The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-04-24
CELEBRATE 5Oth ANNIVERSARY
MIR. and Mrs. William Croll Married
n Half Century Joyously Observe
Wedding Day With Relatives
and Friends.

and Friends.
Mr.. and Mrs. William Croll of
Broad street, celebrated their fiftieth
wedding anniversary Saturday, April
20, 1912. William Croll was born
in Saxon-Weimer, Germany, October
., 1897, and at the age of seven
years came to this country with his
parents, MIR. and Mrs. William
Croll, who had two sons, William
and Simon, who served through the
Civil war, and afterwards died in
Florida. Upon their arrival in
America they first made their home
in New York City for a short time,
after which they moved to Rondout,
n. Y, remaining there until 1916,
when they came to Honesdale by
! boat on the ID. & H. Canal. When
eight years of age, Mr.. Croll be-
came a driver boy on the canal, on
what was known as the old one
| horse boats. At the age of sixteen,
he began to learn the tinsmith
trade with Kapp &c Neil, hardware
merchants of Honesdale. On April
20, 1862, he married Miss Mary
Ann Dorothy Brill, and then went to
! Hawley to live where he embarked
in business for four years, under the
| and hardware merchants. In 1866,
Messrs. Dickson & Croll sold out
their business and moved to New
burn, North Carolina. In the latter
| part of the same year, Mr. Croll re-
turned to Honesdale, and went to
work for Moses Bennett, a hardware
merchant, at his trade.
During the good old Canal Days"
Mr.. Croll was in business for him
self in the old Haley block on South
! Main street. A few years later, a
| panic came on, and Mr. Croll sold
| his business and went to work for
| Solomon and Delezene. For the
| past eighteen years he has been a
faithful employe of Olaf NJ. Spet-
tigue, being still in his employ, and
still hale and hearty at his age.
The family consists of one son,
John, of Brooklyn, n. Y, and two
| daughters, Mrs George La Valley,
Honesdale, and Miss Lydia Croll, of
Scranton, Pa. Miss Mary Ann Doro-
thy Brill was born in Hammerbach,
| Hessen, Kassel, Germany, January
| 20, 1S43. She came to this COIN
try when but three years old, With
her parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Nicholas
Brill. She was the youngest of
|
Nicholas and John Brill. They first
made their home at Rondout, n. Y,
| and later moved to Honesdale, re-
naming here for a short time only.
Then Mr.. Nicholas Brill purchased
a farm in Oregon township, Smith
| Hill. He became one of the early set
tiers, and was a successful farmer.
Upon his death, his son, John Brill,
who is well known, took possession
of the old homestead.
Mrs. William Croll afterwards liv-
ed in Honesdale, where she became
acquainted with Mr.. Croll. She has
lived a good Christian life, with a
love for home and children; and de-
voted to the Lutheran church as a
worker.
Mr.. and Mrs. William Croll were
the recipients of many useful and
beautiful gifts, including gold
pieces, silver, cut glass, china, lin
en-, flowers, pictures and a handsome
Morris chair, which was presented
them by the Ladies' Aid society.
The rooms were beautifully dec
GRATED with yellow roses and ever
greens.
The Honesdale relatives and
friends We're: Mr.. and Mrs. Eugene
Reagan, Mr.. and Mrs. George La
Valley, Rev. c. c. Miller, wife and
son, John Hartman, William Rea-
gan, the Ladies' Aid society and
friends, which numbered about 25O.
The out-of-tOwn guests were Mr..
and Mrs. Clifford Joralemon, Ra-
vena, N. Y, Mr.. and Mrs. Benz. Birk-
man, and John w. Croll, Brooklyn,
n. Y; John Reagan, Hallstead, Pa. 4;
Mrs. Christopher and daughter, Bar
bara, Miss Violet Crane, Miss Lydia
p. Croll, Scranton; Mrs. Chas.
Crane, and son Arthur, Uswick, Pa. I;
William Schweighofer and wife, OF
West Damascus; Mr.. and Mrs. Jas.
Mills, Mr.. and Mrs. Lowell Brough-
ton, daughter Jennie, Mrs. Mary
knight, Arthur Oliver, Mr.. and Mrs.
William Brill, Mrs. John Brill, Jr.,
Mr.. and Mrs. August Hartman, Geo
Hartman, Laurella, Pa; Mrs. Car
rie Seiped, Mr.. and Mrs. David
Dillmuth, Beachlake, Pa. Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank Klein, daughter
Theresa, Scranton, Pa.
Rev. c. c. Miller offered prayer
and the following address by Ber-
nard Bickman was given:
To Bride, Groom and Friends
This is indeed grand occasion
| anu one winch, Wnlle IL brings Joy
and thankfulness to our hearts
bears with it one of the most beau
tiful and touching lessons in the
Book of Life.
Our respected and venerable
friends have indeed reached the
golden age of maturity. Hand IN
hand, have they ascended the hill
and hand in hand are they descend
ing into the valley, a valley lighted
with the undying and sunshifting
lamp of faithfulness, love and de-
votion. What a privilege for us to
be here to witness this beautiful
sight, to see the bride and bride
groom of today in soul, in heart, the
bride and bridegroom OF this day
half century ago.
Time has sown fresh flowers
in their old hearts, time has gar
landed their brOws with choicest
flowers, time has lowed their affec-
tion, which like good wine has but
improved with age.
We have come here to felicitate
them upon the fiftieth anniversary OF