Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-01-06

Mt. Zion, Jan. 4-(Special Cores
Epondence. )-Sixty-fou years ago at
high noon today, John Trebilcock, La
vista Wyman and Squire John Hawk
were the three principals in cere-
mony performed in the front room OF
the humble log cabin in Athens county
! Ohio reproduced above. Today at high
noon in their modest dwelling two
miles sotth Of here, the heads OF John
Trebilcock and his helpmate for the
past sixty-four years were bowed IN
grace just previous to partaking OF
their wedding anniversary meal, and
lanother year was ended and begun IN
their happy welded life. These two oc-
|togenarians, the Oldest living couple in
Van Buren, county, yet just as young IN
the loye which made them one as II
lit were their wedding day, are today
receiving the congratulations of their
|innumerable friends of Van Buren, anu
other counties Of Iowa, and the least
of their thoughts is of the many years
they have spent on this planet. John
tTrebilcock is past eighty-fiVe years
old, and his wife is but two years
Younger. but time has dealt kindly
Ssith these venerable pioneers, and to-
day they are as young In heart, IN ac-
ton in their indomitable love, IN ap-
,preciation of humor, In hospitality, III
everything that makes old folks lose
their age and take on seemingly
everlasting youth, as the youngest con-
nile within the borders of quaint OLD
Wan Buren, county.
Everyone in Van Buren, county
knows John and Lavisia Trebllcock,
and likewise every one knows TO-DAY
is their wedding anniversary. And that
is why Lavisia and John were both IN
terr,1pted several times at their noon
day meal-by the ting-a-ling-a-ling or the
telephone. Folks from miles around
unable to express their congratula-
;tions and good wishes by personal Wis
station tosthe Textbook home. due 10
the, bitingxcold wind and the bad roads,
nave poured into the receptive ear Oh
II ,avisia their sincere Fluctuations.
IThese in turn we're relayed to the ex-
inectant John. who though very much
,eble never left his meal you see,
I.aytsia is my telephone girl" says
John good natllredly.
Married in Ohio.
After courtship which John says
lasted three years and Lavisia main
tains was three years indoors ana
two years at the yard fence, the wed
ding Of John Textbook and Lavlsla
,wynan took place in the Wyman log
cabin on January 4, 1S46, in Athens
county, Ohio.
In the presence Of twenty-five guests
,sSauire John Hawk pronounced the
words which forever bound this couple
in holy wedlock. Immediately all
were seated at a wedding dinner
which the bride of that day helped to
prepare. Today in their comfortable
dwelling on the Mt Zion road, the
bride of sixty-four years also prepared
the. dinner, and the two, little think
ingIof the time that has passed since
the, day of their marriage, sat content
ed in the happiness which has never
grown too old to be forgotten. They
were not forgetful of their wedding
'day. but the constant lowering OF
peace and contentment which has
characterized their long welded life,
has become to them their first thought
and this Is why both are the envy OF
much younger couples in old Van
Buren, county. Remarkable in the ex-
IRENE has been the perpetual compati-
bility of these two folks, who are old
only in years.
Husband Comes West.
IT was in 1854, after returning from
an eventful trip to the gold fields OF
California with other forty-niners,
that John Textbook, his father Frank
Luther Pratt and the latter's wife
came to Van Buren, county. The trip
was made overland in a buggy and
team owned by the younger Trebil
cock, and sixteen days We're spent en-
route. Just outside of Keosauqua, a
short distance off the road connecting
the county seat with the town of Mt
Zion, John Trebilcock purchased a
farm, aid it was to log cabin on this
place that one year later he brought
his wife.
One full year, beginning April 10
1855, these two sturdy pioneers lived
in the log cabin while more com
Portable brick house was being con
structed. The brick house was inhab
tied for thirty-eight years, but it is
still standing and now serving as q
comfortable home to Mr.. and Mrs
Lum Bish
The present home of Mr.. and Mrs