The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1901-10-31
GOLDEN WEDDING.
Fifty Years of Happy Married
Life.

Mr.. and Mrs, III. A. Cowan gave q
very pleasant reception from two to
I'VE and from seven to ten Tuesday
afternoon and evening at their home
SOC East Third avenue. The event
was in honor OF the 5Oth anniversary
OF their marriage and the occasion
was much enjoyed by all. Mr.. and
Mrs. Cowan were assisted by the
Ladies' Missionary Society Of the
United Presbyterian church and 100
guests were entertained. The house
was prettily decorated with autumn
leaves, chrysanthemums and an a.
bundance Of other flowers. The
friends and well wishers of the fam
ily remembered them with many
handsome presents and the day was
spent in general jollification. Light
refreshments were served. Mr.
Cowan was born in Pennsylvania in
1927. Soon after this the family
moved to Newark, Ohio, where his
boyhood was spent. In 1851 he mar
ried Johanna Chsrlatt, of Louisville,
Ohio, moving to Oskaloosa in 1854
Mr.. Cowan is a blacksmith and has
worked at the trade for over fifty
years. Ever since moving to this
city Mr.. and Mrs. Cowsn have been
known as enthusiastic church work
ers and are now among the Oldest
members of the U. P. church. They
are well known inthe city for their
kind heartedness and generosity and
the good wishes of their many friends
60 with them.
Four children have blessed the
union; three daughters who passed
away in infancy, and a son, Willard
Cowan, of Denver, Colorado, super
intendent of the state institution to-
dependent and neglected children. 1t
was not possible for the son to be
present, much to the regret Of the
parents and friends. There wert
present from a distance the following
Mr.. Smith Agnew, of Newton, who
offlciated at the wedding fifty years
ago as best man; Mrs Chas. Wells, oI
Knoxville; Mrs. Rachel F. Robb, OF
Hooking; Mrs. DR.. Wiley, of Ottumwa
and Mrs. Clarence Buchanan of Fair,
field.
Miss FIorabel Patterson, of the Pres
byterian college of Monmouth, Ill
pays this pretty tribute to the Cowan
home: 1--WE thought a good deal
about t. home founded a half CEN
fury ago. Not a home Of luxury and
wealth, but one oflove and good cheer.
Not home of ease and idleness, but
one OF toll and happiness; not one of
social eonventionalities, but one OF
genuine hospitality. The place where
the neighbors felt free to run in;
where the church could always have
a soeiable, or the missionary society
put in a quilt or pack their barrels of
old clothes; where the children could
stay when mother was gone; where
the stranger found a home; where
the prophets chamber was always in
readiness; where the guests were en-
tertained; where the homeless sick
found loving care and the orphan girl
her wedding breakfast; where the
moving families spent their last night
and the newcomers took their first
breakfast; where the young with their
Joys, the middle-sged with their cares
and the old with their SORROWS found
sympathetic help;-joy with their Joy,
tears with their weeping. Such a
picture comes to me of the home
founded October 20, 1851.
On fort innate, Oh happy day
When a new household finds its
place
Among the myriad BONES of earth.
Like a new star just sprung to birth,
And rolled on it's harmonious way
Into the boundless realms of space.
Whist see now? The night is fair,
The storm of grief, the clouds Of
care,
The wind, the rain have passed away
The lamps are lit, the fires burn
bright,
The house is full of life and light,
1t lie the golden wedding day"