The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1914-04-09
OUR kEOTA LETTER
Mo. AND MRS, JOHN N. WRIGHT
CELEBRATED THE SlxTiETH
ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR WE'D
DING SUNDAY, APRIL 5.

KeOta, April 6.--AIr and Mrs, John
NJ Wright are receiving the Congrat-
ulatiOns of their many friends and
acquaintances upon having attained
the siXtieth anniversary of their mar
rage. Their wedding day was on
April >, 1854. This year the date
fell on Sunday and they spent the day
quietly in their own home without
guests or feasting Mr.. Wright is al
most SO years old and Mrs. Wright
has passed her Slst year. Both are
in excellent health and enjoy the
telling of incidents and experiences
OF their early life. Mr., Wright Is an
lrishman. direct from the "auld sod,
but he has long since discarded the
high hat and the shillalah. He was
born in County Down, Ireland, on Dc
tOber /. 1882. and lived among the
shamTocks until he was eighteen,
when the family enigrated TO the
United States, landing in New York
City in May. The summer was spent
in New York and Philadelphia. His
father was taken sick and died dur
ing the stay in Philadelphia. In the
fall of the same year. 1851, the fam.
rs, came west, locating in Ohio, where
fate had deereed that John should
meet Miss Isabella Clark. Miss Clark
was bern in Pennsylvania, on Jan. %,
1893, but the Divinity that shapes
our ends" caused her parents to have
the wanderlust and they brought lisa
bella to Ohio, where Cupid and the
freshman awaited her in Mooretown.
The little blind god did his work well.
On the morning of April ), 1854, John
ICoh sol1 no nj Cd AZ
sister and cousin, rode ten miles
On horseback to Scrogsfield to be
married at tire parsonage home of
their mutual friend, Rev. James Pat.
terson. ID, ID. The parson had plan
ned and he executed a little surprise
on the bride and groom. They ex-
pected no guests at their wedding,
but the preacher invited number of
their friends and his good wife pre-
pared and served wedding dinner.
The ceremony was performed at noon
and several hours were spent with
their friends before the return ride
to Mcoretown. The next day Mr.. and
Mrs. Wright drove to Wellsyille and
came by boat to Burlington, Iowa.
From there they, came to Dutch Creek
where they spent few months in the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. Matthew Craw
ford. Their first experience in house.
keeping was in a log house on the
farm of George Dummitt, but they
occupied it only a few months while
John Augustine was building them a
little log cabin II feet square, with
clapboard roof. This cabin stood on
land which is now known as the c.
Range farm. They lived there year.
During the winter of 1855 and 1856
Mr.. Wright lFewed and hauled logs to-
build a cabin OF their own on a quar-
ter section which they received from
Uncle Sam. The cabin was built in
the spring OF 81 and they moved to
their own farm. This farm is located
two miles south and two miles east of
KeOta and is still I'm their possession.
a modern house has replaced the log
cabin and is now occupied By their
youngest son, Clark, and his family
When the civil war broke out Mr.
Wright enlisted in Co. 4. 2jth Iowa
Infantry, and he served his adopted
country during three years OF siren
nous war. Five children had been
born to them. The first arrivals wers
twins, Martin and Mary. then came
son. Frank. then another pair OF
twins, Elmer and Emma Mrs.
Wright and these five children re-
manned on the farm during the fist
year OF Mr.. WriGht's service, but the
last two years they spent in What
Cheer. at the home of Mr.. Wrights
sister. When the war was over the
united family returned to the home
farm and there they lived happily
and prospered and five more chill
dren were born to them, Alice, Clara,
Charlie. Margaret and Clarke. In
1898 they purchased a residence in
KeOta and moved there. 1t is their
present home. Their youngest son,
Clark. following the example of his
father, enlisted in the United States
army and was sent TO the Philippines
during the Spanish-AmeTican war.
There has never been a death in the
family. The five sons and five daugh-
tiers are all married and are prosper
Gus. They are William Martin
Wright, who recently moved from
CoTrectionville, Iowa, to California;
Mary. Mrs. George Vincent, resides
near keota; Frank Wright, Canon
City, Colo; Elmer Wright, Kingsley,
Iowa; Emma, Mrs. Gilmore Vincent,
Washington. Ia; Alice, Mrs. Lauren
King, Denver, Colo: Clara, Mrs. |
Thomas Martin, Stafford, Kansas;
Charles Wright, who has moved from
La Mar, Colo, to New Mexico, |
Margaret, Mrs. William Campbell, |
Columbus, Ohio; Clark Wright, Keota, |
Iowa. The grandchildren number % |
and there are two greatgrandchildren |
Mr. and Mrs. Wright have wrought !
well and deserve the serene old age
which they are enjoying. May moth |
ing happen to cloud the sunset glow. |
The Mems New Movement Bible |
Class of the Methodist Sunday school |
had "a royal good time" in the lee. |
ture room OF the church Friday even
ing The class had IS members and |
invitations had been issued TO mum.
Der of men who are not attendants at |
any Sunday school. The response
was gratifying AT 7:30 the men |
began assembling aud by s the lee. |
tire room was well filled The class
president, George Mcdaniel. the
teacher, A. A. Hulse. the Sunday
school superintendent. L. 4. Hulse,
Frank Henness, w. S. helseher, H. !
r. Newton. L. g. Warrington and j. 4
w. Helscher were .be reception com
nittee and gave every one the glad /
hand. Messrs. Frank Henness, A. ii.