Fred Hess 1892

HESS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/16/2011 at 20:07:37

Anniversary of an Old Soldier

Last Friday, April 29th, Fred Hess was 54 years old, and his good wife, assisted by her numerous friends, planned and carried out a complete surprise upon him in making the day long to be remembered by inviting a houseful to help celebrate the occasion. Old soldiers and their wives from different parts of the county and the members of the Woman's Relief Corps were invited, and while not all responded to the invitation, quite a number went out from this place and were joined by other guests until the house was well filled with merrymaking friends, both old and young. The day was the most delightful one we have spent this spring. Old soldiers smiled upon the auspicious occasion in warm and inviting rays, and the balmy breezes played with the handsomely fringed curtains of our elegant hack as we wended our way with "an aching void," longing to get our feet under good mother Hess' table. Those of our readers who have ever been fortunate enough to eat of her well prepared Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, can sympathize with us when we tell them how "powerful" hungry we grew as the Hess home loomed up in sight a mile and a half in the distance. Three long tables were spread in the large dining room, and Uncle John Worden's portly figure graced the head of the center one, on which was placed a pig roasted whole. The dinner was a sumptuous affair and was partaken of with hearty relish by all. The entire day was an enjoyable one. Games were indulged in and the old soldiers discussed war reminisces and compared the prosperity of our present times with the days of '61-'64, when hard-tack and beans were their daily fare, and some were not fortunate enough to get their daily portion at times and often had to march in a severely hungry and thirsty condition. We do not apprehend that any of them ever crave the return of those perilous times. Before returning home, Mr. Sayre, on behalf of the G. A. R. boys, presented Mr. Hess with a comfortable chair in which to spend his idle moments and recall the pleasant day spent by his friends with him on his 54th birthday. Mrs. Hess was also greeted with a pleasant surprise by the women present, who made her the recipient of a beautiful gold-lined cake basket. After being made the victim of such a surprise she no doubt sympathized with her husband more fully than she otherwise could have done. At time of departure all joined in wishing them many returns of the day.

--The Grundy County Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 5 May 1892