Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-03
ATTEND ALBA GOLDEN WEDDING
Mrs. spiIman Present at Mr.. and Mrs
f, Fiftieth Anniversary.

| Fiftieth Anniversary.
| Mrs. S. A. siplman and son Harold
Spilman were guests at the golden
wedding Of Mr.. and Mrs. William Mer-
Ger, who reside near Abba, Tuesday,
March 81. Mr.. and Mrs. Mercer were
married March 81, 1856, A. r. Barnes
of Abba performing the ceremony
The Abba Union has the following in
teressing account:
Invitations were issued last week to
the old time friends of Mr.. and Mrs.
William Mercer of Bluff Creek town,
ship to be with them March 81, 1906,
to help celebrate the fiftieth anniyer-
sary of their marriage.
ga turkey dinner was served at noon
and the we'll prepared bird was accom-
panied by all the delicacies of the
season, and the whole attested to the
culinary skill of the bride of fifty
years ago, as being along the lines Of
progression in the art of domestic
science. The tables were served by
members of the family, the children,
grand children and other relatives, in
an expeditions and pleasant manner.
after dinner the guests assembled
| in the sitting room and Mr.. and Mrs.
Mercer were brought forward and
made the recipients of a number of
handsome presents in a short address
by w. T.; Gardner, an old neighbor and
| friend of the couple. The speaker
asked them to accept the gifts as to-
kens of esteem and friendship and
with the best wishes of the guests for
continuance of their material and
spiritual blessings for many years to
come
"Mr. Mercer thanked the friends for
the many substantial reminders of the
day and was glad that so many had ac-
copied their invitation to be present
on the occasion that meant so much to
them. He recalled his early residence
on the farm he still owns and believed
himself to be the only man in Bluff
Creek township, who had lived fifty
consecutive years in one place. His
| first home, where he took his bride,
Berneta Sellers, fifty years ago, was a
one room structure and his first team
was yoke of oxen, with which he
broke the virgin soil, Their motto
when they began life together was
agreed upon to be, Faith, hope and
charity'-faith in themselves, hope in
the future and charity for all mankind
He believed in great measure they
had succeeded in their purposes and
accomplished as much as the average
couple in life and were we'll satisfied
with results.
Gle was followed by a few appro
pirate words by j. G. Sellers, his
brothar-in-law, who recalled his pioneer
life and the wedding of fifty years ago
II. S. Jones also remembered the occa'
sion and spoke of the days when he
knew Mr.. and-Mrs. Mercer as young
married couple. J. K Watson paid q
high tribute to the integrity and good
citizenship displayed by the worthy
couple, who labored along the lines Of
progression. Nelson Gilaspie added 8
! word of praise and Mrs. Alice Spilmar
of Ottumwa and Mrs. Angie Reitzel
also expressed their appreciation of the
opportunity to help celebrate the
golden wedding.
'"The following were present, includ
ing the children of Mr.. and Mrs. Mer
Ger except their son, Lincoln, who re
|, sides at Salem, Ore, and could not be
here:
I Mr.. and Mrs. VIM. Mercer, Mr. and
: Mrs. J. G. Sellers, Mr.. and Mrs. James
K. Watson, Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. W. Orr
Mr.. and Mrs. w. T. Gardner, Mr.. and
Mrs. Vim. Reddish, Mr.. and Mrs. A. S
Romp, Mr.. and Mrs. David Rouse, Mr.
. and Mrs. Frank Wycoff, Mr.. and Mrs
; ]. S. Franklin, Mr.. and Mrs. James
! Holden, Mr.. and Mrs. John P. Mercer
Mr.. and Mrs. G. w. Harper, Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank Carrick, ST., Mr.. and Mrs
Hark Dunkin, Mr., and Mrs g. w. Ma
hin, Mr.. and Mrs J. 8. Junkin, DR.. aud
J. Mrs. G. N. Hyatt and children, Mar
, garet and Harold, Mr.. and Mrs. A. L
Anderson, Mr.. and Mrs. H. H. Mercer
} Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Coulter, Mr.. ant
Mrs. Amos Miller, Mrs. Sue Sellers
Byerlee, Mrs Angle Reitzel, Mrs. Alice
Spilman of Ottumwa, Mrs. Mary e
Giltner, Mrs. W. ]. HASTE, Mrs. Mary
M. Adams, Isaac S. Jones, Nelson Gil
, laspie, Miss Emma Mercer. Miss Jessie
Mercer, Miss Ethel .Wycoff, Mrs
Louise Mercer, Miss Mildred Mercer
Misses Florence and Ida Mercer, Har
old Spilman of Ottumwa, I. H. Smith
Will H. Mercer and Dwight Mercer"