River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-11-26
GOLDEN WEDDING
Mr.. and Mrs. VIM. Finley Celebrate
the Fiftieth Anniversary of
Their Marriage.
1853-1oO3.

their six children, several grand
children and few of their most in
innate friends.
Mr.. and Mrs. Finley are both
natives of the Quaker state and
both descended from ancestry inti-
mately associated with the Society
of Friends. They were united in
marriage at Clarion, Pennsylva-
MIA, the home of the bride, whose
name before she assumed that she
now bears was Melinda A. Meredith,
Nov. 20, 1858. Rev. Thomas c..
Thomas, Baptist clergyman, per-
formed the marriage ceremony. In
1855, Mr.. and Mrs. Finley came
west, locating at Albany, Green Co.,
where they remained but one
year, when they proceeded to cast
their lot at Prescott After a resi-
dence in Prescott Of about ten years
they moved to the farm in Clifton
where they lived until two years
ago last May when they moved to
their present home in this city.
Mr.. and Mrs. Finley rejoice in
their children, of which they have
six, four sons and two daughters,
who honor their parents with be-
coming filial affection and are in
turn an honor TO their ancestry
Charles M Finley of Stewart, Iowa,
a locomotive engineer; Drury A.
Finley of Assiniboia, N. w. T.,
railway-building contractor; Mrs,
Winifred Finley Middleton of Phila-
de1phia, Pa; Guy H. Finley and
VIM. D. Finley, of Clifton, farmers,
and Miss Vid1e H. Finley of this
city, now teaching in the public
schools at Saltwater, MINI. Owing
to distance of residence from the
parental home only three of the
children could be present at the
wedding anniversary Guy H. Fin
ley, accompanied by his wife and
son Harry; VIM. D. Finley, accom-
panied by his wife and son Tommy,
and Miss Vide H. Finley.
With the long experience of Mr..
and Mrs. Finley in their welded
relationship it would follow that
they had an extensive acquaintance
ship and as a consequence of their
friendly social qualities they have
attached to themselves the respect
and intimate friendship of many,
friends that are now widely scatter
ed. Of these from abroad only Mrs
Ellen Hope and daughter, Miss
Belle Hope, of St. Paul, formerly of
Prescott, and Mrs. Susan Butts
MacLean of Prescott were present,
but of the numerous old-time friends
and neighbors, now living at dis
lance, many wrote regrets at their
inability to be with these cherished
friends upon the occasion of this
golden anniversary and expressed
congratu1ations and best wishes for
continuance of life, health and
abundance of other blessings for
them. Among those who sent re-
grets and congratulations in lieu of
hand pressures and voiced benisons
were Carlos McCray, L. D. Newell
and wife, and Mrs. ]. M. Bailey of
Prescott; Mrs. Caroline Beardsley
Barnes and Mr.. and Mrs. E. A.
Babbage of Minneapolis; George w.
Dickinson of Faribau1t; Mrs. Bunk
er of Moberly, Mo-, widow of the
late Rev. w. T. Bunker, formerly
of Prescott; Mrs. Martha Wright of
Ackley, Mimi, and Mrs. E. J. Bart
lett of Detroit, Mich. A few close
friends of the honored hosts from
the city called in to congratulate
them upon the occasion of the gold
en- wedding and assisted in the cele-
bration with kindly interest and
cheering onverse-among whom
were Rev. and Mrs. VIM. A. Ward;
Rev. and Mrs. w. D. Spencer; DR..
and Mrs. T. w. Ashley and Mrs. B.
E. Vannatta, while at the noon hour
Miss Lena Leonard, music teacher
at the Normal, called with the gift
Of song" and pleasingly RECALLED the
host and hostess and the assembled
guests with her charming singing.
The occasion was happy one
for all participants. The fact that
Mr.. and Mrs. Finley have arrived at
this remarkable event in life and
could celebrate the incident under
such felicitous circumstances justi-
fies their joy while the cordial con-
gratulations of disinterested and
cherished friends contribute to their
pleasure. The children rejoice in
the happiness of the parents and in
their continued presence, affection,
solicitations and counsel. The
worthy hosts were the recipients of
some fine presents, among these