The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-03-04
SIXTY.-lFfIIf:TH
Wedding Anniversary of Mr.. and
Mrs. Geo. SeCriSt

Next Monday. Mr.. and Mrs. George
Secrist of north Park street will cele-
brate their sixty-fifth wedding ami
versary.
Probably not one couple in a hun
dred thousand live to celebrate such
an anniversary.
We know of no other couple In the
state or county today, who have gone
hand in-hand so long.
And each of the worthy couple are
In good health, active and in the pos
session of all their faculties, and
only last Wednesday, Mr.. Secrist
hitched up his horse,s(and he always
keeps good traveller and he and
his wife drove out to their son-in-
laws, Mr.. VIM. Cordrey's four miles
in the country and spent the day.
Mr.. Secrist was born in Rocking
ham county, Virginia, Dec. IA, 1914,
and when four years old, his fathers
family moved to near Cincinnati,
from whence, in 1919, they came to
Logan county, and bought the place
where he lived until his death and
has been in the family ever since, it
now being owned by Mrs. DIR. Heffner.
Mr.. Secrist has lived in Logan county
nearly So years.
He says there were no roads, towns
or bridges In the county. Zanes6eld
probably coming nearer town than
any of the others, although he says
there was a tavern, lthe Hemphill
log housed south of the fair ground,
and several other houses at Belleville,
when he was a boy. Deer, wild tur-
key and Indians were plentiful and a
good many bears. There was no
money, no taxes, and not much of
anything to eat or wear, except what
one raised or made. Their feed was
principally cracked corn, potatoes,
wild game, and pork from hogs which
roamed the woods and were hunted
and shot when wanted.
Every man that had hogs marked
the ears and turned them loose, and
it was root hog or die. Mr.. S. says
he once hauled 100 bushels of corn
to Zanesfeld and got $40 for it.
Mrs. Secrist was the daughter OF
Thomas Collins. and was born in Lam
caster county, Pa, Oct. TO-. 1921.
When four years old her parents
moved to Belmont county, o., and
from there to Logan county in 1898.
She had not been here long until
she took the eye of young George
ISecrist, and on March z. 1889 they
were united in marriage by the Rev
Jerry Fusion, a Christian minister
twho did all the marrying, Mr.. Secris,
saws, in those days. He united ar
lother couple, Mr.. and Mrs. Johr
Kirkwood at the same place, tina,
night.
Mr.. and Mrs. Secrist went to house
keeping on the farm now owned BY
Archie Yoder. The house had a par
lor, library, drawing room, sitting
room, dining room, kitchen and pan
try all inside of four log walls, twelve
feet square. Mr.. Secrist's bath room
was over the hill in McKee's creek.
"Yes," said Mrs. Secrist, I'VE livet
the first season in that one room, AMI
have never been happier than w
were In that little log house.
About Is40 Sir. Secrist bought tn,
farm, that he lived on for a lonl
time, and which he still owns, from
the Billy Grey heirs, for sl2 an acre
This farm was one of the frs
cleared in the county, and peopl
came for miles to get peaches there
as there was no other fruit excep
wild p.ums in the county.
Mr.. secrist has three sisters living
Mrs. jeremiah Kelly, Mrs. Rose How
teli. and Miss Sarah Secrist.
| Mrs. Secrist says that some of he
folks gave her rooster and five hen
when they went to housekeeping an
that she raised seventy chicken
that year and has raised chick
lens every year since tha
she has always from that tim
until two years ago, when she got
fall that made her 60 on crutchei
kept a cow and made their own but
ter. She used to spin the yarn, weav
the cloth and make the carmen,
for the family, and during the pas
winter has pieced four quilts. Sh
still has two brothers living, Mr. A
. Collins and Mr.. Jacob Collins of OF
city.
, Mr.. and Mrs. Secrist have raise
eleven children. three boys and fol-
girls, of whom there are still livinl
Rev. Henry Secrist, of Boston, Mass
> John L., of Bucyrus, and A. NJ, (
West Liberty. Mrs. Margaret Wrigl
and Jane Alcott, of West Libert
Mrs. Ann NJ. Black, of our city, al
Mrs. Emma Lamb of Chicago.
s | Preparatory Services at