The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1934-08-23
PIONEER COUPLE
GIVEN SURPRISE
ON ANNIVERSARY
Friends Hold Picnic to Celebrate
Golden Wedding of Mr.. and
Mrs. Nelson Williams of the
Valley

(Special)-On Sunday, August 10,
Mr.. and Mrs. Nelson Williams were
created with big surprise when they
arrived at the Kennewick park, where
the East Kennewick Women's club
met to hold a picnic for their hus-
bands and families.
Some of the members had learned
that Monday, the Goth, would be the
Golden Wedding anniversary Of Mr..
and Mrs. Nelson Williams, so they de-
cided to hold a surprise wedding celc-
bration for the bride and groom Of
fifty years ago.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Williams arriv-
ed they saw a long table beautifully
decorated in gold colored flowers.
Mrs. williams remarked upon the.
beauty of the flowers and was told
that they were in honor Of the bride.
When dinner was ready Mrs. Will
liams was asked to remove her hat.
A real wedding veil that had served
at the wedding Of one Of the ladies
was placed upon her head; she was
given a beautiful bouquet Of yellow
flowers, mixed with silver spray and
tied with a long streamer Of silver
gauze ribbon. The ribbon was also
part Of former marriage attire. A
bridesmaid and best man were chos-
en- and all the company formed into q
line and followed the wedding party
as they marched around the table to
the song Of "Here Comes the Bride"
When seated, Mr.. and Mrs. Will
liams found in front of them lovely
wedding cake decorated in gold and
bearing the words Golden Wedding"
in gold letters. There was also a mys-
terious looking parcel and card plac-
ed between their plates. Upon open
ing it proved to be a beautiful cleo
trio table lamp and card of greet
ings. After dinner pictures were talk
en-.
Mr.. and Mrs. Williams had decided
to pass their anniversary quietly at
home owing to the fact that the
children, all Of whom had visited them
the past few months, would be un-
able to be with them, but from whom
they received many letters, messages
and gifts, among them well-filled
purses, the contests large enough to
cover not only the golden wedding,
but surplus, as the children said, TO-
wards the diamond celebration, they
hoped their parents might live to see.
Mr.. and Mrs. Williams were mar
ried in 1884 in Eastern Canada, the
home of Mrs. Williams, being near
Ottawa. Mr.. williams home was In
Western Ontario not far from Tor
onto, where he received his educa-
ton, being a graduate of Toronto un-
iversity, graduating the same year
he was married. The marriage took
place in the same home where Mrs.
Williams parents were married many
years before.
The first few years of married life
were spent in Canada. From there
they came to Duluth, where Mr.. Will
liams held a position on the Board Of
Trade. From Duluth they moved 20
North Dakota. While there Mr.. Will
liams was elected to the legislature
and two years later filled the posi-
ton of Commissioner of Labor for
the same state. Hearing wonderful
reports about the wealth to be found
in Washington state, the Williams
came to Kennewick in 1895 and with
the exception Of six years have lv-
ed here ever since. So fas as the
climate of Washington is concerned
they have never regretted their COM
ing.
They are the parents of seven child
rem and are the grandparents Of ten
living grandchildren and five that
are dead. Their oldest grandchild
graduated from an Oregon university
in June of the present year.
Monday, August 20 number OF
friends dropped in to help Mrs. Wiz
liams dispose Of large cake sent TO
her from Oregon by her daughter,
Mrs. Eldon Jennie. After the ladies
left some boy scouts called by request
to help finish anad clean up a jar Of
cookies. When leaving the boys said
they would like to give fifty cheers
for Mrs. williams, but feared the ef-
feet on their throats, 30 decided 20
wait till the diamond wedding and
come next day and NOW the lawn In
stead.