Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-07-16
THE BLESSINGS OF FIFTY YEARS.
Golden Wedding of Mr.. and Mrs. O. w.
Emery FittingIy Celebrated by
Large Gathering of Friends
and Relatives.

Fifty years ago last Friday, July
18th, Mr.. o. W. Emery and Miss Mar
tina McIntire were united in marriage
in Canoe township. They moved up
ON farm in the same township,
where they lived and labored for
forty-three years, and became we'll to
do. There were born to them nine
sons and six daughters. Of these
five daughters, all of whom have
grown to manhood and womanhood
and are married. Seven years ago
Mr.. and Mrs. Emery left the farm
and came to town to live. The chill
dren had grown up and left the
parental home, and they themselves
were too old to longer bear the bur-
dens of farm life. So they purchased
home in town where they have
since lived.
1t was a happy thought which sug-
gested and planned for the observ-
ance of the fiftieth anniversary of
| their wedding, for the occasion from
first to last was one of renewed as
sociations and enjoyment. About ten
O'Clock on Friday morning the COM
pany began to arrive and continued
until over eighty had come to express
their congratulations. All but one
of the twelve children were present.
Besides these there were old friends
and other invited guests. Time pass
ed quickly in conversation until din
ner arrived. The guests were taken
to the dining room, where loaded
tables, awaited them. After all i.cd
dined the company gathered in the
parlor and sitting room, where in the
presence Of the gnests special services
were held Rev. j. M. Dick read the
109d Psalm and offered prayer. AS
they had done fifty years ago, Mr.. and
Mrs. Emery joined their hands, and
their pastor, Rev. j. W. Allen, pro-
nounced a golden wedding ceremony.
A brief prayer, and the assembled
friends extended their congratulations
and wished them Gods richest bles-
sing for another fifty years. After
songs by the company, led by Bro.
Dick, the guests began to disperse.
There were present of their children
and families, Mr.. Leonard Emery and
wife, Mr.. Aaron Emery and wife, Mr..
Ezra Emery and wife, Mr.. Andrew
Emery and wife, Mrs. Ida Stoskoff
and husband, Mrs. Lille McMullen,
Mrs Esta Askelson and husband, Mr..
Ernest Emery and wife, Mr.. George
Emery and wife, Mr.. Frank Emery,
Mrs Martha Nelson and husband. OF
their grandchildren. 23 were present
with their parents Among the other
guests were Rev. J. NJ. Dick and
family, Mr.. and Mrs. Thos. Morrison,
Mrs. Eliza McIntire, sister of Mrs.
! Emery, Mr.. and Mrs Ed Jewell,
Mrs. Hattie Kinnison, Mrs. I.
Hamre, Mr.. and Mrs. ]. L. Cassel,
Mr.. and Mrs. Jos. Groat, Mr.. Frank
Tillapaugh, Miss Maud Blaess, DR..
and Mrs. VIM. kellogg and Rev. and
Mrs. j. w. Allen.
Many valuable and beautiful pre-
sents were received. Among them
were fine oak Royal reclining chair
for the father and an upholstered
rocker, also of oak, for the mother; a
fine couch, table and side board, all
from their children. Mr.. Ben Bear
sent down an elegant bed spread. An
older sister of Mr.. Emery's sent a
linen stand spread, upon which she
had worked the date of the wedding
and of this anniversary. There were
many other presents, but we can not
take the space to enumerate them.
Altogether the occasion was very
enjoyable one, and we wish this couple
many anniversaries of their marriage.