Averill, Mr. and Mrs. Norman S. (Golden wedding)

AVERILL, STEVER, WILKINSON, MARCHALL, BRETT, DEWEY, DAY, WELLS, STEPHENS, ALSATT, HORACE

Posted By: Jane Adams (email)
Date: 8/25/2005 at 17:20:10

Transcriber note: Norman S Averill and Anna (a/k/a Arena) Sophia WELLS Averill were married on March 23, 1858 in Jefferson County, Iowa; this marriage was officiated by Anna’s father, Rev. Ashbel Shipley WELLS, V.D.M. The couple lived in Fairfield for a time, then removed to live in the Los Angeles, California area around 1878-1880. They celebrated their 50th Wedding anniversary there on March 23, 1908. The following items were submitted to the Fairfield Ledger:

Fairfield Ledger
Wednesday, March 11, 1908
Page 7 Col. 2

Golden Wedding Anniversary

Los Angeles, Cal. Papers announce that Mr. and Mrs. Norman S. AVERILL of that city will celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary March 23d. Members of the First Congregational church will give them a reception in the church, and, as Mrs. AVERILL is a member, active or honorary, of every woman’s club in the city, these organizations will join in the affair. Mr. and Mrs. AVERILL were formerly residents of Fairfield, leaving here for California about thirty years ago. The husband has been secretary of the Los Angeles board of education for many years, while the wife has been both a member of the board and a teacher in the city schools.

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Fairfield Ledger
April 29, 1908
Pg. 8

A Golden Wedding Anniversary

A clipping from a Los Angeles, Cal., paper (sic. the Los Angeles Times) has recently come to THE LEDGER with an account of the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Norman S. AVERILL, which was celebrated the 24th ult. It was an affair so unique and these good people have so many friends among the older people of Fairfield that it is presented herewith:

One of the most beautiful and memorable of occasions was the golden wedding celebration of Mr. and Mrs. Norman S. AVERILL, last evening. When this man and woman with snowy heads had clasped hands in the presence of a throng of admirers and friends, Rev. Warren F. DAY, pastor emeritus of the First Congregational church, asked: “Norman, have these fifty years of married life been worth living? Were you back a half a century, would you repeat the vows with which, in 1858, you wedded Anna?” and the radiant old gentleman answered: “I would.”

“Anna,” said the minister to the lovely old lady in the soft white bridal gown, “have these fifty years brought what they promised when you stood at the altar with the man of your choice, in the bloom of your early womanhood? Were you once more on that memorable 23rd of March in 1858, would you trustfully repeat with Norman your mutual marriage covenant?” “I would do the same thing over,” she replied sweetly. Then continued the minister, with a ring of gladness in his voice: “Friends, here is wedded life kept in perennial freshness by mutual fidelity, and a home whose indwelling spirit has made it as the rock, washed whiter, but unshaken by shocks. In the presence of God and of this listening assembly, I declare that true marriage is not, has not been, and will not be a failure. On this husband and on this wife, blessed of God, and beloved of man, may the smile of the Lord rest forever more. We have met in no ordinary circumstances, and in the thronging of memories most precious. We are here to celebrate a golden wedding.

“The flail and the flintlock, with a thousand fashions, have had their day, and fled before the more fitting. But not so marriage; not so home. Passion flashes. Love lasts. Listen! This groom and bride, with their record of fifty years, are still in their honeymoon. You felt it when you entered their presence. It is in the atmosphere. Beloved, 1858 and 1908, with all the throbbing years between, greet you. This floral coronation whispers to you of your Father’s benediction. In the corporation of this distinguished company, this city and southland, citizen and official, the school and the scholarly club, the social circle and the church, with other personal fellowships, greet you: congratulate you.” Rev. Dr. William HORACE offered a prayer, and then the bridegroom kissed his bride, and the all the people applauded for very joy.

The celebration began at 8 o’clock, when Mr. and Mrs. AVERILL took their places on a palm-sheltered platform, starred over with electric lights, and on which were placed two gold-rimmed chairs. With them were their son and daughterinlaw (sic. spelled as one word in the original text), Mr. and Mrs. G. Edward AVERILL, Mrs. AVERILL’s sister, Mrs. J.H. STEVER (sic. Juliet Hastings WELLS STEVER, widow of George STEVER), Mrs. Francis WILKINSON, a niece, and Mr. and Mrs. William F. MARCHALL of Monrovia.

The strains of the Swedish wedding march heralded a procession of fifty white-gowned girls and men. As they marched they sang, and in passing the venerable couple cast before them a branch of golden acacia for each happy year that made up the tale of the half-century. The song ended, friends crowded around the bridal couple, and showered congratulations and good wishes upon them.

Sixty organizations, to which Mrs. AVERILL has been allied during her years of educational and literary work in this city, were represented. The Church Work society gave the couple a purse of fifty odd dollars, Mrs. ATSATT making the speech of presentation. Mrs. DEWEY of the Y.W.C.A. board presented the same sort of gift. Mrs. D.G. STEPHENS, on behalf of one of the early study classes formed by Mrs. AVERILL, presented $100 in gold. The Shakespeare Alumnae of the Wednesday Morning club, through Mrs. Henry BRETT, gave a gold alumnae pin, and the club’s offering was an appropriate sentiment illuminated and framed in gold. The ushers of the church, thirty-three in number, presented framed congratulations. The board of education passed resolutions at its regular meeting last evening and then adjourned to offer congratulations in person. Nearly every leading educator in Los Angeles, as well as prominent workers in every good cause,were present at the reception.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes. I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Norman S AVERILL died in 1911, and Anna S WELLS AVERILL died in 1912. They are buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. Additional items about this ceremony and a card of thanks from the couple have been found in Los Angeles Times newspaper archives, but copyright laws prohibit their re-publishing. //rkt Jan. 3, 2011