The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-03-15
MARRIED FIFTY YEARS
Or. end Mrs. W. f. Waight, of Leon,
Celebrated Golden Wedding An
adversary tuesday Evening.

Fifty years ago, on March 10,
1867, at Taunton, Sumersetshire,
England, w. F. .Waight and Miss
Mary Jane House were married. On
tuesday evening of this week, tney
celebrated their golden, wedding an
niversary at the home OF their daugh-
ter. Mrs. Geo: w. Penniwell, sur
rounded by their children and grand
children, the guests on this memOr.
able occasion being the physicians or
Leon and their wives, and few init
mate friends of the family, and II 1t
erings Of any kind ever held in this
The guests assembled at the as
sembly room OF the library building,
where they were received by DR.. and
Mrs: W: F: Waight' AND Mri seven 3f
f'erren, Mrs Ellen Warner, Mrs: 6.
W. Penniwell, Mrs. F. E. French,
Mrs. J. c. Atz, Mrs. Carl Monroe
and Miss Eula Waight. When the
guests had assembled the daughters
sang welcome song in pleasing
and Mrs. French also rendered two
fine solos. Then came surprise:
The guests had noticed wedding
canopv in the assembly room, and
presumed that DR.. and Mrs. Walght
were going to be married over again,
hut the LIT. Sdlu once was clOuoH Aoi
him. While the wedding march was
played on the piano by grand
daughter, Miss Freda Ferren, we'd
ding party warched into the room,
and mock wedding ceremony was
gone through with, every detail De-
ing carried out in much more elaO-
crate form than when Dr.. and MIS-.
Maight were married, the partlcl-
pants being their grandchildren. Wll-
liam Ferren was the minister who
performed the ceremony, Jack Fer,
rem impersOnating the groom and
Frances Louise Penniwell, the bride,
Richard Atz was best man, Georgia
.bridesmaids, Hortense Warner mat
ron OF honor, katharine, Atz; ring
bearer and Mary Jane French and
vary Jane Penniwell flower girls,
Following this ceremony the
guests repaired to the home OF Mr.
and Mrs. Geo. w. Penniwell, adlac-
ent to the library. where sumpt95-
which was prepared and served by
Waight, each and every one being a
famous cook. Appropriate to the oc,
rasion the spacious home OF Mr.: ana
Mrs. Penniwell was decorated in
ried out at the long tables, the floral
and daffodils, while roses and carna-
tions were in great profnslq2n 81
throughout the parlors. Mr.. F. r.
French, of St. Joe, Mo, presided as
Kept things moving as he called pro-
miscuously on the physicians, ladies
and other guests, and each respond
ed with tributes to DR.. and Mrs.
Waight and their most Interesting
and loving family. On behalf OF the
sented DR.. Waight with an engraved
gold headed cane, and Mrs. B. l.:
Eiker on behalf of the ladies present
presented Mrs. Waight with flowers
and an engraved umbrella. Many
other valuable gifts were received
by DR.. and Mrs. Waight, among
which was a purse OF $ioo Os IN n golo sM
of which they are blessed IN unusual
numbers.
DR.. Waight was born at Melksham
in Wiltshire, England, Jan. 21. 1S4o,
being now II years of age. and is
still hale and hearty, as time has
dealt lightly with him. and ne is IN
the active practice of his profession.
Summersetshire, England, March 4,
1S45, being ~ years old. They came
to America in 1870, locating. at
Galesburg. Illinois, where they lived
for over seven years, then resided
at Hopkins, Mo-, and Lenox, Iowa,
for short time and also Eo.rfie7d Tor q nun I'M
Waight selling his practice at Clear
field to DR.. j. P. Maxwell 81 years
ago, and who is now also resident
Of Leon. The Waight family, came
to Leon 21> years ago, ana Dr.
Waight continued his life's work as
practicing physician, having al
tice, and which has continued to this
day. He has always taken an active
interest in public affairs of every
kind. Although born in England
DR.. Waight insists he is an Amerl-
can. Politically he styles. himself an
independent, and has always, been
most Independent in politics, but is
one of the staunchest admirers and
enthusiastic supporters of President
Wilson at all times.
DR.. and Mrs. Waight are the par
ents of q most interesting family.
eleven children having been born to
them, ten daughters and one son.
One daughter died in infancy at the
age Of three weeks, but a aside s;Is ;ntnn9 from
The children are Mrs. Harry Bowen.
of Fayetteville. Ark, Fred J; Waight
and Mrs. G.. A. Wood, of Washing
ton, D. c., Mrs. w. A. Ferren. Mrs.
Ellen Warner, Mrs. Geo. w. Pennl-
we'll and Mrs. Carl Monroe. of Leon.
Mrs. F. e. French and Miss Eula
Waight, of St. Joe, Mo-, and Mrs. J.
c. Atz, of Osceola, Iowa. On this
happy occasion all of the children
except three, Mrs. Bowen, Mrs. Wood
and Fred ]. Waight, were present,
they being unable to come at this
time, but all we're together at fam
lily reunion held in this city last
summer. There are II grandchil-
dren, the youngest being the daugh-
ter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Atz of Osce-
ola, six weeks old.
The guests were all interested in
looking at the wedding ring which
Mrs. Waight has worn ever since her
marriage, both it and the guard ring
being worn until they are very thin,
and also her engagement ring. |
One of the happiest guests at the
celebration, DIR. Waight's brother,
JIncle Tom Waight, of Mt, AYR, was