Samuel and Maria Parks Veach Married Fifty Years Ago The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Veach was celebrated last Wednesday, October 17. Just 50 years before, at the home of the bride's parents near Marion, Lynn county, Iowa, Samuel Veach and Miss Maria Jane Parks had been united for life. And on the golden anniversary a large number of their relatives and friends gathered to help them make merry over the joy and success that has been theirs throughout the long journey that they have traveled. There were nearly 100 present, including children and grand children, and the pleasant home, three miles west of town, had a gay appearance. Mr. and Mrs. Veach have been residents of the farm they now occupy for about 35 years. The weather was splendid and the guests, as well as their host and hostess, were in merry spirits. Just before dinner was served Mr. and Mrs. Veach were called into the parlor where a couple of fine chairs had been mysteriously secreted and they were given a genuine surprise. J. W. Allfree of this city made the presentation speech and his words were full of congratulation for the years that are past and full of hope for the years that are yet to come. Then in the presence of the assembled guests the bride and groom again plighted their troth and renewed their vows of constancy, receiving the congratulations of their friends. This was followed by dinner and such a dinner as even a newspaper man is not privileged to describe. It was a royal feast, just such an one as would be expected at the Veach home. Many beautiful presents were received. We will mention only one of beauty and significance, which was a beautiful ear of yellow corn, entwined with green vines and lovely flowers, in a handsome, silk-lined case. This was expressive of the fact that, as an Iowa farmer, Mr. Veach's success was largely due to the corn he has harvested in the years gone by; also that he and his good wife had now reached the golden harvest time of life when they shall look to the time of being garnered to their home on eternity's golden shore. The day was a complete success and as evening drew near the guests departed, hoping for many happy returns of the day. ~ The Iowa State Democrat, Newton, Iowa, October 25, 1900 Additional information from Newton Journal, October 24, 1900. Friends from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Conkleton and Mr. and Mrs. A. Price, of Marshalltown; Mr. and Mrs. John W. Veach and Miss Agnes and Mr. Earl Dales, of Botna, Shelby county, Iowa.

Wm. J. and Melissa Helphrey Ramsay Twenty-fifth Anniversary There was a happy gathering of old neighbors and friends at the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. J. Ramsey, three miles west of town, last Saturday -- in memory of an interesting episode which occurred twenty-five years before in the Helphrey home of Sherman township, when Will Ramsey and Miss Melissa Helphrey two among the most prominent young people of the neighborhood, plighted their marriage vows and Miss Melissa became Mrs. Wm. J. Ramsey. The quarter of a century of years that have passed since then have frosted the hair and furrowed the cheeks somewhat of the happy bride and groom, but in spirit and disposition they are "just as young as they used to be," and their love for each other has strengthened and grown with the years. The celebration of their silver anniversary was contrived and carried out by their two daughters, Mrs. Stella Forbes and Miss Leone, at whose bidding about ninety friends assembled on Saturday and partook of a sumptuous dinner followed by an afternoon every moment of which was full of enjoyment. The bride and groom were the recipients of a large number of anniversary gifts--all of them beautiful and many costly--attesting the regard and esteem of their friends. May they live to be host and hostess at their golden anniversary, is the wish of all. ~ The Newton Record. June 7, 1900. Gardner & Amelia Aillaud Dodge Anniversary Celebrated Mr. and Mrs. Gardner Dodge were honored February 7 evening at a surprise courtesy in celebration of their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary. The evening hours were spent informally with visiting after which light refreshments were served by Mrs. Fred Snook and Mrs. Verne Snook. Those present were: Mrs. Henry Bergman, James Dodge and son, Donald, Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Guessford, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Snook, Lee Brown, Mrs. Ethel Dutton and daughter, Virginia, Mr. and Mrs. Verne Snook and daughter, Beverly Ann. One daughter, Mrs. Clarence Cutler of Florida was unable to be present. ~ Jasper County Record, February 13, 1930, page 6, column 2.

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