Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-02-18
MARRIED AND LIVES FIFTY
YEARS IN SAME LOG HOUSE
Dan Collins, Sr., and Wife, Of Col
bert Bear This Unique Distinc-
tion--Celebrnted Golden
Wedding Feb. nth.

NNNNAhaA Etps AAANs
Fifty years ago, last Friday. Dai
Collins, Sr., and his wife, of Colbert
were married in the same house tina
is now their home. During the fift,
years Of their welded life they hav.
dwelt in no other house nor have
they lived on any other place. In all
probability no other couple In the
United States can boast of distinct
tion of this kind at least none has
ever come to the attention of the
writer.
Mr.. Collins Is a years old. and
Is as hale and hearty as many man
of thirty-five. Mrs. Collins is five
years his junior and is in good
health. They are the parents of Mrs.
Z. l.. Murray and Dan Collins. Jr..
OF Colbert, and Ben Collins. formerly
United States Marshal, killed sever
al years ago by assassins while per
forming the duties of his office.
Not only is this record unique.
but also Is the house in which Mr..
and Mrs. Collins have made their
home, which although built before
the war, in the fashion and accord
ing to the mechanical ideas of that
time, is still in excellent condition.
and good for many more years OF
habitation. The house Is built of
very large square cut logs. two stor-
les high, with the oId-fashloned fire
place seldom seen nowadays. Inside
II is shiplapped and papered. and
outside is weatherboarded over the
logs The rooms are very large and
the ceilings are high, as were most
Iof the better homes Of the South In
the days before the war.
On the Collins homestead the old
fashioned rail fences still hold sway
in places. demonstrating the lasting
qualities of those now obsolete inn
povements, as built many years ago.
before barbed wire and other mod
ern fencing materials were known.
All of the older families in this
and adjoining counties know Uncle
Dan and Aunt Sallie Collins, as well
as a majority of the newer ones, and
all of them have inly good words
to say for the old couple Many have
been the words of congratulation
upon their arriving at the season of
their golden wedding anniversary.
Friday morning "Uucle" Dan and
Mrs. Collins were sitting at home.
when they were surprised by a great
hubbub out at their front gate. and |
imagine their surprise when they saw
mist of their descendants surging in
at the gate.
There were their two sons and four |
daughters, their wives and husbands.
children and grandchildren. The old
couple had intended celebrating the
occasion in magnificent style, with
barbecued beef and the neighbors
and friend for miles around invited.
but the weather had been so bad that
they had decided to spend the day
alone and not ask anyone to brave
The inclement weather to be with
-hem on the happy occasion.
Aud just because it was a surprise
70 the old people did not hinder one
Of the biggest feasts being spread
nat had ever graced a table. There +
we're turkeys, chickens, dressings.
salads, bread, celery, nuts, fruits.
preserves, sauces, pies, cakes and ev-
else good to eat that the
ons and daughters could think of to
TX and bring along with them.
While the eatables were being pre-
jared for the dinner. Uncle Dan and
Ars. Collins talked of old times. tell
ng of when they left the very house
hey are now living in and rode on ,
horseback twenty miles to what is
low Yarnaby. Okla, to be married.
md how in the early days of their
narried life he would go out before :
reakfast, short distance from the
ouse, and kill deer. At that time.
ot only deer, but bear, panthers,
'ild cats, coons, turkeys, prairie ?
hiekens. and lots OF other small game
1as plentiful up and down the Red
liver, which is about a mile from =
there tue Collins family now lives.
The morning hours were passed In =
ms manner until after the noon hour {
ne serving of the dinner being de- :.
lyed until photographer could ar
I've to take a flashlight picture OF !,
he banquet board.
AS soon as the picture had been
AIKEN, Uncle Dan took his place at
he head of the banquet board ETH
he head of the table, with Mrs. Col +
ms and their two sons and four
aughters seated near them. When
'nele Dan and his good wife realised
heir plates, imagine their surprise
I finding fifty dollars in gold under
hem. The children had placed the
loney there as token of their love y
nd the old folks were overcome with v
appiness. p
The afternoon was spent as the q
forming hours had been, with Uncle
IAN and Mrs. Collins telling their his il
1ry and stories of the early DAYS. o
Mr.. Collins was born at Princeton, h
70 county seat OF Caldwell county. !
.entucky, March 1st, 1899. He was : !.
81, -. e.. /