Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-17
Mr.. AND MRS. HENRY oEHLsEN
CELEBRATE FIFTIETH WE'D.
DING ANNIVERSARY.
MOST OF MARRIED LIFE
SPENT AT PRESENT HOME
Well Known German Couple Of French
Grove Settlement Complete Half Gen.
fury Mark of Married Life = Rel
atives, Old Friends and Neishbors
Observe Day at oehIsen Home.

Surrounded by their children anG
grandchildren, others relatives, and ole
friends and neighbors, Mr.. and Mrs
Henry Oehlsen, a well-known German
brated on Tuesday the fiftieth anniver-
sary of their wedding The day was
most happy one for all, and ninety
guests sat down to the wedding feast
served by the children of the old
couple.
The entire day was spent by the
guests at the Oehlsen home Rev. A
]. Boehm, pastor of the German Luth-
eran church, opened the day with
prayer, and delivered an address. both
in German. The house was prettily
decorated with summer flowers and
gold tinsel.
Mr.. and Mrs. Oehlsen received many
beautiful gifts. Among them were a
gold headed cane. presented Mr.. Oehl-
chair, given the mother The family
of Mrs. Oehlsen's sister, Mrs. Henry
Smith, living two miles northwest of
State Center, presented Mr. Oelhsen
with gold watch, and gave to Mrs
Oehlsen a gold clock.
In Present Home Forty-Eisht Years.
Mr.. Oelhsen is II years old, and his
wife 50, and both are natives of Ger
many. He was born in Bartshauser
Thurm Oct. l. 1881. and Mrs. Oehlsen
was born at Oldendorf Sept. Is, 1899
Both came to this country in 1S49. and
were married in Yorkville, Kendall
county, Illinois, June Is, 1859. After
living at Yorkville two years they
moved to this county, bought farm in
the French Grove neighborhood, four
miles north of State Center, and have
lived there ever since Both Mr.. Oehl-
sen and his wife are in fairly good
health, much better in fact than the
average person of their age
Life Not Without Sadness.
While the old coluple has lived a
happy married life. theirs has not been
without an element of sadness. They
brought nine children into the world,
and four of them We're not present to
celebrate the happy event on Tues
day The saddest incident in the home
life of these good people occurred sew
en- years ago this coming fall, when
their sons, August and Ferdinand,
were struck in their buggy by North
western train on a State Center high
way crossing. This was on Sept. 49,
| 1902. August was killed, and Fer
dinand badly injured. He died three
years later following a surgical opera
ton performed to relieve an injury re-
ceived at the time of the accident. The
other two children who have passed
away We're Minnie, the first daughter,
who died forty eight years ago, and
Anna, who died about thirty-five years
ago.
The living children of Mr. and Mrs.
Oehlsen are Henry Oehlsen, Jr.. who
resides in the same neighborhood;
Dorothy. who is at home; Mrs. Will
liam Gerke, three miles east of State
Center; Mrs. Amelia Hennies, who is
at home; and Mrs. Louis Oehlsen, liv-
ing five miles west of this city on Main
street. Mr.. and Mrs. Oehlsen have thir-
teen grandchildren, all of whom were
present at the golden wedding.
Following the dinner, on the lawn
of the Oehlsen home, a group photo
graph was taken of the gathering
Guests present at the anniversary cele.
bration from distance We're Mr.. and
Mrs. Fred Oehlsen, cousins, from Ne
braska; and Mrs. Herman, of Deni-
SON