Dakota County NeArchives News.....Leedom, Joseph F & Elizabeth C. Thorn 60th Anniversary October 28, 1911
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ne/nefiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Debra Crosby http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002467 April 22, 2018, 11:04 pm

Dakota County Herald Fri Nov 3, 1911 Page 5 October 28, 1911

Sixty Years of Wedded Life
Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Leedom Celebrate the Joyous Event

One of those pleasant social affairs which so seldom happen
in the lives of married couples, was the observance of the
sixteth wedding anniversary of Mr and Mrs J F Leedom at their
home in this place last Saturday afternoon, October 28, 1911.
   About 50 relatives of the family were present, which included
six children, eighteen grand children and sixteen great grand
children, besides a score or more of neighbors and friends of
this worthy couple.
  Mr and Mrs Leedom were married in Armstrong county, Pa.,
October 28, 1851. They cames west in 1857, to Le Claire, Io.,
and afterwards in Humboldt. In 1876 they moved to Dakota county,
and have made their home here since, part of the time on a
farm and part of the time in this place, where Mr. Leedom has
plied his trade of blacksmith.
  The guests began to assemble at the home at 2 o'clock, and
after greetings to the worthy couple had been offered Rev
J L Phillips, of South Sioux City, made a brief talk and in
the following words repeated the solemn marriage vows:
  "Dearly beloved, we have met together in the presance of
God and this splendid company of witnesses to unite-- no, 
that is not the word, to reunite--no, for they have not been
apart for sixty years, then what shall I say? to tie still
stronger the knot, the bond that has kept their loving hearts
beating in unison for sixty years.
  "Now, as I look into your faces, especially the faces of 
those splendid men and women, your sons and daughters, I am
more than convinced you have acted your part of the program
entered into sixty years ago. Are their any in this company
who can say this is not true? Then keep your peace.
  "Now, Mr and Mrs Leedom, I charge you both, that I am 
convinced you have keept inviolate the pledges you made one
to the other sixty  years ago, when you held each others hands
and said 'We will cherish and nourish till death do us part'.
You were young and handsome then, you are still youthful in
appearance, Mr Leedom, tall and stately, with an eagle eye
anhd happy face; and you, Mrs Leedom, with wavey hair, but
little streaked with gray, press each other still closer to
your hearts in the days to come and go out of life, when
the time shall come, rejoicing each others love that has been
firm and true to the end. Mr Leedom, salute your bride. Now
may God's blessing be upon you both, keeping you steadfast
to the end."
  Standing up with the aged couple during the ceremony were 
J J McAllister and Mrs Anna D Reed.
   The couple were again showered with congratulations by 
the relatives and guests present, after which the following
letter from a brother of the groom was read by Mr Cyrus Way:
     Los Angeles, Cal. Oct 1911. 
  To Joseph F. Leedom and wife, Elizabeth, and company of children
  and friends gathered to celebrate:
  Greeting:
  I am to say a word by these lines, to the company assembled to
  celebrate an even seldom witnessed or enjoyed in the life of
  any family.
    Our parents, Sarah J. and William Leedom were born respectively
  in 1802 and 1805 in Pennsylvania; were joined in marriage in 1826.
  To this union nine children were born,  four are still alive,
  Joseph F. and his twin sister Margaret. Joseph, the fair young
  man, chose the profession of blacksmith. While employed at his
  trade at the Great Western Iron Mills, Penn.,in 1850 and 51 he
  met in association and touch with the beautiful and winsome Miss
  Elizabeth C. Thorn. As days and months passed the association of
  these young people grew to affection and affection came to
  pledges, and pledges into agreement, agreement culminated in 
  matromonial bliss in 1851. When the big brother brought the
  lovely bride to the father's home, the evening meal being
  served, the little brother, I, was turned entertainer seating
  myself safely by the new bride.
     Years have come and gone, the youthful bouyancy has changed
  to maturity; the dark curls and the sunlit golden waves are
  touched by the winter's frost; the hoary heads accept the title
  of father and mother, grandparents, yea and even great-grandparents.
  Turn a moment to golden weddings. Our parents celebrated fifty 
  years in 1876 and their sixtieth anniversary in 1886. And you, 
  brother and sister, touched that happy event of fifty years a 
  decade past, in 1901. Our sister Jane Fair and husband celebrated
  their golden wedding anniversary in 1904. Three golden wedding
  scenes in a family of 109 years.
    What more shall I say, except, that I congratulate you and your
  dear bride as you stand in the presence of this company this 28th
  day of October, 1911.
     God bless and keep you by the riches of His Grace, to life
  Eternal, Amen.
                         J. B. and E. Leedom

   The relatives present for the jubilation were, Cyrus Way and wife,
of Whittier, Cal; Boyd S. Leedom and wife of Osmond, Neb; Joe M 
Leedom and family of Hubbard, Neb; Fred Leedom and family and John
G Backhert and family of this place; Eugene Leedom and family of
South Sioux City; Sam Thorn and wife, M C Thorn and wife and Mrs
Chas Scott of Hubbard, Neb; A B Thorn of Lake Park, Io. The guests
were -- J J McAllister and wife, Dr D C Stinson and wife, John H
Ream and wife, Mrs Jas Cooley, Mrs R E Evans, Mrs Mell A Schmied,
W L Ross and wife, Mrs S A Stinson, Henry Krumwiede, J S Taylor and
wife, of this place; Rev J L Phillips and wife of South Sioux City;
Mrs Louis Cooley of Wakefield.
  The bride and groom of sixty years were each presented with a
handsome easy chair and a purse of money by their children and
relatives. The guests also remembered them with tokens in commeration 
of the happy event. 
  Following the ceremony a light lunch was served to the guests, when
they repaired to the yard and posed for a photograph before artist
V O Lake.

Additional Comments:
[I am not related, nor researching this line so please do not contact me for 
more information]

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ne/dakota/newspapers/leedomjo14nw.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/nefiles/

File size: 6.6 Kb