Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-12-14
LAWRENCE GOLDEN wKpD1NG.
Married in Mississippi, Bride and
Groom Travel Through Country.

L
collection Of buggies could have
been seen, in a barnyard OF a pros
porous farmer Of upper South Caro-
lima. 1t was the occasion of the as
sembling Of friends and relatives to
the fiftieth anniversary Of the mar
riage Of Mr. and Mrs. j. II. Law
renee. The beautiful, warm Novem-
ber day, the geniality of the guests
and the occasion made the day one
long to be remembered by all who
H., ok part in the reception. Liberty
and friendship seemed to peryade
the hearts Of all present, and no
stiffness or formality was manifested
--an ideal occasion for sweet COM
munion Of friends and the meeting
Of long absent chums.
1t was also q time of reunion of
one Of the largest living families OF
Pickens county. MI and Mrs. Law
renee are blessed with twelve chill
dren, seven boys and five girls. All
are living, and on November Sth
came together to witness the golden
Wedding Of their mother and father.
Some are married and have families
OF their own; one a Protestant min
ister of the Flatwoods country Of
North Georgia, and another one Of
Oconee'S most prosperous farmers.
ScVeral others are scattered here
and there, but most of the family
still live under the parental roof.
: The particulars of this unusual
wedding anniversary may be of in
terest to the general reader. Late
IN the evening of the 7th friends and
family OF the honored pair began to
assemble about the old home hearth
the same old hearth-stone by
which MIR. Lawrence was rocked as
a baby, seventy-eight years ago, and
by which his family gathered during
his years Of childhood and Young.
manhood. He has seen his own
children play by it, and now, after
fifty years Of married life, ii Is here
that they gather TO celebrate his an
nivcrsary. Now was time for re-
joicing. Mother once more came into
the loving embrace Of long-absent
son and daughter, and father took
upon his lap his grandchildren, and
rocked them to sleep as Of yore his
own children. Late in the night was
heard the patter Of little feet and
the hum of voices singing the gentle
chant of the loving reunion.
U. But qn' the morrow was the most
Rejoicing, tynn of ak The other
members OF the family arrived, and
all were united around the home
hearth. Old grannies and cooks
came in, and their merry smiles and
loud laughter was added to the mur-
muir of the kettle and the rattle Of
dishes, the bark of the house-dog
and the song OF the sawyer For a
time all was hustle and confusion,
running here and there, haopy
greetings of friends, the merry in
PRODUCTION Of strangers. Soon all
were gathered in the parlor, and a
beautiful and appropriate ceremony
was performed by Rev. J. l.. Har-
rington, ex-president of the Wesley
an Methodist College at Central, as
sisted by Rev. S. |. Keelor The
ceremony not only recalled the one
OF nifty years ago, and gave a
glimpse of the life Of loving fidelity
to the present, but 1t also pointed
to the future and the hope of par
ticipating in "the marriage supper
OF the Lamb"
The history Of this long united
pair is very interesting. They were
married near the present city OF Me-
ridian, Miss, November Sth, 1860,
the ceremony being performed by
Rev. Phillips, a Presbyterian minis
ter. Before the marriage the bride
was Miss Sallie A. Rhode. Her sis
ter, Miss Lizzie Rhode, was present
at the wedding, and afterward be-
came the wife Of W. B. Lawrence,
brother Of j. II. Lawrence. She was
the only one present at the first mar
riage who was also present at the
golden wedding. j. II. and w. B.
Lawrence are the only surviving
members of their generation OF the
two families.
AS their wedding occurred many
years ago when but few railroads
ran through the South, the newly
welded groom and his young bride
travelled the long journey from Mis-
sissippi to South Carolina through
the country. 1t was in the days Of
q IN uory ond fbou ~ on,,on l>.1