The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-09
NOrtOnVille Celebrates Amniver.
sary of Mr.. and Mrs. i. Maris.
The 60 Guests Served Dinner
by the Ladies' Exchange.
CAME WEST IN 1857.
Present House Within Few Rods
Of Original Homestead.
Two of the Guests Witnessed the
Ceremony 90 Years Ago.

Nortonville, Kan. Dec. "a notable
event in the history of Nortonville was
the celebration this week by Mr.. and
Mrs. Isaac Maris of the fftieth ami
versary of their marriage, at their
home. three miles north of Nortonville.
The guests, numbering about 90, were
invited from IL in the morning for the
balance of the day, and were served a
three-course dinner by the Ladies' EX-
change of Nortonville. the third course
symbolizing the occasion of the day.
The cakes and cream We're in gold and
white. The two long tables were pref
THY decorated in yellow and white
chrySanthemumS-
Mr. and Mrs Maris began their mar
ried life within a few rods of the house
in which they celebrated their golden
wedding, and among the guests were
Mrs. Melworth Stillman and Mrs. T.
S. Hastings, who witnessed the orlgl-
nal ceremony so years ago, and j. H.
Ellsworth and wife. who celebrated
their golden wedding two years ago,
and Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Curry, who
had a similar celebration four years
ago. The pastors and wives of the
four NortonvilIe churches were present;
also, Rev. u. S. Hastings, of Efhngham,
a brother, Mrs Arthur Gruwell,- of
West Branch, Iowa, were also present.
Isaac Maris was born near Salem,
Ohio July 16. 1884 In tracing the an
cestry of Isaac Maris. it is ascertain
ed that his forefather. George Maris,
came to this country from England as
early as 1851, and was a friend and
contemporary of William Penn. The
Maris' have been Quakers as far back
as their history can be traced. Mr.
Maris cast his first vote in 1856 for
John C Fremont who was a candidate
for president on the Republican ticket,
which was then in it's organization He
left his old home in September, 1857,
and started west to join his brother,
Joseph, who had come to Kansas with
q la in J.
son September IA. 1857, and Joined the
six families that had settled on lane
running east and west. three miles
from Nortonville- October 5, seven
families of Seven Day Baptists drove
overland from Harrington, Ill, and took
up land adjoining that taken by the
QuakerS. and this is the foundation OF
Seven Day Lane" the name given the
road bordering the homes of these
early day colonists.
Among the Seven Day Baptists was
Miss Alma Buten, who was born in
New York in 1886. and whose family
had been Seven Day Baptists for many
generations. There were only three
young women in the Is families on Sew
en- Day Lane, and eleven young men,
AS anyone will know. very little time
was lost by these eleven young men
in getting a wife, and Isaac Maris
scored first. He had preempted $50
acres of land on arriving on the Lane,
and put up a log cabin. He kept bach
Der Z, 1858, he was married to Miss
Buten. The bridal couple, accom-
panied by two walters" Caleb Maris, |
now living in Damascus. Ohio, and Miss
Chrisantha Sunders, who, is now Mrs.
MeIworth Stillman, drove across the
prairie in a spring wagon to the home
of the late Pardee Butler, and were
married. They had to face a strong
north wind. and as there was no COW
ering to their rig, as there would be
today. they suffered greatly. The next
day $50 years ago yesterday the Their
mometer dropped to IS degrees below
zero. Returning to the home of the |
bride there was a dinner, to which all |
the Seven Day families had been invi- |
ted Mr. and Mrs. Maris soon moved |
from the log house into larger frame, |
and a few years later into their pres |
eut home, one of the largest and most |
comfortable on the Lane. They have
lived on the same farm for so years |
and have been happy and prosperous. |
In the so years of their married life, |
there was never time when a travel
err was turned away, and often there |
would be so many that beds We're
made on the floor in every room. In /
building the last house, one room was |
set aside for the passing and homeless
stranger. Mrs. Maris observes Satur-