Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-03-18
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Golden Wedding Anniversary.

Sotoen Nseooin9 anniversary.
just half century ago, on March IL,
1859, two young people, A. j. Foster and
Miss H. NJ. Root, of the little New Eng
land hamlet of South Royalton, were
united in marriage by the Rev. Adna
Newton, infthe old-time way, by driving
in company with two other couples to the
M. +. parsonage. where the marriage
was solemnized. A strange thing is that
during the fifty years since then death
has claimed only one OF those six per
sons. After the service the party drove
to the new home Of the couple on farm
in Tunbridge, from which two years later
Mr.. and Mrs. Foster removed to a valley
farm in Chelsea, purchased by them dur
ing the time Of the Civil war.
Chelsea was their home for % years, in
which period they made lifelong friends
and we're highly esteemed citizens. There
seven children came to gladden. the hearts
Of the parents and there, too, the Reaper
Death gathered them all except the one
remaining daughter. Three of the num-
Der were claimed in one short year at the
ages of 4, 10 and is years by that dread
disease, diphtheria, which away back in
1879 Was not so successfully treated as at
the present time. From the beginning ot
the illness there was no help, as the dis
ease took its most malignant form.
In 1883 Mr.. Foster retired from the
farm, which he sold q few years later,
and with his wife and one child. Wini-
fred, now Mrs. J. M. Thompson Of Mont
pelier, moved to the thriving little village
of Randolph, which has since been their
home and in which they have made many
warm friends.
Mr.. Foster is the last surviving mem-
Der of his family. Mrs. Foster comes
from strong long-Iived
race, her father and mother and Oldest
brother and his wife having all lived to
see their fiftieth wedding anniversaries.
Three older sisters-alI over eighty-and
one brother are sti1 living, hale and
vigorous considering their years. They
are people of English descent, eight gen.
erations back, their progenitor coming
over from England in a vessel as cabin
boy.
Mr.. and Mrs. Foster have always been
loyal church workers and have done all
in their power in effort and means to for
ward the kingdom of Christ on earth.
They bad with them yesterday to ceie-
brste the anniversary their daughter and
her husband, Mr.. and Mrs. J. NJ. Thomp-
son, and granddaughter, Beatrice. from
Montpelier; Mr.. and Mrs. Dana Field,
the latter, a cousin CT Mrs. Foster, and
Z. L. Field and his family from North
field, where Mr.. Field is engaged in busi-
ness as q dry goods merchant. Mr.. and
Mrs. J. A. Fowler OF Ludlow, whose an
niversary occurs at the same time and
with whom in years past they have held
their celebration, we're, on account Of ill
health, unable to be present.
The house was prettily decorated with q
profusion Of potted plants in bloom, cut
flowers, carnations, etc. The dinner ta-
bic was laid with the same Irish linen
that graced the table of the young compile
80 years ago and was again used at the
wedding breakfast of their daugh hter in
1895, and the old china adjoining the
board was set handed down two genera
tions ago.
For several seasons after moving to
Randolph, Mr.. Foster followed his for
mer trade of carpentry and in 1894 built for
himself the comfortable buildings .on
what is considered by many the most pic
turesque location near our village, nestled
between the Vermont hills.
Friends called yesterday and numerous
letters OF congratulations and good
wishes were received by the aged couple,
who fifty years ago made a new home for
themselves, in which their friends trust
they may yet see several more anniversary
days.
Randolph High School. (;
Miss Lucinda Howard has decided to
take the Washington trip with the senior
class.
A basket ball team made up OF high
school players took q trip by team to
Pomfret Center last Friday and defeated
the fast Woodstock High school team by
] q aen.a Of d L.. II {. RiII,l -nAk.--