The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-03-05
Honaparte Couple Married In 1859
When There Was Not Bridge
Along Entire
River.
MR.. AND MRS. JAMES FINN
Cheouest stone Quarries to Be Opened
by Company Just
incorporated for
$4,000.

BoNAPARTE, March 5.-Last
Thursday. February 2S, marked
the fifty-ninth wedding anniversary OF
Mr.. and Mrs. James Finn of Bona
parte. who have spent the greater
mart of their lives in Van Buren,
county. Many and varied are the
changes which time has wrought
since they began life's journey to-
yether on February g. 1859, at the
home of the brides parents, MI. ana
Mrs. Casper Writ, at Vernon Palrrle'
q few miles southwest OF Bonaparte'
as they recall that event 1t brings
back happy memories of old frienos
who were then guests on that occs-
sion. OF the several uncles, aunts
and cousins of the groom, and the
parents, brothers and sisters OF the
bride, only three of that merry crowd
are now living, those being Mrs.
Mary Shipley of Silver City, New
Mexico, Mrs. Mary Hornbaker OF
Bonaparte and Mrs. Agnes Stirling OF
Pennington Mr.. and Mrs. Finn lived
the first two years together on the
Lineaweaver homestead southwest OF
Bonaparte. Recalling the rapid
changes since then until the present
time, one thing in particular is inter
esting and that is the fact that the
Des Moines river was not spanned by
single bridge along its entire
course This fact stands out very
distinctly to this old couple on ac-
count Of the Inconvenience 1t caused
them at that time. The ice In the
Des Moines river was going out
on their wedding day and the offi-
ciating clergyman was unable to get
- nd off ypo
for some time, the wedding had to
be postponed until the following day
when they were married by nearby
squire" Although Mr.. and Mrs.
Finn are well advanced in years, he
being SO and she "A years Of age,
their unusual good health enabled
them recently to visit all their eight
children. They made the trip alone
and went through the states OF Iowa.
South Dakota, Minnesota and later
to Jacksonville, Mo. That they may
live to enjoy many more years of
happiness Is the wish OF their friends
here,
Mrs. Frank Weigle of Des Moines,
recently visited several days with
relatives here at the George Mere
dith home.
1ShClS ho9 ShAAS'SN 49, ~~N~
aviation section of the coast defense
and expects to be sent to training
station in few days.
Mrs Josie Mccoy and son Archie.
and daughter Ruth, have moved here
and are located in the Risgle prop
erty in east Bonaparte,
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Roberts visited
last week with their daughter Mrs.
Geo. Letter and family near Stock
port.
H. L. Crosby and family are now
located in their new home on the
House farm, a few miles southwest
of here, which they recently pur-
chased They came here from Des
Moines, where one daughter is at
tending school and who will join the
family here after the granduation
exercises in June.
Several sugar camps in this section
are now tapped and a good supply of
water is being collected. Maple syrup
will probably retail at $500 a gallon
this year.
A company to open up and oper-
ate the great Chequest stone quar-
ries at Pittsburgh, short distance
from Keosauqua, filed articles of in
corporation at Des Moines last Wed
nesday The incorporators are Judge
]. A. Howe, Mr.. Swank of Des Moines