Hon. & Mrs. Samuel Murdock, 50th Anniv., 1895

MURDOCK, PATCH, SMART, DRESSER

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 5/18/2021 at 21:26:33

The Golden Wedding of Hon. Samuel Murdock - A Notable Occasion

Wednesday evening, Sept. 11th, 1845, at a little ferry house, kept by the bride's father, about a mile above what is now North McGregor, occurred the marriage of Samuel Murdock and Louisa Patch, Rev. Mr. Hill, of Garnavillo, father of Dr. Hill of the Independence Hospital, tied the nuptial knot.

That the event might be properly noted and to do honor to the contracting parties, over two hundred guests, relatives, friends and neighbors gathered at the Court House at this place, Wednesday evening, Sept. 11, 1895. The court room had been appropriately decorated with golden rod, plants and golden sheaves of grain amid which on easels appeared the figures "1845" and "1895". At the appointed hour, as the organ, presided over by Miss Ella Wilke, swelled forth the wedding march, the aged bride and groom entered and were escorted by Hon. J.O. Crosby to embowered seats within the rail, where also were seated the relatives of the family.

Mr. Crosby in a short address reminded the assembly that the blushing party before them had fifty years previous been married, he thought by a justice of the peace, but now thy should be married by a minister. He spoke of what the fleeting fifty years had done for our county and country and the part that Mr. and Mrs. Murdock had taken in making the history of the country, closing with the request that Rev. Marion Murdock perform the marriage ceremony.

Miss Murdock performed her part of the ceremony in a facetious manner pleasing to all, the responses required appearing to be those demanded by the so-called "new woman" - then of course the Judge kissed the bride and a season of congratulations ensued.

Short addresses were made by Revs. Mr. Fisk and Stevens, when Hon R. Noble being called upon as a graduate made a few remarks pertinent to the occasion. He spoke of his early acquaintance with Judge Murdock at Garnavillo fifty-two years ago, of their early friendship which time has not effaced though differences had arisen only to be banished by the flow of reason. He claimed that not a man of those early Garnavillo days was now a resident of that town, and extolled the rugged honest and energy of those early citizens of the county, closing with the hope that the venerable judge might recover from his present physical disabilities and be with us for years to come.

The venerable bridegroom then arose and in a trembling voice said if there was ever a time in his life when he had a faltering tongue, it was at that time. He addressed the company to some length, closing with touching expressions of the great gratitude of himself and wife to the bar of the county and state, and to citizens of Clayton county for their kind acts and the present demonstration of their respect.

Refreshments were served to the entire company, at tables at which a number of the ladies of Elkader presided.

We are pleased that the Judge and Mrs. Murdock were permitted to enjoy the pleasures of this "golden" event, and with their friends express the wish that they may now enjoy the calm repose of a well spent life, and that their sunset may be like that of the going out of a bright summer's day.

Among the guests from abroad were: Hon. Reuben Noble and wife, McGregor; Hon. J.O. Crosby and wife, Garnavillo; Mrs. E.H. Williams, Clermont; Mrs. Julia Boardman, Pickwick, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. R.P. Russell, Minneapolis; Capt. G.S. Patch, Sigourney, Iowa; Mrs. Maria Patch and Mrs. Elkins Dresser, Clinton, Iowa; Edward Patch, Galveston, Tex.; Mrs. George Smart, Guttenberg, Iowa; J.F. Thompsen and daughter, Eureka, Cal.; Mr. and Mrs. D.D. W. Carver, Dubuque; Hon. T.D. White, Postville; Mrs. Helen McGonigle, Mrs. Paul Egbert and Capt. John Tapper, Monona.

Letters of congratulation were received from Judge George G. Wright, Des Moines; Hon. Wm. B. Allison, Dubuque; Hon. F.D. Drake, Centerville; Mr. G.L. Tremain, Humbolt; L.E. Fellows, Lansing; D.B. Hendrick, Waukon and many others.

The presents were numerous and consisted largely in artistic cards, the work of A.C. Hagensick; accompanied by golden coin, not the least was one from Rev. Marion with a dollar for each year of her parents; wedded life.

~The Elkader Register, Friday morning, September 13, 1895