The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-07-05
GOLDEN WEDDING.
Hon, and Mrs. j. H. Darling Celebrate
This Happy Event.

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With the passing years golden weddin
anniversaries are becoming more rare, an
when a worthy couple in town or city reac
together the fftieth milestone of their wed
ded life the event is not allowed to pass un
noticed For this reason and because O
the prominence and solid worth of Hon. an
Mrs. Jonathan X. Darling of GrotoD, tha
town was last Saturday in holiday attire i
honor OF their golden wedding anniversar.
that was there being celebrated.
For many weeks the townspeople o.
Groton and the relatives OF the venetabl,
couple, near and far, have been preparing
for this event. and there is not person IL
this prosperous Caledonia county town bu
took an hon st pride in wnat was trans
pirng in their midst.
A brief sketch OF the lives of Judge Dar
ling and his wife is Of peculiar interest al
this time. j. r. Darling was born in Groton
seventy-five years ago, and in that town his
entire life OF usefulness has been spent
His father was Of English and his mother
OF Scotch stock, and they were among the
very first settlers Of the good old New Eng.
educated at Peachsm Academy, and Phil
lips Academy, Danville. In 1847 he be-
| came member of the firm of Welch, Oar
ling & Clark. This firm did business for
ten years, and on its dissolution Mr.. Dsr-
| ing went into general trade.
menced business. Their trade in lumber
for eighteen years was very extensive. In
1883 the firm Of j. r. Darling q Sons was
formed. Until 1897 they did an extensive
lumber and mercantile business. They
owned large tracts of land in Peacham, and
the products of their mills went all over
New England and beyond it's borders.
This firm, at the present time, has large
interest in the granite business that is in
process of development at Groton.
Judge Darling has been honored with
many offices of trust and responsibility.
For thirty-eight years he was town clerk
and treasurer OF Groton. He represented
the town in the legislature of 1857 and 1858,
was senator from Caledonia county in 1880
and 1881, and assistant judge of Caledonia
county court from 1869 TO 1872.
Although still active in business and in-
terested in present events, as Judge Dar-
ling lets the lights of memory stream back
ward he can recall many of the old-time
people and events that Will soon be forgot
ten history. The "old bogus" of Bristol
Bill counterfeiting money fame, is now used
for barn at the home where to-day Judge
and Mrs. Darling are entertaining their
friends and neighbors.
In writing or speaking of Mrs. Darling
words flow easily. Her children indeed
have reason to "rise up and call her blessed"
She was the third child and eldest daughter
Of John and Phoebe Taisey, who came to this
country from Scotland in 1871. Mrs. Dar-
ling, too, has always lived in Groton. Her
father made the first and only brick house
ever built in Groton. 1t still stands, and is
to-day practically furnished as 1t was when
occupied by her aged parents, who died
many years ago. Mrs. Darling has relics
of her girlhood days in such articles as the
spinning wheel and carpet loom, once ar
ticles of utility but now used for ornament.
She was once an expert in the use OF both
and says she could use them again II neces-
sary, which, happily, it is not.
Mrs. Darling has two brothers living.
Winona, MINI. She also has three sisters
Mrs. William Kicker Of Woodsville, N.
H., Mrs. w. s. Darling OF Barnet, and Mrs.
1. NJ. Kicker of GrotOn. 1t is curious CO.
incidence that these four sisters married
two Darling brothers and two Kicker broth
ers.
Judge and Mrs. Darling have six chill
dren-namely, Cyrus t. Darling, business
manager of the Davenport, Iowa, Democrat,
Walter b., also in business in Davenport,
Mrs. DIR. S. N. Eastman of Groton, and
John T., Nelson r., and Elmer E., all in
business with their father. This family
circle was complete and all the children
were assisting their parents in receiving the
congratulations and honors that fall
thick as snowtlakes on their silvered heads.
The invitation to the house was general,
for the afternoon and evening. Every tram
the townspeople turned out en- masse
to pay their respects to the bride and groom
OF fifty years ago. Among the clergymen
present that afternoon were Rev. j. A.
Sherburne of Barre, former pastor, Rev.
w. 1. Todd, Rev. Samuel Clough and Rev
John H. Evans of Groton, and Rev. Will
liam Wiley of Ryegate, all of whom made
brief congraiulatory remarks
Under the direction of Mrs. Alma Smith
of Montpelier, an expert caterer, every one
present was served with bountiful re-
past The tables were prettily decorated
with wild rhododendrons and other flow
ers, and fifty people could easily be seated
at one time. These tables were several
mes filed
The interior of Judge Darling spacious
house had been transformed into floral
paradise, with fresh cut flowers nodding q
welcome on every hand. From the upper
story handsome flag was floating, and the
grounds in the evening were brilliantly
| lighted with scores OF chinese lanterns. AT
the evening gathering Mrs. j. B. Darling of
Barre read an original poem written
for the occasion, old-time songs were
sung and informal speeches made.
Letters and kilograms OF congratulation
as we'll as letters OF regret have been pour
| ing in upon Judge and Mrs. Darling foI
the past two days. On Saturday they re'
ceived coDgratulatory cablegram from
Edinburgh, Scotland, from j. j. Richard
|
who is now travelling through Europe on q
bridal trip.
Rev. Mr.. Gale, the clergyman who offici
ated at the first wedding, is not living
Thoroughly enjoyable it is to talk with
Mrs. Darling Of the struggles and triumphi
OF their earlier life, and OF the changes tina
have come since that time She exhibiti
with especial pride beautiful table clothi
and towels woven by her own hands, anC
grateful thoughts partially choked her ut
terance as she spoke to the reporter OF he
pride in her boys and girls, all Of whom ar,
honoring their parents and making TO-
themselves honorable records In the world
Mrs. Darling was one of family OF sew
enteen children. All her children and al
her grandchildren but one, Cyrus Eastman
now in Denver, Col, are under the oil
home roof today
Judge Darling was in the early years o
his life an old-line Whig. In 1856 he join
ed the Republican party, and has ever sine
been an ardent advocate Of protection &
American labor and American industry.
| In q aiHahnard m a dining w a .