St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1922-05-19
Celebrate Golden Wedding

One-hnlf of a century ago last
Friday was the wedding day of
Mr.. and Mrs. T. j. Monahan,
one Of our most highly esteem
ed and estimable couples. This
wedding of fifty years ago took
place at Alanthus Grove, Gentry
county, Missouri, the ceremony
being solemnized by the Rev.
Lemuel Watkins, pastor of the
Christian church of that place.
The golden wedding anniversary
was celebrated by a host of the
friends of Mr.. and Mrs. Mona
han at their home, POI Buchanan
street, last Friday when they
kept "open house" during the
afternoon and evening. They
were the recipients of many
beautiful and valuable remcm-
brances, including a handsome gold
watch aud fine cameo brooch from
the Community Club. Postmaster
Jones and his staff were numbered
among the visitors in the evening.
After their marriage Mr.. and
Mrs. Monahan made their home
at Stansberry, Mo, and they left
there September %, 1881, on
their journey TO Oregon, arriy.
ing at Portland October 9Th and
first locating at Toledo, Wash,
but returning TO st. Johns in
May OF 1882. Mr.. Monahan =
first employment here was with
the Oregon Barrel Company, op.
Grated on the river front by Is.
o. Severance. 81. Johns was at
that time little less than "A wild.
erness with few small houses
along the river front and the up.
land covered with forest. They
have followed its progress and
have been potent factors in its
development and civic welfare
ever since. Among Mr.. Mona
han = many activities was the op
Grafton Of the first motor ear run
ming TO this place. The past ~
years have been full years for
this honored couple. They have
witnessed the slow hut steady |
progress Of st. Johns, step by
step, m change after change, and |
development after development
took place, az the stragcticnl i'm.
portance Of this locality became
more and more manifest, when
new residents came and began Ia |
clear of little patches of ground |
10 establish their habitations, aud |
have seen 81. Johns gradually |
but surely begin to dolf It's swad. |
ding clothes and finally become
a full hedged youngstcr with |
metropolitan airs and import
ance. They were well acquant |
ed with James John the founder
OF this community, and all the
other old pioneers who have pass
ed on or may still be living |
They have taken n deep interest
in the moral aud religious wei
fare of 81. Johns as well as in its
physical development. Mr. Mon
ahan was a member of the first
city council of 81. Johns, aud AN
active figure in securing some of
the industrial plants as well as
public utilities that are now en-
Joyed. For number of years
he has had charge of the local
postofiice, duty which he has
discharged faithfully aud wcll.
lie was active in the organila
ton Of the So. Johns Community
Club and has been its president
since Il was first organized. lie
has n wide acquaintance thru,
out the entire city, and many
there are who know personall,
and many more have heard of
Tom Monahan, as he is famil
isrly called by the older resi-
dents who know him well. SO il is
pleasing TO note that this re-
spccted couple, who have passed
successfully through the vicissi-
tudos, the joys and the sorrows,
the cares and the sacrifices en-
tailed in the pioneer days, can
thus celebrate their iiftieth wed
ding anniversary in possession of
their normal faculties and SUR,
rounded by hosts of friends Who'll
delight TO do them honor, and
Nlsh them manN moro NeArs of