Page images
PDF
EPUB

XVI

GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Fiftieth Celebration of Our Marriage — Death of my Wife - A Prayer.

In every life, I dare say there is more or less of sunshine and cloud, more or less of joy and sorrow, more or less of pain and anguish, more or less of riches and poverty, more or less of hope and doubt, and more or less of that loving spirit that reaches up to God. Much of the matter contained in these imperfect reminiscences can interest only those of my kindred. It is for them and them alone that a great part is written.

I have given a very imperfect account of my meeting with Lizzie Chambers Hunt, our marriage that followed three years later, and the fifty years of happiness that ensued.

The picture of my wife that appears here together with the picture of the group was taken on the day of our Golden Wedding. In this group appears each of my children; my sons-in-law; my daughters-inlaw; and my grandchildren. These with my wife and myself number twenty.

On the 15th of November, 1910, my wife and I celebrated at home our fiftieth marriage anniversaryour golden wedding. It was a date that both of us

had looked forward to with great interest and had hoped to celebrate together. She was not strong and robust as she once was, but the good Lord had been kind to her and to me, and the day that marked the culmination of fifty years of married life, found us reasonably well. It was a beautiful one, too, -much the same as was the 15th of November, 1860. I held court, as was my duty, until 3:00 P. M. At 5:00 P. M. dinner was served.

There were present all six of my children, Ezra Hunt; Emma Grace Dyer Hunting; David P. Jr.; Elizabeth L.; Horace L.; and Louise Dyer Fay, together with Julia Gregg, wife of Ezra Hunt; Edgar W. Hunting, husband of Emma Grace; Maud Ensign, wife of David P. Jr.; Betsy Wilcox, wife of Horace L; and A. F. Fay, husband of Louisa Dyer. There were present also seven grandchildren: Orian Elizabeth, daughter of Ezra Hunt and Julia Gregg Dyer; David Dyer, Robert Cutler and Edgar Hunt, sons of Edgar W. and Emma Grace Hunting; Louise Ensign, daughter of David P. Jr., and Maud Ensign Dyer; David Wilcox, son of Horace L. and Betsy Wilcox Dyer; and Claudine Fay, daughter of A. F. and Louise Dyer Fay-in all seventeen. Forming a part of my immediate family was Claudine Hunt, the youngest sister of my wife.

In addition to all of these there were also present and at dinner, Colonel Levi P. Hunt, brother of my wife, and his daughter, Ellen Louise; Margaret and Claude Edwards, niece and nephew of my wife; Mrs. Martha L. Burnett and her daughter Mrs. Buell, of Louisiana, Mo.; Mrs. N. A. McCarty, of Cadiz, Ky.; Miss Leslie Abbott; Senator William Warner; Mrs.

[graphic]

THE GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

JUDGE AND MRS. DYER, THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN

James O. Broadhead, widow of my old preceptor; Colonel and Miss Dahlgren; and Reverend James Wise and wife. The total number at dinner including my wife, daughter Elizabeth and myself, numbered thirty-five.

During the evening there were many callers, and altogether there was a happy gathering. Since that joyous day, many of those present have passed into that "undiscovered country from which no traveller returns," among them being my wife and my daughter-in-law, Julia Gregg Dyer, Mrs. Martha L. Burnett, Senator William Warner, Mrs. James O. Broadhead, Miss Dahlgren, and Colonel Levi P. Hunt.

The fifty years of our married life were passed but a gracious Providence permitted almost six years more to go by before the family circle that gathered together on the 15th of November, 1910, was broken. On the 1st day of January, 1916, the soul of my wife took its flight to the world beyond the stars. How faithful, sweet, loving and patient she had been for the fifty-six years of our married life no one can

measure.

In this loss I was greatly comforted by the children she had borne, by Claudine Hunt, her sister, and by gentle and loving friends. Some kind friend (I do not know whom) sent me a copy of a beautiful prayer that had been said by a husband bereft as I was. This prayer I have repeated many times, and I insert it here, to the end that others may see and appreciate it when I am gone:

Grant unto her, O Lord, eternal rest and let light perpetually shine upon her.

O, God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, in

« PreviousContinue »