original document was transcribed from a newspaper article, Ft Dodge, Iowa


WEDED FIFTY YEARS  - September 9, 1900 


 Mr. and Mrs. James Lynch celebrate their Golden Wedding. Four Generations
 present at the gather1ng. Over fifty Grand Children represented from all
 points of the Globe. The aged couple were recipients of many costly and
 beautiful gifts.  

The fiftieth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Hrs. James Lynch was celebrated
Sunday, and today the merriment was still in force, at the home, 814 Ninth
Avenue South. It was a grand gathering and never in the lives of the
venerable couple did they seem to so enjoy themselves. The past fifty
years seemed to be forgotten and the days of youth recalled.

Gathered on all sides were sons and daughters w1th hair as gray as their
own, and the realization was forced upon that they had lived a long time.
The prattle of the babes, the laughter of youth and the recalling of early
incidents by the old ones made a picture worth seeing--four generations
mingling together, all in one happy family. 

A large canvas had been drawn across the yard and the entire place turned
into a pavilllon to accommodate the assemblage. Around the platform ln
little knots were brothers who had not seen each other for years, sisters
who had grown old since they had met each other at home, and cousins forming
an entirely new acquaintance. The ma1n attraction was grandma among the
children. The mother of the entire gathering was seated on the porch of
her home and held an informal-reception the entire day. She was like the 
old woman of the fable fame--she had so many children that she d1dn't know
what to do with them, but she saw to that they all had a good time and
would long remember the visit to Grandma Lynch. The father of the occasion,
with his 81 years, was as young as any man in the crowd, and he took pr1de
in telling that he had never had a sick day and that the man was as young
as he used to be. 

The Fin de Sicle orchestra furnished music ln the afternoon, and many of
the guests were given an opportunity to prove that they could dance as easily
as they did when in youth. Fun was a mild expression; mirth was not the
word, for lt seemed the occasion was such that 1t eclipsed all other manner
of sport. Old age was rejuvenated, and the youth of fifties frolicked 
with those of the eighties alike. 

In the evening, Wright's Harp orchestra furnished the best of music and
 the day was one to be remembered. One of the happy occasions of the
afternoon was the presentation to the aged bride and groom of two leather 
chairs of a most rich-expensive kind by the guests (grandchildren)

The chairs were tendered in behalf of the guests by John F. Dalton of Manson.
He made a most happy talk and demonstrated that he 1s somewhat of an orator.
The old couple seated in the large chairs looked over the company gathered
and as the speakers words reached their ears tears of gratitude glistened
in their eyes and rolled down the cheeks that told the tale of self sacri-
fice for all those present. It would have been 1mposs1ble for either to
have said anything, too full of emotion and happiness were they, and
James Salisbury of Forestbury, S. D. thanked all in behalf of the recipients.