Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1927-11-03
Celebrate Golden
Wedding Anniversary
Mr.. and Mrs. John F. Hardin De-
Mr.. and Mrs. Tracy Council
By MARY BLEDSOE


Mr.. and Mrs John F. Hardin of
Boone celebrated their golden we'd
ding anniversary at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. Tracy Council.
While two hundred guests called
during the evening to pay tribute
to this couple, the story of whose
long married life is almost a history
OF Boone and Of Watauga county,
Mr.. Hardin, now in his seventy
seventh year, and Mrs. Hardin, seven
years his junior, told the story of
their simple wedding here in 1877,
when the site of Boone was little
more than a crossroads.
Sitting in the attractive living
room, amid decorations of white and
gold-golden chrysanthemums on
the buffet, golden candles in crystal
candlesticks, and golden streamers
from the chandeliers-Mr Hardin,
in the mellow glow from golden
shaded lights, told OF how he and
Mrs. Hardin were married by Rev.
John Floyd, Methodist minister, at
the home of the bride who was Mar
tina Hannah Council.
There were few guests at this
wedding They were Mr.. Hardin's
brothers, his sister, Jordan Hardin,
Cornelia Hardin Church, George
Council, Ben Council, Mrs. Jacob
Councill and Mrs. Carrie Coffey. o.
these, only Ben Council is still liv-
ing.
The ceremony took place at eight
O'Clock in the morning. Mr.. Hardin's
total worldly possessions when ne
took his bride away from her home
that morning were S11.50 in cash
and horse and buggy. Guests who
had come from johnson City in less
thar three hours to attend the ami
versary celebration heard Mr.. Har-
din tell how it took four days for
him and his bride to cover the same
distance in 1877. The first night
they had reached Valley Mountain,
where they spent the night The
next day they contrived to reach Elk
Park, where they spent the night
with John Snyder. The next night
was spent with Ham Ray at Shell
Creek, and there also they visited
George Snyder. The next day they
went on to Johnson City, where they
visited Mr. Hardin's uncle, Jordan
Councill Hardin.
By this time the $11.50 had been
almost exhausted. Mr.. Hardin sold
his horse and buggy, traded for
span of mules, sold these, and traded
for more mules until he had a herd.
He drove the herd to Charlotte,
where he made profit of $3.50 on
them. With this as his capital, he
began building the comfortable for
tune that he has enjoyed during his
later years.
At the anniversary celebration
Monday night, while Mr.. Hardin in
dulged in "reminiscences, guests con-
tinued to call all evening. They were
greeted at the door by Mrs. James
Hardin Council and Mrs L. W.
McCown of Johnson City. Little
Miss Grace McNinc-: Corncill anG
Master Hardin McCown received the
cards
In the receiving line were Mr.. and
Mrs. Tracy Council, Mr.. and Mrs.
John F. Hardin, Mr.. and MIS- B. J.
Council, Mrs George w Hardin, of
Johnson City, Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel
S. McNinch of Charlotte.
Assisting in entertaining in the
living room were Mrs. ]. D. Councill,
Mrs. M. P. Critcher, Mrs. J. H Epps
of Jonesboro, Tenn, Miss Annie
Stanbury, George D. Hardin and L.
w. McCown of Johnson City
Those who assisted in serving were
Mrs. Hardin, Grady Farthing, DR..
Ronda Hardin, Oscar Hardin, Paul
Coffey, James Councill, Miss Alice
Council, Miss Louise Critcher, Miss
Mary Council, Miss Maude Greene,
and Miss Elizabeth Lokabill.
Among the out-of-town guests
who called during the evening were
Mrs. George w. Hardin, George D.
Hardin, Mr.. and Mrs. L. W. Nc
Gown and Hardin McCown. all of
johnson City; Mrs. j, H. Epps of |
Jonesboro, Tenn; Mr.. and Mrs. S. S.
McNinch Of Charlotte; Dr.. and Mrs.
MEG. AM erss of Gastonia; Mr.. and !
Mrs. Ed Steele and Mr.. Carter Coun-
Gill of Lenoir; DR.. and Mrs. Ronda
Hardin of Banner Elk; Mr.. and Mrs
J. M. Shull, Mr.. and Mrs. D. F.
Mast, Mrs Hard Taylor, Mrs. Chas.
Taylor, all of Vale Crucis; Mr. and
Mrs. S. F. Horton, Mr.. and Mrs. Jas.
Mast of Cove Greek; Mrs. Mamie
Hardin of Decanter, Oregon.
Mr. and Mrs. Hardin represent one
of the oldest families in Western
North Carolina. The first Hardin,
Henry, came from New England in
1880 and settled in Ashe county.
Mrs. Hardin is the daughter of the
late Jacob Courcill and the grand
daughter of Jordan Council, one of
the earliest settlers of Boone. Jordan
Councill's wife was Sallie Howard,
daughter of Benjamin Howard, the
famous tory who refused to take the
oath of q alIaUiapna at tho npd of thn