Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-06-04
FIFTY YEARS
OF welded LIFE
Mr.. AND MRS. ANDREW NORD-
GREN CELEBRATED GOLDEN
WEDDING YESTERDAY
3 O RN IN S w E D e N
Couple Resided in Ottumwa for the
Past Forty Years and Witnessed
the Growth Of the City
Are II Years Of Age.

Surrounded by their family and
members of their children's offspring,
as well as relatives and friends who
gathered to do honor to the grand
old couple, Andrew Nordgren and
Christina Peterson Nordgren lived
again yesterday the event of their
lives which took place in far-off
Christinehamn, Sweden, June 2, 1860,
when Christina took the name of
Nordgren While the traces of the
life storms that both have weathered
together since the joyful event of halt
century ago are visible in the lines
of care stoop Of shoulder and silvery
hair, during the day closing at mid
night this venerable old couple We're
again the proud youth and blushing
bride Of the long ago, and none OF
their own offsprings felt younger
than they. No thoughts of the feeting
years with tears and sorrow were per
mitted to enter the sacred portals OF
the golden wedding day, and all pres
ent endeavored to make the old folks
feel that they were loved and honored
as deserved. The home, 145 Albany
street, was appropriately decorated for
the occasion, and no greater prepare
ton could be manifest for a wedding OF
the young than in this celebration by
their children of the golden wedding
of Mr.. and Mrs. Andrew Nordgren
both Of whom have passed the
seventy-seventh milestone of life and
are still looking forward to further
years of usefulness.
Born In 1888.
Ottumwans who have known the
elder Nordgren will recall his follow
ing the avocation of shoemaker. and
the excellence of his workmanship
can be traced to long experience and
proper start in the business, for at
the age of nine years he was ap-
prenticed at the shoe making trade In
Sweden, and followed the business for
many years in Ottumwa. Born in the
city where he welded his bride, he
first saw the light Of day April II,
1888. In 1868 he came to this country,
settling for year in Mt. Pleasant.
He then came to Ottumwa and has
made his home here ever since. His
characteristic integrity was made
manifest by his first two years LABOR
in America, for in that time he was
able to send for his family which ne
brought to OttumWa.
Witnessed City Grow.
He rented house of Ike Hendricks.
later used by Daniel Eaton as a saw
mill It was finally torn down and
the site is now occupied by the Loga-
marcino-G rupe building on CONNER
cial street. Mr. and Mrs. Nordgren
then purchased lot of Mayor Porter
what is now 449 North Market street.
once a cemetery with about 200 graves
which have since been removed or
obliterated entirely.
The only houses within two blocks
of the early Nordgren home was that
of John Pierce, j. W. Dixon, Fred
swenson, Judge Hendershott, c. c..
Warden.
Mrs. Nordgren was born September
20, 1882. One child born to the union
died. The surviving sons and
daughters are Rev. Emma Thoren OF
Bellingsham, Wash, Alfred Nordgren
Ottumwa, Gust Nordgren, Ottumwa,
David Nordgren, Axtell, Neb., Joseph
Nordgren, New Sharon, Iowa, Esther
Larson, Lincoln, Neb. OF the grand
children there are twenty and three
great-grandchildren.