The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-12-04
MARRIED HALF CENTURY
Mr.. and Mrs. B. D. PAY Celebrate
Their Golden Wedding.
Large Concourse of the Old Settlers
Pay Their Respects.
Receive Many Remembrance From
Relatives and Friends.
Delightful Reception rendered By
Prominent Mankato Couple.
From Wednesdays Daily.

From Wednesdays Daily.
Golden colored decorations through tn
home of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin B. Pa,
at 80 South Second street clearly indi
Gated the nature of the celebration thai
they held yesterday afternoon aE1 eve
ming. The gas chandeliers were drapet
with yellow ribbons and the shades OF
the burners were adorned with yellow
tissue paper Yellow ribbons were taste
fully tied to the portiers between the
parlor and dining room. Beautiful vel
low chrysanthemums with their great
blossoms larger than water lilies were
ranged here and there about the house
On the mantle in the sitting room stood
great roll of golden butter surmounted
with a shining gold coin, very appro.
pirate present from Mr. and Mrs. Adam
Arnold who have supplied the family
with butter for thirty eight years.
| Next to this mantle stood large table
ON which were elegantly arranged the
numerous exquisite presents that Mr..
and Mrs. Pay had received. A pretty
gold medal trimmed in red and marked
with the number twenty five was a gift
from Mankato lodge No. Is, I. o. o. F.,
the number indicating that Mr.. Pay had
been member of the order for as long
as twenty-five years. He had actually
been a member much longer, having
joined the Watertown lodge, No. 81 in
the year 1852. He also received gold
lined fruit bowl from the Modern Wood
men of America among whom he is
enrolled.
Minneopa lodge No. ~, Daughters of
Rebecca, had sent to Mrs. Pay dozen
silver tea spoons. Mrs. Pay has been
one of the most prominent members
and workers in that organization. She
is charter member, having joined when
the lodge was organized on March 90,
1902, and she was the first noble grand.
Other gifts from various friends and rel
atives were largely silverware inlaid
with gold, handsomely painted china, and
cut glass. Two kilograms of congratula-
tons were placed on the table among
the presents. Both were received yester-
day afternoon, one from Mr.. Pays nep-
hew, ID. E. Wooley and his family, of
Philadelphia and the other from Mrs.
Pays nephew, John Q. Reed of New
York.
Roses and other flowers beautified all
the reception rooms. Smilax and wan
dering Jew added to the other adorn-
ments of the portieres and chandeliers.
Lighted candles, many of which stood
in silver candlesticks that were among
the remembrances of the day, stood here
and there about the tables and stands.
Two brass candlesticks that were among
the equipment with which Mr.. and Mrs.
Pay started to keep house at Juneau,
Wis, after their marriage at that place
on Dec. l, 1853, were objects of interest
to all the guests.
Mr.. and Mrs. Pay also showed two
daguerreotypes of themselves taken at
Watertown, Wis, Immediately after
their marriage. The pictures were re-
markably well preserved, being enclosed
in the regular old fashioned frames that
had lids which opened and closed on
hinges. Mr.. Pays picture showed clearly
the style of dress of gentlemen of that
day. He had on one of those high over
tapping collars, about which was wound
a great cravat. He wore high cut
vest with eight front buttons. His hair
was parted on both sides and arranged
in becoming pompadour at the center.
Mrs. Pay greatly interested the COM
pany in telling what she wore on her
wedding day. She was arayed in silk
dress of blue and gold, light green
shawl and a white bonnet tied with pink
strings.
William w. Paddock showed that he
had on the same brown velvet vest
in which he was married thirty-six years
ago. He also carried the same silk hand
kerchief that he did on that day. Mrs.
Pay also showed the silk handkerchief
she had on the day of her marriage.
Among the numerous visitors of the
afternoon and evening were Mrs. o. 0.
Pitcher, Mrs. Geo. FL. Marsh, Mr.. and
Mrs. L. G. M. Fletcher, Mr.. and Mrs. HI.
P. Christensen, Mr.. and Mrs. S. F. Bar
ney, Asa Barney, Mr.. and Mrs. Clark
Keysor, Mr.. and Mrs. w. L Wilson, with
their two daughters, Misses Bessie and
Ellie, Mrs. James Shoemaker, Mrs. James
r. Bate, Mrs. Sarah Curtis, Mrs. Mobiles,
Mrs. Milliner, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Mer-
ickle, Mrs. L. Tenney, Mr.. and Mrs. P.
B. Sparrow, Mr.. and Mrs. w. B. Walker,
Mrs. j. T. Williams, Mr.. and Mrs. A. R.
Pfau, Mr.. and Mrs. A. L. Wheeler, Mr.
and Mrs. Oscar E. Bennett, Mr.. and Mrs.
Henry Holman, Mr.. and Mrs. Larkin,
Mr.. and Mrs. w. B. Davies, Mr.. and
Mrs. H. P. Jensen, Mr.. James Grierson.
Old settlers certainly turned out in
full force. Mrs. Louise Hunt of Lake
Crystal, sister to Mrs. B. d. Pay and
Mr.. III. Greenwood, both of whom were
at the wedding, were among the guests
yesterday. From outside the city also
were Miss Alma Hartman of st. Paul,