Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-06
STORY COUNTY PIONEERS CELE-
BRATE UNUSUAL ANNlvER-
SARY ON MARCH q.
ENTIRE FAMILY OF TEN
CHILDREN ARE LIVING
and Mrs. Hannibal c. Wakefield in
Celebrating Anniversary Of One Of
First Weddings in Story County
Snowbound on Wedding Day.

Anes, March 6,--Ten years ago
March 4, 1907. a company of seventy
five, including family of ten children,
&athcred at the home OF Mr.. and Mrs
Hannibal c. Wakefield, north of Ames,
to celebrate their golden wedding an
ntversary. They were showered with
gold--a gold handled umbrella a gold
cane. gold thimble. and gold watch
chain TO say nothing of the showers
of we'll wishes that they might round
out another decade OF LIES journey.
March /, 1917, this worthy couple
were permitted 10 observe in a quiet
way the sixtieth anniversary of their
marriage. Owing to the infirmities OF
Mr. Wakefield the celebration was
omitted and only members Of the fam
lily who were able to be present gath
cred beneath the parental roof. The
circle remains unhroken-four daugh-
tiers and six sons live to be a source Of
mother who are In the winter of their
life. They are Mrs. Laura Maynard.
Limon, Colo, Charles, Lincoln, Neh.,
Arthur and Han. Ashland. Wis, VIII,
John and Sam, Ames. Iowa; Emma and
Polly Of Gilbert, Maude of Nevada, and
four grand sons and daughters were at
home. will perpetuate the name of
these hardy pioneers, But seven OF the
sons and daughters were at home sun
day Mrs. Maynard. of Colorado. and
the two sorS from Ashland, Wis, be
ing unable 10 be present. Five grand
children who bear the name of Wake
field We're in attendance, being Guy.
FLOYD, Laura. Margaret, Helen and Jo-
spphine In the afternoon several old
friends called to congratulate the elder.
" couple whose gifts from kind
providence have been overwhelming
Mrs. Wakefield celebrated her s2d
birthday anniversary last Wednesday.
and Nj Wakefield is So years old
Couple Detained by Storm.
On the evening of March 4. 1857, al
the home OF Rev. and Mrs. JOB Garo-
erson in Story county, took place the
marriage OF their daughter Lovina to
Hannibal c. Wakefield. Justice OF the
Peace Elias Peacock officiating. The
guests came from miles around in wa
CONS driven by oxen to attend the
event in the little log cabin. Three
OF the guests a the wedding sixty
years ago We're present at the cele-
bration ten years ago but since have
passed on. About . o'clock In the at
ternoon Of the wedding day the pleas
ant weather was broken by the falling
of rain, which by evening time had
turned into snow. The storm proved TO
be one of the severe storms of the win
ter of 1857, nearly two feet OF sno"
falling on the level, and the mountain
Gus drifts are only measured by the
shoveling OF nearly three days to open
the road OF a mile and a half distance
to allow the bride and groom to pro-
coed to their new home in Prairie City.
The couple remained there until spring
when they moved to the place now
known as the J. f. Davis homestead
pre- enpted by Mr.. Wakefield in 1855 at
sl25 per acre. They continued to re-
side there until 1868 when they moved
to Ames remaining until 1869 when
they moved to the homestead north oil
Anes In 1903 they took possession
OF their present home in Gilbert. Their
daughters, Emma and Polly care for
the aged couple.