Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-07-12
Welded FIFTY YEARS.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bennett Haines Cele-
brate Golden Wedding.

Fifty years of happy welded life
is an honor and pleasure accorded
but a few people to enjoy; yet, such
was the happy lot bestowed upon
Mr.. and Mrs. Bennett Haines of Hes
per, ~ D., when the dawn of July
the fourth, nineteen hundred eleven
swept away the darkness of night
and ushered into being a day that
was all that could be desired for
an occasion like that of a golden
wedding.
On July 4th, 1861, in the little
Quaker church in the village of Hes
per, Iowa, Bennett W. Haines, ma
tive of Indiana and Mary Street, a
native of Iowa, were united lin mar
riage and there, near that quiet,
peaceful hamlet, they spent thirty
eight years of their happy welded
life, rearing to happy, honored and
respected manhood and womanhood,
family Of four sons and three
daughters, all of whom are now liv-
ing and five Of whom were accorded
the pleasure of attending the golden
wedding of their beloved and re-
| spected parents
In 1899 MIR. and Mrs. Haines sew
cred the ties that bound them to
! the old home and came west to be
near several of their children who
had heard the Call of the West. .
Their daughters, Mrs. c. J. Camp
Mrs. S. w. Hiatt and Mrs. F. A. Hill
| and one son, William, residing near
the home of their parents at Hesper
! y. d., and one son, r. Haines OF
N. D., and one son, E. R. Haines OF
this occasion, while the two sons
Bert and Dr. d. A. Haines of Mabel
Mimi, were unavoidably prevented
from being present. In addition to
the children named and their hus-
bands, wives and children, upwards
of one hundred invited guests gath
cred at the spacious and beautiful
home of the bridal couple to helr
them celebrate the day.
AS the noon hour arrived the rea1
festivities of the day began with the
rendition of the beautiful and ap-
propriate solo, The Golden We'd
ding" by Miss Nellie McMillen, af-
ter which the guests We're invited to
! the spacious basement which had
! been beautifully decorated for the
| occasion and where a bountiful din
ner was enioved by the guests. Lat
er in the afternoon ice cream was
served. after the serving of which
| the bridal couple were persuaded to
reDeat the beautiful and impressive
Friends or Quaker ceremony which
fifty years ago, made them man and
wife, Mrs. Haines' sister. who was a
witness TO the pact half century
ago. officiating in the same capacity
on this occasion.
Among the guests from a distance
who were present on this pleasant
occasion were the brides sister, Mrs.
Eunice King of Muscatine. Iowa,
Mrs. S. w. Hiatt, Sr, Mabel, Mimi,
Frank Newcomer of Hesper, Iowa,
Mr. and Mrs. Nye and Mrs. Brown of
Esmond.
The numerous letters bearing low
ing greetings and congratulations
from absent relatives and friends.
the many beautiful and appropriate
presents received and the purse of
some sixty dollars presented by Mr..
F.. r. Jackson en- behalf OF friends
from far and near bear mute though
impressive evidence of the high re-
card and esteem in which Mr.. and
Mrs. b. w. Haines are held by all
those who have had the honor and
pleasure of knowing them as friends.
After the witnessing of the golden
wedding ceremony the time was de-
voted to social chats and reminiscent
ces of old times, revived and intensi-
fed by the rendition of an "auld
lang syne" song service, after which
Gladys McMillen rendered a recita-
ton appropriate to the observance
of our national day of independence
and thus as the lengthening shades
of evening marked the closing of
day long to be remembered by all
present. the guests reluctantly bid
their adieus, leaving behind them an
abundance of the kindest and best
of wishes, for the future health, hap
piness and prosperity for the honor
ed and happy couple now entering
upon the second half century or
welded life.-Maddock Nd. Stand
ard.
-.