Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-12-25
M'KENIIE

One of the most pleasant events
of the season in this quiet burg was
the gathering last Monday evening,
Dec 16. at the residence of Mr.. and
Mrs. Vim. H. W iltons Of their man.
friends and relatives, to commemorate
the fftieth anniversary Of their marss
rage About seyenty-fve neighbors
and relatives participated in congrar-
ulating the happy couple on having so
successfully passed the half century If
married life and the many beautiful
and approp pirate presents the FORUM
ate couple received were Indicative
i5of the esteem in which they were
held in this community, q MA
The evening was spent pleasantly
with music and song and some charac-
teristic verse betting the occasion
was read by MRS C. d. Rodgers. A
bounteous lunch, the main feature o,si
ing a huge wedding cake, was served
at IL O'Clock, Of which all heartily
'partook, and in the wee sma hours
after wishing them both. many more
years of welded bliss. the gathering
dispersed.
Born in Carlisle, Clinton county,
/ Ills, of sturdy Scotch and English
parentage. 50 years ago, VIM. II. Will
ton was the younge ST of 8 family OF
six children. His father, N. H. VIII
4 ton came to central Illinois in 1912,
when that region north and west of
the Ohio river. with the exception of
4 a few remote trading posts, was; a
comparatively unknown wilderness
4 the rendezvous of the vagrant Indian
Il and his migratory coadjutor, sthe buff
q faIo. He was the first white person
entrusted to carry the government
mail within the confines of the terri
II tbfy then termed illinois ann his
q route, some 400 miles long, was made
on horseback, the most Of the distance
i through a trackless wilderness never.
4 trodden by the foot of white man.
AppointeT ~. S. marshal for Illinois
d by President Jackson, he for many
d years retained this and other posi-
VI tions OF trust, his public services ter
minating only with the advent 81 the,
y republican party into power in 1881.
q VIM. III Wilton, the subject of this
sketch, was raised on his fathers
farm In Clinton county where he at
E tended, the public schools, later sup
j plemented by course in HillsborGI
academy. Imbued with desire TO be
q come an M. d. he attended a course
j of lectures in Rush Medical college.
This, however, proved altogether too
mild an occupation for his adaentur-
some disposition and with the break
ing but Of the California gold excite
mant in 40 he, in company with his
brother, chartered a yoke of oxen and
commenced their journey overland to
D the new Eldorado. Unable to Strike
it rich he, after a two years en-.
3 gagement in mining, returned to III
linois For number of years he was
postmaster at aHillsboro, ILL.,, and de.
4 putty state auditor His official posi-
ton and residence in Springfield was
n the means Of bringing him in daily
contact with the men who contributed
& to bring about those stupendous his,
4 torical achievements in the Garlic.
COS. In 1857 he was united in mar
riage to Miss Rebecca Perkins d
I'LL, seven children result
h ing from this union. six of them ar.
B still, living. Mr.. Wilton came to Bur
Is leigh county in 1ss3 and located III
"a claim north of Mckenzie, and Ill
Ito within q few years ago took an nc
ltiYe interest In farm management
Isbut of late years has lived ylife o
= ltwell earned retirement and comfort
able rest in Mckenzie. Four sons
Frank, Ned, Harry and Vim. jr.. re
side in BurIeigh county One laugh
II ter, Mrs. @. e. Couch, lives in .Ney
f Rockford, N. D. and two narriel
4 daughters reside In Illinois. In add
Z ton to these there ara now lislnj
L twenty grand ehiIdren.
Mckenzie, n. ID