Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-09-15
MARRIED so YEARS.
Mr.. and Mrs. j. w. SimOnds's
Celebration
Five Couples who Have Been Married
Halfa Century Among the Guests.

At Their Flat Street Home Saturday.
Five Couples Who Have Been Married
Halfa Century Among the Guests.
Over 800 people called at the Flat street
home of Mr.. and Mrs. j. w. Simonds be-
tween the hours of and p. NJ. Saturday
to congratulate them on the celebration of
their golden wedding anniversary. The
rooms in which Mr.. and Mrs. Smonds re-
ceived their guests were literally filled with
flowers which were sent to them. The
parlor was banked on two sides with gold
en- rod and golden glow, and in front of
these banks stood Mr.. and Mr.. Smonds,
Mr.. and Mrs. S. w. Edwards, and Mrs.
Simonds's three sisters who were present
at the wedding ceremony 80 years ago. Col
Fl. E. Taylor, Linn D. Taylor and Clayton
Thomas of Boston acted as ushers. The
grounds in front of the house were illu'
minated with incandescent lights and re-
freshments were served on the lawn by
Caterer Miller. Among those present at
the reception we're five couples who have
already celebrated their 50th wedding all
niversary: Mr.. and Mrs. Thatcher Perry,
Mr.. and Mrs. o. A. Alvord, Mr.. and Mrs
Lockhart Barrett, Mr.. and Mrs. Martin
Scott and Mr.. and Mrs. George Cutler.
Mr.. and Mrs Simonds were the recipi-
ents of many valuable presents in addition
to the flowers which were sent to them.
They also received numerous letters and
kilograms of Oongratulation from out-of-
town friends.
Joseph w. Simonds is native of Swan
zey Factory, n. H., being born there Nov
l, 1927. He was one of the family of 10
children of Elisha and Lydia (Guild) ST.
monds, who moved to Keene, N H., when
their son Joseph was three months old
Young Simonds attended the schools at
Keene until he was about II and then
came to Brattleboro and entered the tan
merry of the Goodhue, Chaplin company,
which was situated on the site of the old
Valley mill. He remained in the employ
of that concern seven years, learning the
trade of tanner and currier, and then went
to work in the Centreville tannery where
he remained for about four years.
After leaving the tanning business Mr.
Simonds, together with Frank Tarbell
bought out the stage lines between Brattle-
boro and Wilmington and Brattleboro and
Keene, N. ii. These they carried on for
three years, finally selling them to Frank
Whitney of Wilmington. Mr.. Simonds
was for II years employed in the meat
market owned by Hannibal Hadley. Since
bhOh hO has uau uO regular employment,
although at different times he has driven
for the livery stables. Mr.. Simonds has
kept boarding stable at his Flat street
home for several years past.
At Brattleboro, Sept. 8, 1849, Mr. ST.
monds married Sarah Jane Walker,
daughter of Samuel and Wealtheon (Buck)
Walker, the ceremony being performed by
Rev. @. r. Moore. Mrs. Simonds was
born in Middlebury December 10, 1924.
Her parents afterwards moved to Lewis,
N. Y, and later to Fort Ann, N. Y,
coming to Brattleboro short time before
their daughters marriage. Mrs. Slmonds
has three brothers: Henry W., and Morti-
mer b., living in Colorado, and Sylvester
r., of Springfield, Mass. and three sis
tiers, Mrs. w s. Barrows of Hinsdale, N.
H., Mrs. @. NJ. Holton of Concord, N. H.,
and Mrs. L. w. Ford of Greenfield, Mass.
Mr.. Simonds's only brother, George W.
Simonds, is living in Boston. He also has
one sister, Mrs. M. T. VanDoorn, and
one half-sister, Mrs. H. A. Reynolds.
Mr. and Mrs. Simonds had three chill
dren, two of whom died in infancy. Their
one daughter, Mrs. S. w. Edwards, lives
with them, and they also have one grand
daughter, Miss leila Edwards.
Mr.. Simonds was for 10 years a mem.
Der of the village police force. He has be-
longed to Wantastiquet lodge since 1863
and is also member of the Knights of
Honor,