Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-08-02
GOLDEN WEDDIN C
MR.. AND cAsPAR DuRR OF BA-
JAVA PASS .FIFTIETH MILE
STONE OF WEDLock.
Married at Burlington, July 90, 1854
Were Members Of Passionate of Rev.
]. M. McElroy of This City for
Many Years = Biographical Sketch

Mr.. and Mrs Caspar Durr, of Batav-
Ia, celebrated the f1ftieth anniversary of
their marriage Thursday, July 2S, 1904.
Two OF their children Mrs.
A. H. McElroy, and Mrs. w. e.
Creath reside in Ottumwa For
many years Mr.. and Mrs DUR
were members Of the church presided
over by Rev. J. M. McElroy of this
city when he was located in that city
and the following account of the an
n1versary and of Mr.. and Mrs. DUR
written by the venerable pastor will
prove of interest. The account is as
follows:
Rev. McEroy's Sketch.
AT Batavia on Thursday, July %,
1904, Mr.. and Mrs. Caspar Durr cele.
DRAFTED their f1ftieth marriage annivers-
airy. They are natives of Switzerland
and came to America in 1854. They
were married at Burlington, Iowa, July
%. 1854. They resided for a time at
Wapello, Louisa, county, and then
came to Batavia, where they have re-
sided continuously for forty-nine years.
MT. Durr has been engaged all these
years in merchandising, having sold
out his stock and retired from business
only three or four years since. His
place of business, with residence near
by, was on the principal street and in
the center of the town. Everybody in
the community knew Caspar Durr, and
his place of business, and his family.
He did large business and enjoyed
the confidence and good will of the
people. Those in need could get cred
it at his store regardless of the pros
pect OF repayment, and his investments
in this way have been probably quite
large. He was strictly a business man
not a Spectator, not a politician;
although he took an interest in church
work, being member of the Presbyter-
ian church under DR.. McElroys pastor
ate, and in later years connected with
the Methodist church; also school
director for some years.
Mrs. Durr, whose maiden name was
Salomea Scholler, is woman of Gull
ture and intelligence, born December
8, 1884 OF their eleven children, the
first two died in early infancy; nine
survive, of whom seven are heads of
families, as follows: Emma, wife
Of A. H. McElroy, of Ottumwa; Minnie,
wife of DR.. Eugene Campbell, Los An
geles, CAL; Hermann p. Durr, Burling-
ton, Iowa, salesman for Arbuckle &
Co.; Lena, wife of Fred NJ Taylor, Ba-
tavia's postmaster; Bertha, widow of
the late G. M. Randall, Kansas City;
Anna, wife of N. L. Wann, Fairbury,
ILL.,; Lille, wife of DR.. w. E. Creath,
war; and Miss Nellie, who remains at
the parental home.
All of these except Mrs. Camp
bell and Hermann, were present at
the golden wedding, also Mr. Taylor,
Mr.. Wann and DR.. Creath. Nine of the
seventeen grandchildren were in at
tendance, and also Rev. ]. M. McElroy
and wife, of Ottumwa, who are old-time
friends. DR.. McElroy, having solemn
lied six marriages under the Durr
roof. The occasion was one of rare
interest and the informality, the good
fare, the mirth ant the music, and the
hearty congratulations will be long re-
menbered. The Durrs have good and
pleasant home, with extensive grounds,
and fruits large and small and poul-
try yard and ample garden-all in a
pleasant location, and among people
who know and esteem them.
Caspar Durr was born at Aran,
Switzerland, June IA. 1926, left home
for Havre to take shipping for America
February 1, 1854, and reached Burling.
ton three months later on the first day
of May Before this he had been a
merchant and trader at various points
on the Mediterranean. including the
island of Corfa and Reyront. Many
who have some casual acquaintance
nth Mr.. DUR may not suspect that
l.. cuiet, unlssuming old gentleman
is really very fine linguist. His at.
= 'ments are such that it would re.
luire search warrant and some dill
renee TO find his equal in all Iowa
He reads, writes and speaks the Ger
man. the French and the Italian lang
uages and has working acquaintance
with modern Greek and Arabic. May
Mr.. and Mrs Durr find the evening OF
life prolonged and happy and the sun
set glorious.
hnnrDrIcEN