The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-04-28
TIT Ill LhnU UI
MARRIED LIFE
saturday Wa. Fift.sth Anniversary Of
tho Marriage Of Mr.. and
Mra Frank
emith.
ACROSS THE PLAINS
Was Their Wedding Tour, Starting
Two Days After the Nup-
tlal Ceremony Was
Performed.

Yesterday was the 50th anniversary or
the marriage of Mr.. and Mrs. Frank
Smith Of 1101 Main street who have
been residents Of Keokuk about
twenty-six years and of Lee county
much longer period.
There was no celebration OF the
day which was spent in quiet way
bringing back all kind OF memories
of the days that are gone forever;
Mrs. Smith, though active and well
preserved for one Of her age, 10
evidently not SO strong and buoyant
as when she braved the dangers ana
deprivations Of trip over the noun
tains and plains to the land OF gold
and glorious sunsets about half
century ago, consequently she felt
untitled for the duties OF preparing
for an appropriate remembrance OF
the day and will only greet with old
time cordially the friends who may
call with congratulations.
Married at SummitvIlIe.
Frank Smith and Miss Ellen M
Sorter were married at Summitville,
April q, 1862, when he was twenty
one and she was eighteen. Two days
afterwards, young, buoyant and ambl-
tious, on April 20, they started on
trip to California, the golden mecca
Of the people of that day. They took
the overland route in wagons and be-
fore they had gone far on their journey
thew had been Joined by others until
their caravan was composed OF three
hundred wagons, bound for Califor-
mia or other points near the Pacific
coast. On the original start from this
county the party consisted OF twenty.
nine people. Mrs. Smith at random
remembered the following as being
| among the number besides herself and
/ husband: The late William Mulligan
who was then a young man Of eigh
Montrose bluffs, and that was all he
had except a small amount of cash;
4 Lafayette Dupy, father of the Dup.
boys now residents of Keokuk; Mr.
and Mrs. Charles Bray. who was be
fore marriage Miss Hyler, membel
of an old Lee county family, who diet
about year ago; Mr.. and Mrs. DIV
err Cromwell; Morgan Anderson
brother of the late Captain Israe
Anderson and Mr.. and Mrs. Hampton
Mckinney, the latter being daughte
of Morgan Anderson.
For Months Without House.
ut was five months, lacking fou
days, that we never slept in house
but we certainly had grand trip,
said Mrs. Smith with enthusiasm II
spired by memory. She then briefl
referred to the scenery, the gran
plains, the lofty mountains and towe
ing natural monuments of rocks, a
of which seemed to have left wit
her life long memory.
Finally they settled down in viii
is now Nevada, twelve miles from IL
California line where they "ranchet
couple of years. They first wei
to housekeeping in Carson City Co
Guiding to return to Iowa, they We
through by land to San Francisco al
there boarding ship sailed for Ne
York and from there hurried to the
old Iowa home, settling again at SUI
: mitville where they were married, I
. naming there until about twenty-s
years ago when they became residen
of Keokuk.
j They have five children, all re
dents of this vicinity, Mrs. Add
Ferris, Mrs. Andrew Ryan, Charl
l Smith, Mrs Lafayette Fuqua a.
Mrs. C. w Ewers. There are al
fourteen grandchildren and four gre
/ grandchildren.
l All these with many friends W
I Join in happy congratulations a
heartfelt wishes for their continu
health and happiness.
Sunday Evening.
This evening family reunion "
! be held at the family home of Mr.. a
Mrs. Smith at 1101 Main street,
Al 4. r.