~ Jacoby, Rev. J. C. & Seybold, Martha M. ~

Twentieth Anniversary
Married: August 19, 1875

August 19, 1875, Rev. J. C. Jacoby and Martha M. Seybold were united in marriage at Bellmore, Indiana, by Rev. Allen Lewis. On next Monday therefore, will be the twentieth anniversary of their marriage, and they have concluded to celebrate that event. There will be a reception at the parsonage from 2 to 5:30 p. m. and a general social in the evening from 8 to 10:30. No personal invitation will be issued, but a general invitation is extended to the public regardless of any church relations. ~ The Newton Record, Friday, August 16, 1895, Page 1, Column 5

~ Jack, Alex & McIlrath, Elizabeth ~

Observe Golden Wedding
Married: February 6, 1915

Mr. and Mrs. Alex Jack observed their golden wedding anniversary in their home on Sunday, Feb. 7. The event was planned by their children, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Jack and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Edgington.

Those sharing in the occasion were: Mr. and Mrs. John McIlrath, Mr. and Mrs. Harley McIlrath, Kathy and Stanley, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Anthony and Dale, Mrs. Emma Claybrook, Mrs. Mabel Tharp, Mr. and Mrs. Laverne Jack and LaRayne, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Jack and Tracy, Roger and Ronald Edgington, and Karon and Kathy Jack.

Unable to attend due to illness were Mrs. Jack's mother and sister, Mrs. James McIlrath and Ruby. Linda Edgington of Iowa Falls, also unable to be present, called her grandparents to congratulate them. The guests were served cake, punch, nuts and mints from a tea table with a centerpiece of yellow mums and snapdragons.

note: Alex and Elizabeth (nee McIlrath) Jack married Feb. 6, 1915 in Elizabeth's parent's home in Jasper Co., Ia. Wedding Anniversary held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Jack.

~ Jones, J. H. & Molly Rodgers ~

Jones - Rodgers 25th
Married: May 10, 1877*

Last Friday was the twenty-fifth anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Jones of Mitchellville, and the event was duly celebrated by the assembly of a large number of relatives and friends at their elegant home in M. Dinner was served at six o'clock and those who were there say that it was "out of sight" - or rather that it was beyond the possibility for the guests to put it out of sight. It scarcely seems possible that twenty-five years have gone by since that happy evening of May 1877, when at the old Rodgers home on North Street, of this city, a large and joyous company of friends assembled to witness the plighting of marriage vows between J. H. Jones and Miss Molly Rodgers, whom we think was one of the dearest girls in the wide world. Rev. J. C. Brown pastor of the M. E. Church was the officiating clergyman. There have been many changes since then - the sorrowful and happy ones being about equally divided. A majority of those present have gone where "marring and giving in marriage" is unknown. Prosperity has come to some, and adversity to others. But Mr. and Mrs. Jones, the bride and groom of a quarter of a century ago, are still young in spirit, and have been abundantly blest in "basket and store." They have had only enough of life's shadows to make them appreciate the blessed sunshine which has lightened up most of their pathway, and so we hope it may be with them until they reach the end of the journey. ~ The Newton Record, Thursday May 15, 1902, Page 1, Column 4

* Jasper County Marriages, Volume 2, page 244.

~ Johnson, Jervis & Melissa ~

Golden Wedding
Married: April 27, 1831

On April 27, 1881, a large number of their friends and neighbors assembled at the family mansion of Jervis and Melissa L. Johnson, near Lynnville, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. After a most bountiful repast, the company assembled in the yard, where the following biographical sketch was read, which will be of interest to those of their friends who were unable to be present:

Jervis Johnson was born February 18th, 1804. Melissa L. Johnson was born June 2d, 1807, in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. They were married, according to the Order of the Society of Friends, April 27th, 1831, and moved immediately to Wayne County, Indiana, taking their worldly effects with them in a one-horse cart, and piloting ten free colored people to Warren County, Ohio. They resided in Wayne County about four years, where Jervis followed the business of a hatter. They removed to Montgomery in the spring of 1835, where he continued the same business until the fall of 1851, when they removed to their present location, entering a homestead and other lands at Iowa City June 26th, 1851, paying, in addition to Government price, $110 for squatter's claim and good will. As was the case with all early settlers, they experienced some of the privations of a frontier life, but with the blessing of God upon honest industry, they raised good crops, had general good health, and good neighbors.

Their marriage certificate was then read, when, in accordance with a time-honored custom, the following presents were made: A handsomely bound family Bible from their grandson Wm. H. Johnson, Gold spectacles for each, rocking chair of superior workmanship for each, and twenty dollar gold piece for each, from their children. A Thibet shawl, from Henry Johnson and wife. Pair of boots for Jervis, from Albert Johnson. Suit of clothes for Jervis, from Charles Johnson. A pair of lady's slippers, from Charles Johnson and wife. Dress pattern from Mr. and Mrs. Sherman. Tidy from E. M. Dysart. Pillow shams from S. Hambleton. Worked glove receiver, from E. Kinley. A bedspread from Charles Craver. Geranium in flower from Mrs. C. Craver. Glass pitcher from Martha Cook. Two towels from Mrs. Golden. Two dollar and a half piece and a shawl pin from L. and M. Hambleton. Two pocket handkerchiefs from L. Hinchman. China ware from Cyrus Taylor and wife. Fruit dish from George and M. Terrill and Ruth Hawkinsr, et al. Pin from Bell Hiatt. Vase, tidy and a one dollar gold piece from J. and P. Hambleton. Vase and a one dollar gold piece from A. and T. Hambleton. Bouquet from Miss Hambleton. A gold headed cane was then presented with the following note:

'We whose names are hereunto subscribed wish to show our grateful respect to our venerable fellow citizen, Jervis Johnson, on his fiftieth anniversary of his matrimonial union with Melissa L. Johnson, his wife, by presenting him with this cane, on his golden wedding.' enscribed John R. Sparks, John Gray, Joel Hiatt, Calvin Macy, Z.F. Gause, Caleb Johnson, John T. Newby, W.W. Dryden, H. Dryden, E.H. Bartow, Thomas Cook, Wm. R. Matthews, Dr. G. U. Spain, Thos. Sherman, J.C. Hiatt, Chas W. Parker.

After the presentation, the following remarks were made by Dr. B. Hinchman: Dear friends, Jervis and Melissa L. Johnson: On behalf of myself and of this company of your friends and neighbors, I offer congratulations on this the golden anniversary of your wedded life, with our best wishes for your future welfare and happiness. Fifty years have elapsed since you promised before the Lord to be loving and faithful unto death, and I doubt not you can set your seal to the truth of the poet's declaration, that "Marriage rightly understood, Gives to the virtuous and the good, A paradise of below." Over half of your married life has been passed in the State of Iowa; you have seen its wild prairies transformed by the hand of cultivation into beautiful farms, rivaling in their fertility and fruitfulness the very garden of Eden. You have seen the original log cabin of the settler give place to commodious and comfortable dwellings. You have seen your little boys develop into successful businessmen, whose pleasure it is to do all that they can do to add to your comfort and happiness. You have seen the religious society with which you are connected increase from a few scattered meetings until now the yearly meeting of Friends of Iowa numbered about 9,000 members. You have not passed thus far on your journey of life without a share of its trials. No man lives to old age without at some time having to pass through the furnace of affliction. But in all your traisls, in all your afflictions, you have realized that the eternal God was your refuge and that underneath were the everlasting arms. May He who has gone with you thus far on your journey of life continue to go with you to the very end of your pilgrimage, and finally crown you with joy unspeakable and full of glory!" Jervis then made a few appropriate remarks, and himself and wife returned heartfelt thanks for the attention that had been shown them. B.H. ~ Iowa State Register, Des Moines, Saturday morning, April 30, 1881.