Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-01-02
ALL GOLDEN
Were the Many Years
Of Their Long and Happy
Married Life.
"Was lust Fifty Years
Ago, You Know
When Rev. L. SOuthmayd and
wife Were Married,
And the Event Was Celebrated NeM
Years Day.

And the Event Was Celebrated Mem
Years Day.
At GIT Spicer ST., live Rev. Leonard
Southmayd and wife, and, although
they celebrated their golden wedding
anniversary Monday, there does not
live in Akron couple who enjoy life
more, nor whose health is better.
II was never sick a day in my life"
says Mr.. Southmayd, and with but n
very few exceptions his wife practical
ly lays claim to the same distinction.
Living in beautiful little home,
comfortably furnished, the retired life
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Southmayd seems to
lack little Of anything which conduces
to enjoyment. II have little farm Of
six acres here" said the venerable pas
tor, to a reporter for the Daily Demo-
crat, "and l find great deal Of pleas
ure in cultivating it. This year l rails
ed nice crop of corn and potatoes.
We have horse which l take care of
myself, and my wife and l enjoy IL
great many pleasant drives"
mo children Of our own ever came
to bless our home," said the aged
couple, "but we have raised four chill
dren, and have never been without
some protege at our hom efor period
of more than three months during our
life.'
Mr.. Southmayd's parents were Mr..
and Mrs. Erastus Southmayd who in
the older days of Summit county, were
we'll known, they having for number
Of years kept the first hotel at Stow
Corners, during the time the little ham,
let was the principal stopping place for
the great stage route through from
Cleveland to the east. He was born
Dec. 10, 1926. Mrs. Southmayd's maid
ell name was Eliza A. Stark, she being
a daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Benjamin
Stark, late of Stow township. She was
born Jan. IA, 1926. You will notice
that the wife was born in the first
month of the year, and the husband in
the last. They were married New
Years day, 1850.
''But every year has been golden
one to u.s." said the venerable couple
Monday. "This year is more conspic-
uous by reason of the anniversary Gus.
tom pertaining to it's celebration"
Mr.. Southmnyd attended the public
schools at Stow Corners and Cuyahoga
Falls. Later he was a student at the
Eclectric Institute at Hiram, Portage
county, O., from which he graduated.
Eclectic Institute is now Hiram Col
lege, and speaking of the well known
institution, led Mr.. Southmayd, to bee
oome reminiscent In reference to Its
early history. LET me see," he re-
fected, "why, yes; Old Hiram college
will be celebrating its golden anniver-
sary next June"
The religious faith embraced by Mr..
Southmayd was that of the Disciples
Of Christ. His first charge was at New
ton Falls, Trumbull county. From
there he went to Pompey, N. Y, re.
turning to Ohio during the war for n
short stay. The greater part Of the
pastors time during the war was spent
in doing evangelistlc work in Pennsyl-
vania.
In 1856 he went to Steubenville, o.,
and remained eight years; from there
to Mt. Vernon, o., remaining five
years. Leaving Mt. Vernon, Mr.. South.
mayd returned to scenes Of child.
hood, and buying a farm in Stow town.
ship lived there two years
Moving to Akron, the aged couple
have lived here is years.
Mr.. and Mrs. Solon n. Weston cele-
brated their golden wedding anniver-
sary at their home on Weston road
Monday. 1t was made the occasion of
family reunion and their FIVE chill
dren and II grandchildren were pres
ent, besides immediate friends.
Mr.. and Mrs. Weston were married
on the place they now live,Jan. l, 1850,
and their half century of welded life
has been passed under the shadows of
the Summit city.
The marriage ceremony was per.
formed by Rev, N. T. Bailey and four
of the witnesses to that ceremony were
guests at the golden anniversary. They
and Mr.. and Mrs. ]. L. Meacham.
and Mr.. and Mrs. Meacham
Mr.. Weston is 72 years Of age and
his life partner is 6S. The children
present Monday were Mrs. Charles
Ewart, Mrs. w. A Huston, Mrs. Chris