth anniversary and
referring to some of their unique expert
ences in their early married life. Then
followed bountiul supper which all
enjoyed.
Six people were there who attended
the wedding so years ago: Robert
Nelson and Judge and Mrs. Darling OF
Groton, Scott Darling Of Barnet, William
Shew OF McIndoes, Mrs. Alex. Renirew.
Among the guests from out OF town were
DIR. Parker and Deacon and Mrs. Martin
from Peacham, A. G. Kennedy, Lowell,
Mass, Mrs. Duncan of Mclndoes, DR.,
Victor Darling of Lowell, Mass. All
present heartily congratulated the aged
"bride and groom" and earnestly hoped
they might live to celebrate their diamond
wedding.
DR.. lanes B. Darling was born in
Croton, Nov. %, 1922, being the son OF
John and Jennie Brock Darling. His
early lite was spent at his Groton home
followed by school life at the Caledonia
County Grammar School at Peacham
and Phillips Academy at Danville. In
the spring OF 1S4+, after teaching school
in Peacham Hollow, he commenced the
study of medicine with Dr. Nelson OF
Barnet, the Iather OF Dr. James X. Nelson
now of New York. When DR.. Nelson
moved from Barnet he studied with Dr.
John McNabb During this time Mr.
Darling taught in the country schools
three months each winter and was busy
in the hay fields every summer. In the
spring OF 1S47 he went to New York to
enter the New York city hospital. While
in that city he attended the clinics oil DR..
Mott and DR.. Willard Parker. Ether
had Just been discovered and was spar
ingly used by the medical profession.
This was also the time OF the terrible
ship fever epidemic. The New York
hospitals were so crowded with patients
that the overflow slept in tents surround
ing the hospitals.
From New York he went to Pittsfeld,
Mass, where he attended the Berkshire
Medical College and received his degree.
In the fall OF 1S47 he returned to his
home in Groton full hedged M. d.
On May 10, 1s4S, he was married to
Margaret Shaw OF Barnet. His wife
was the daughter of James and Jane
McPhee Shaw, both residents OF Barnet.
The ceremony was performed by Rev.
Thomas Goodwille, and was real old.
fashioned country wedding. At the time
of the marriage he was 25 years old and
the bride was 10.
The discovery OF gold in 40 excited
everybody and the present Klondikt
craze is but feeble comparison. 1t was
easy TO get up party for the gold fields
and in the TALL CT 81 DR.. Darling lett his
profession, his wife and two children and
with $500 in his pocket started tor Cal
ifornia by way of the lsthmus of Pan
ANA. He was in party OF IL, all from
this section and among the number was
William Kicker of Woodsville, the we'll
known and veteran cattle drover. The
journey across the isthmus was fraught
with difficulties and much of the trip was
made on foot. The party decided tc
locate at "Hangtown." now Placerville
Cal, about 20 miles from the spot where
Marshall first discovered gold. Instead
of the SIG day as anticipated Dr. Oar
ling found he was lucky to get work al
SIS day and that in the two years pre-
vious about all the gold had been picked
up. Alter six months OF experience
accompanied with plenty of homesck
ness and disgust, he started back with 6
companion over the same route which h
came a few months before. While cross
ing the isthmus both contracted tn,
dreaded Panama fever and his com
panion died. He reached his home il
Groton in June, 1852, where he resumed
his practice OF medicine He soon movec
to South Peacham, but resided Their,
only short time before coming to hi.
present home in South Ryegate.
Though DR.. Darling has led quiet ant
busy Ire he has seen some exciting times
When the war broke out he was mem
Der of the Vermont legislature, and thu
day Fort Sumter was bombarded h,
,,c,t., ha
Kansas. He received there the govern
or's call TOR an extra session OF the leg
islature, and Immediately started fo
home. As his route lay through citie
friendly to slavery and the southern
cause, he wisely kept his destination ant
his errand to himself. After two day
ofstagine he reached Lawrence, Kansas
whose streets were filled with Uniol
soldiers who were enlisting tor the wal
His next stage took him to Fort Leaver
worth, and from there his route lc
through Missouri, and on that rive
steamer no northerner would have bee
carried had he been known as such. A
Burlington, Mo-, he found the city gail
decorated with both the union and tn
confederate flags. Sunday was spent i
Chicago, where two regiments wer
mustered into service that day. He fir
ally reached Montpelier the day before tn
extra session convened After the at
journment OF the legislature he returne
to his home in South Ryegate, and wa
excused from military service because c
his health.
Though not an active politician, Dl
Darling has voted for every presiden
since 1874. He was an anti. mason,
whig, strong anti-slavery man, fire.
soiler and later a republican. Thout