The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-05
Aged Couple Celebrate Seven
tIsth Anniversary Of Wedding
MANY DESCENDANTS PRESENT.
Three Sons, Two Daughters, Tw;nty Grand
Children and Fsrl Grssi-annd Chnsna
Gather fFsm All Parts Of tho Country

lie Claire. Ia. Oct. s.--John ". Van
SAINT and Miss LYDIA Anderson. on oct.
I. 1881. were made man and wife in the
little Methodist church AT Toms River.
n. j. This year sixty descendants OF the
aged couple gathered viii, ihom al their
nome In le Claire 10 celebrate the sew
en,leth anniversary OF the wcddine.
neso,s aoxsr99r sno SSmYsl ne r Van ssnt q Min
tnis union, was among the descendants
VINO attended the celebration. All the
governors brothers and sisters who are
iFlng were present, and are follows
a. =. Van Sant.. Omaha: n. -. Van Sstt
StrrtfnE M Mrs. Nelho Taylor, lamp
ION; Ia Mrs Hester Harris, Fcrgus
Twenty grandchildren and forty srest
srandchildren gathered from all parts Of
Mr.. aud Mrs. van SAINT are remark
anle AGED couple. Both of them are in
excellent health and look many years
Younger than their real age Mr.. Van
his wife u two years younger When
Governor. Van SAINT Was insus,rsted last
ration feii upon his fathers nIneiy-fIrst
birthday. The aged man attended the
ceremonies and said that he felt almost
as Young that day as he did the day he
was married
COMES OF HOLLAND STOCK.
John W; Van SAINT comes Of Holland
Was Methodist preacher who settled on
The Delaware river above Philadelphia
The son was born az Long Bank, \. j..
jan. 9, 1910. ON both his mothers and
father sides he had many ancestors who
iousht with the colonial troops during the
Mrs John w Van SAINT is OF English
descent and also had many ancestors i'm
the, Revolutionary war
The hale mopegenarian, who has just
celebrated the seventeen anniversary of
his wedding. learned shpbuildinR when
dnite young Seven years after his mar
riage he moved 20 Rock leland and estah-
lishcd n dry dock at Rock Island. III. lie
WAS the first man TO construct boats
adapted for towing rafts on the Missis-
sippi and has always been In the lumber
and shipping business.
Governor Van SAINT became partner or
his father in the lumber business and
thus laid the foundation for his great fUr-
tune.
A few wears ago the elder Van SAINT
moved 20 lie Claire. Ia and has made
his home here ever since. lie is deyont
Christian and ma. Of exemplary habits;
Every year the Celebration OF the old
gentlemans wedding anniversary has
been great event in lie Claire. but this
year IL was particularly notable.
Meetings were held in the churches
Bells we're rung, whistles were blown and
I'm the evening there was torchhght
parade
SPECIAL TRAINS FOR GUESTS.
snecsl trains from Davenport aud 9th
or river cities brought friends and ac-
qusintanecs OF the venerable shiPbnilder
20 lie Claire. Many Of the old river cap
tains who have known Van SAINT for
years brought their boats to lie Claire |
and allowed their crews TO take part In !
the celebration
Cntil there years ago there had not |
bccna death In the Van SAINT family for !
fftv-fve years Elias Van SAINT. OF |
Peoria. III, son Of Mr. ard Mrs. j. w, |
died two Years ago and caused the first |
break I'm the line of The aced couples de |
rect descendants.
The veteran river man has made and |
lost several fortunes since he locates ON |
tfrr- tfi--i-<frri or late years he has been |
successful in his business ventures.