The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-01-03
CHICKASHA COUPLE CELEBRATES
54th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ON
NEW YEARS; STILL RUN BUSINESS


Geo X. Powers, proprietors of tn
Powers grocery, 1875 South Fouril
street celebrated their 5th We'd
ding anniversary on New Year
day.
Mr. Powers gained the acQualn
tance OF Miss Lenora Ernestine Pier
son--now Mrs. Powcrs-ln Chicag,
during the civil war. Their court
ship ended January /, 1867 wher
they were married IN the home oI
Il relative of the bride near Arlington
! III. From that time until today they
have lived happily together. George
has never spoken cross word to
me-" Mrs. Powers said.
Mr. Powers H. n years OF age. He
was born January 10, lSi3 in White
water Wis, where HIS father was
engaged In the general merchantile
business. He received his educa.
ton In the public schools at White.
water in his fathers store and in
the University Of Wisconsin. a cons.
in of the local groccryman was the
first person to graduate from the Uni.
versty Of Wisconsin.
Mrs. Powers is one year her hus-
bands junior. She was born April
4. 1874, in Exeter, N. H., home Of
the Phillips-Exete Academy, where
many sons of the former presidents
of the United States received their
educatlons When a young girl she
studied music in Chicago, where she
became acquainted with Mr.. Powers
soon after lie was discharged from
the Federal army.
Here Since Statehood.
Mr.. and Mrs. Powers have been
residents Of Chickasha since 1907, the
year Oklahoma was incorporated as
u state. They have been engaged
in business here since that time.
1t is said that Mr. and Mrs. Powers
are the oldest couple in the state
of Oklahoma who are taking an ac-
tive part in the management of an
up-to-date retail store. They employ
no extra clerks, but, instead, wait
on all the customers. This is not
an easy job, for the Powers enjoy
a liberal patronage.
Mr. Powers rushes around, pre-
pares orders and is as active as a.
young man. A large box OF grocer
les never bothers Mr.. Powers. He
has no trouble in carrying them.
Mrs. Powers is almost as active as
her husband. Were still young
they agreed yesterday afternoon.
Once Lived in Red Oak
Before coming to this city Mr.. and
Mrs. Powers lived in Red Oak Ia,
where they were engaged in the dry
goods business for thirty years. They
have innumerable friends and ad-
mirers in Red Oak and equally as
many in other cities in which they
have lived. To give everybody a
square deal is one Of their aims in
business. They prefer friends to
money.
Mr.. and Mrs. Powers live several
blocks from their store When they
are not invited to ride with their
neighbors they walk to town. "Our
are so nice and kind to u.s."
Mrs Powers declared. "They usual
ly bring us to town."
The aged, but active, couple plan
to spend one year in travel AFTER
they retire from business. They
plan to visit relatives and frieIfds
in many parts Of the United States.
Asked when they expected to re-
tire, they said: 1--WE don't know. It
may be five years and it may be only
twelve months. We haven't decid-
ed"
Receive Many Congratulations
AS they quietly observed their 54th
anniversary Saturday, Mr..
and Mrs. Powers received many con
gratulations and remembrances from
local friends as well as friends
from other cities and states. Several
bouquets of flowers were received.
A large number of friends here
presented Mr.. and Mrs. Powers with
a wedding anniversary present Of
$l10 and beautiful golden flower. In
the presence of large delegation o
friends, Rev. Sam D. Taylor, past 1r
of the First Baptist church, of which
the aged couple are members, made
the presentation speech Saturday ev-
ening at 1880 o'clock. Beginning his
address Rev. Mr. Taylor repeated
the following poem: lt
Fifty years, hear them say,
You two have journed along
the way
Not Pilgrims in a dreary land,
But sweethearts, lovers, hand
in-hand,
Fifty years of sweet devotion;
r,;e. - - e..,