Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-14
CLAIMS RECORD.
Mt. Aye Holds the State Champion
ship for Golden Weddings.

Mt. Aye Holds the State Champion
ship for Golden Weddings.
When an Iowa town goes after re-
cord it invariably gets it. The latest
is the record for golden weddings and
it is claimed by Mr.. Ayr. Mt. Ayr is
the capital of Ringgold county and is
set down as having 1923 inhabitants.
There are ten long time resident cou-
pies OF that little city who have all
passed the golden wedding date. All
ten of these patriarchs couples have
large families and with one exception
all the children of the couples are mar
ried and have children.
Two of these couples are related to
Ottumwa people and the sketches re-
lating to them will be of interest Mr..
and Mrs. David Joden are the parents
of H. Joden, 1926 East Main street.
The sketch relating to them, as pub
lished in the Des MONIES Register and
Leader, is as follows:
Mr.. and Mrs. David Joden.
David Joden was born in Pennsyl-
vania July %, 1925. Anna e. Bradley
Joden was born in Ohio June 90, 1926.
They were married in Summit county,
Ohio, October %, 1845. They removed
from Ohio in 1847 to South Bend, Ind
In 1867 they removed to Michigan and
in 1874 removed to Missouri and from
there removed to Mt Ayr in 1885, and
since this date have resided there.
Mr.. Joden his been engaged in milling.
There were born to this couple seven
children, four of whom are living and
married with an average of four chill
dren each. Early in life both Mr.. and
Mrs. Joden united with the Methodist
Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Jo-
den has always been republican or
whig. He cast his first vote for Zach
airy Taylor for president in 1S4S.
Mr.. Joden began reading the Chica-
go Tribune in 1859 and has never
missed an issue since. He had a per-
sonal acquaintance with Hon. Joseph
Medill and was greatly bereaved when
he learned of Mr. Medill's death. Mr..
Joden is healthy and hearty and de-
spite his rs years of age he works
daily in his Touring mill. He is to-
tai abstainer and does not use tobacco.
Mrs. Joden has been strong and hearty
and has been model housekeeper I'M
TIL about six months ago when she was
taken sick and was quite poorly for
several months but she is recovering.
This couple is contented and happy
and are at peace with the. whole
world
Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. w. Lesan.
The second couple of interest to OF
tumwa people are Mr. and Mrs. Geo.
w. Lesan. j. P. Lesan who resides in
this city at APT Ottumwa street is
brother-in-law of George W.Lesan. The
sketch is as follows:
Both Geo. w. Lesan and his wife
Mary NJ Lesan. were born in Sebee,
Maine. George w. Lesan was born
February II, 1880. Mary M. Lesan was
born February 27, 1887. In early life
they removed to Stark county Ill.
They were married March 10, 1858. In
1855 they removed to Ringold county,
where they have reside ever since. They
lived on a arm near here until 1894
when they took up their residence in
Mt. Ayr Seven children were born to
this couple. four of whom are living
and all are married. The last one
married was their youngest child, DR..
C. T. Lesan of Mount Ayr, who was
married months ago. This aged couple
have fifteen grandchildren. Mr.. and
Mrs. Lesan are enjoying the best of
health. They celebrated their golden
wedding March 10 OF this year. A rath-
er peculiar incident of this golden we'd
ding was the presence Of seven per-
sons who witnessed the original mar
riage fifty years ago. Mr.. and Mrs.
Lesan are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church. Mr.. Lesan is g
total abstainer and does not use to-
bacco. Mr.. Lesan was republican
for many years but drifted into the
greenback movement and later on be-
came a devoted follower of w. J. Bry-
an. The children and grandchildren
all reside in this county and are fire.
quent visitors at the old folks home.
There are in all,about one hundred and
fifty persons living in this couny nam
ed Lesan, and all are related George
w. Lesan seems to be a sort of chief
among the Lesans. This couple lives
contented and happy and are respect
ed by all who know them"