Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-11-05
SKOWHEGAN.
THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING.
Or. and Mrs. Samuel r. conant Of Skowhegan
Celebrate That Event.


a full half century of married life for
Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Field Conant of
Slowhegan. and right royalty was the
day observed. Few as there are who
can celebrate an anniversary like this
and fewer yet who arrive at this stage
of life better preserved than the genial
doctor and his wife are, today.
For long time the Conant family
and their friends had looked forward
for this pleasant event and right well
were they prepared for it. During the
day, many of the friends of this hap
by couple called to extend their con-
gratulations, but the evening was es-
pecially set apart for receiving friends.
As much of the furniture as was pos
sible was taken from Mr.. Conant'S
pleasant home on Summer street and
it was a wise idea, for ere the evening
was even begun the house was filled to
overfioWing. Friends came by twos
and threes, yes. even by dozens and
scores and vet more came. Everyone
wished at least to drop in and pay
their respects to Mr., and Mrs. Conant,
but the large number that came hardly
allowed that they could do more than
this. 1t is safe to say that between
400 and 800 persons called 10 pay their
respects during the evening. lee cream
and cake was served to the guests by
several young ladies.
Shortly after 8 o'clock Cara bassett
Lodge. No. "a. |. o. O. f. and Priscilla
Rebekah Lodge No. Is, called on DR..
and Mrs. Conant in a body to extend
their best wishes and congratulations.
G. w. Cover, Esq. in behalf OF Cara
t1Ssett Lodge made a speech which
would satisfy the most critical, and in
closing presented Mr.. Conant with an
elegant gold headed silk umbrella. in
scribed with the name of the lodge and
the occasion on which it was presented.
Ii anyone knows the doctor they will
know he is not easily ratified. nor was
he on this occasion; but responded
with his usual easy manner. Next in
order Mrs. J. II. Hutchins, for the
Priscilla Rebekah Lodge, pre-
scented Mrs. Conant with dozen heavy
solid silver tea spoons. Mrs. Conant
responded with Wen chosen words.
The friends continued to come until
late hour. but every minute of the
day was enjoyed by the doctor and his
wife. Surely this day was n happy and
memorable milestone in their long and
pleasant married life and rarely ever
does a couple at this age look forward
to a brighter outlook than do this cou-
pie. The best of wishes We're ex
tended to them all day long. but none
was better than that their future
might be as pleasant as their past
Among the out of town guests pres
ent were: The doctors brother. f. w.
Conant. wife and daughter Miss Alice
of Lewiston, his sister. Mrs. George
Stevens, and Mrs. j. l.. Gilman OF
Somcrville. Mass.
During the evening The doctor gave his
friends. az souvenirs. tasty four-page
leaflets. on the first page OF which were
half-tores Of himself and wife, taken
rom ylaguerreCtypes made ut the time OF
their marriage, ON the inside pages were
half-tones Of this same couple taken al
he present time The back page gives
an account Of the Doctors life. which is
subs tantially a. follows:
Dr. Samuel Field Conant was born in
Topsham. oct. >. 1922. the son OF Oliver
was passed in that town. where hiS early
schooling was secured at an old red
schoolhouse. IL miles from his home
which he attended three months in a
wear His first work upon leaving the
farm was working in a saw mill. and
later steam boating. During all thiS
time he devoted his evenings TO study and
in his I'D year he gave UP work 10 study
and soon learned the photographer $
trade which ne formerly made use Of in
this town. This work gave him an op
portunity for chemical and mechanical
experiments which resulted in his taking
out patents for a pAotographing frame in
1888. 4 ladies' hair Crtmper III lN9. and me
oil photograph in 1850. In ISL, after years
Of labor. he perfected his "Anidrosis
Bath" method Of tuning and bathing the
body for its disinfcction and vitalization.
which has made his name famous. He
is without doubt the originator Of this
idea which has nlaced 50 many similar
articles on the market.
The small laboratory which was the
birthplace of "Anidrosis'' has been re
plaed by the well-known "Anldrosis SAM
tarium" on Elm street in this town, and
finding this cOmmodious building too small
for his needs, in 1896 he purchased the
Quinnebasset Inn at Norridgewock,
which he runs as 4 branch sanitarium
where his patients receive his treatment.
Mr. Conant is pleasant and genial 70 the
last degree and has host Of friends
wherever he is known. which as his tes-
tinOnials prove is hardly limited by the
United States. He IS an active Odd Eel
low and q disciple OF Organism. having
been a lifelong Democrat. Mr.. Conant
and his wife. who was Ann Jane Gilman
cf Vienna. Me. are the parents of two
children. Fred l.. Cpnant and Mrs. Aboie
CConano Lambert Of this town.