Decatur County Journal
Thursday, January l0, l9l8

On January 5th occurred the 50th wedding anniversary of MR. and MRS. WILSON FIERCE, of Van Wert, and they made it a special day of feasting, rejoicing and thanksgiving for not every married couple lives to celebrate such a notable event, or can have with them so large a family as theirs' with no vacant chairs to mar the happiness of a family gathering. In fact this is the only occasion of kind ever observed by any of the FIERCE families, so far as can be learned. It is hardly probable that the honored hosts were any happier on their first wedding day than they were on this day.

MR. and MRS. FIERCE were almost pioneers when they began housekeeping 50 years ago on the farm now occupied by J.W. DOWNEY, 5 miles southwest of Van Wert, where they lived for 33 years. A happy home it was too with MR. FIERCE's beloved brother, ERR, just over the fence to the south and his parents across the road. What a blessed consolation it is too, in their ripening year that they have both loved and feared God and can now praise Him for the many blessings of a fruitful life with an increasing hope and faith that knows no doubt, no fear, no end.

Only the families of children and grandchildren were present. MR. and MRS. J.W. DOWNEY and daughter, EDDIS; MR. and MRS. S.D. MCCRASKEY; MR. and MRS. L.C. THOMPSON; MR. and MRS. H.O. TUTTLE and son, WILDAN, and MR. and MRS. L.E. O'HAIR. The later, a daughter of MR. and MRS. THOMPSON.

The children presented them with $50 in gold besides other gifts from the grandchildren and friends.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
April 5, 2002