Golden Wedding Anniversary - 1913

MARRIED FIFTY YEARS 

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MR. AND MRS. W. J. BRICKLEY CELEBRATED THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING

LAST FRIDAY.

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ABOUT SEVENTY-FIVE GUESTS WERE PRESENT

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    Friday, July 11, 1913, seventy-five relatives and friends assisted Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Brickley, of this place celebrate their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary.  About 11 o'clock, a.m. the relatives and few invited guests assembled at the Brickley home where they were graciously received by the bride and groom of fifty years.

    A lively social time followed consisting of funny witticisms and numerous comments upon the youthfulness of the bride, who was dressed in white for the occasion, and the unusual nervousness of the groom elect.

    At high noon the announcement was made that the feast was spread, and it was in readiness at the M. T. church basement, where previous plans had been well carried out to serve all comfortably.  The officiating minister, the Rev. J.J. Kidder, and wife led the procession.  Immediately following them were the bride and groom, the children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and lastly the guests.  As the procession arrived at the church doors the strains of a brilliant wedding march played by a granddaughter, Lela Purcell, fell upon the listening ears.  After all were comfortably seated in the church parlor, Rev. Kidder proceeded to read the beautiful impressive ceremony as follows: "Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these friends and dear ones to celebrate the Golden Wedding of John W. and May Melissa House Brickley.  To Almighty God, our creator, and preserver, we render devout and sincere thanks, given for his benignant providences that has generously blessed and kept this husband and this wife, in the holy astute of matrimony for half a century.  For the benediction of this manly and these womanly daughters and their families, the children give to cheer and comfort our hearts, we thank our heavenly Father."

  "For as much as you did, fifty years ago, consent together in hold wedlock, and did witness the same before God and a goodly company, and did there pledge your faith either to other, and did declare the same by joining hands, do you, John W. and Mary Melissa, now renew these solemn vows and covenants before God, and in the presence of these witnesses, and in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost?"

    The response of such was "I do." after which the little granddaughter, Virginia Purcell, brought forth the wedding ring to grandpa, which the bridegroom of fifty years placed on the bride's finger with the words: "And with this ring we renew our plighted faith."

    The invocation was then pronounced.  Congratulations were then showered upon the couple.  To brighten up the seriousness of the occasion, Dr. J. A. White was called upon to make a new remark which he did ably and sufficiently to bring forth smiles from old and young.

     Dr. Port congratulated himself that he was counted a guest on this occasion, and Dr. Guernecy counted silence truly golden in keeping for this time.

    Chansey Houstman responded with an appropriate reading dedicated to "My Aunt Mary's in the country."

    The following verses were composed and recited by the bride:

    We've traveled down life's pathway.  Through its joys and through its pains, we have learned to trust in Jesus, hoping you all may do the same.

When your life's work is ended and time on earth with us shall be no more, we hope to greet you one and all with the loved ones gone before.

    Then the groom added words of good cheer to his relatives living testimony of a life filled blessings that he might grow and live in the service of the Lord.

    Mrs. C.J. Price directed the company to their places in the dining room which was tastefully decorated in white and yellow, the latter color being in honor of the Golden Wedding.

    The bride's table in the center of the room was profuse with yellow on the white linen.  In the center of the table was a huge bride's cake baked by Mrs. T.D. Crain, an old neighbor of the bride.  At this table set the bride and groom and their children.  All the tables were laden with cut flowers and all the good and dainty things known to the culinary art.  The dinner had been prepared by the children and was served in courses by Mrs. W.J. Miller and Mrs. Packer, who were ably assisted by the Misses Esther and Faith Kidder, Inz and Ethel Cruise, Ruth Cole and Blanche Walstin.

    John W. Brickley and Mary Melissa House were married at the home of the bride's father, Jeremiah house in July 1863, by Tomothy Stivers, Justice of the Peace.  There are living to-day three of the witnesses to this ceremony - Mr. and Mrs. James Carter and Mrs. J.M. Price.  On account of their feeble condition, Mrs. and Mrs. James Carter were not able to be present, but Mrs. J.M. Price, a sister of the groom was present at this time.

    To this union has been born ten children.  The one still living are Mrs. Fannie Lyon, J.H. Brickley, Lulu Purcell, Frances Taylor and Jennie Purcell, all of who live near Olin and all were present except the daughter who lives at Cass Center.

    There are 24 grandchildren, 22 of whom were present; 7 great-grandchildren, of whom 5 were present.  The out of town friends present were Mr. and Mrs. Martin Hayes, of Anamosa, friends of long standing; Mrs. Mary Turbox, of Clayton, Illinois, a sister to Mr. Brickley.

    Regrets were received from absent close friends, and many beautiful tokens were left by the children and friends in the form of gold coin, jewelry, useful articles for the table and house.  These so filled the hearts of the hospitable couple with appreciation that it is needless to say they really acted surprised with joy.

    Everyone in this vicinity knows Mr. and Mrs. Brickley, and can attest to the high esteem in which they are held.  Always having lived on their farm near Olin until seventeen years ago, when they moved to Olin, they have seen the country pass through many changes.

     Converted at an early age they have always been consistent members of the Methodist church, active in all its services, so that they are rightly classed among the most spiritual pillars of the church.

    O.A. Dayton was invited to take a picture of the company, after which friends began to say goodbye.

    Thus the golden links of friendship were strengthened, and lives made happier by the celebration of this Golden Wedding.

Transcribed by Mary Lyon Hellman 10/18/2011

Friends from Olin, Iowa

If any of you stopping by have relatives from the town of Olin, Iowa, you just might want to read this. This is a poem written by my Great Grandfather, John Wesley Lyon. He lived out most of his life there. He considered himself a poet and there are several I will share with you later. Other items he was written are "Life in Olin", "Letter to my Children" and his own "Obituary". He was an intersting character to say the least.

See if there is anyone you may recognize in the following poem.

Olin Friends
By John Wesley Lyon

We lost the Olin Recorder,
Mr. Hansen found it;
And when we got it back again,
He put it’s name around it.

But Mr. Hansen could not make it,
He could not its’ pages fill;
It was only printed on one side,
Something like a sale bill.

So Mr. Hospers took it over,
And business is his creed;
So business men send in your add,
For that is one thing he will need.

And if you want to write an article,
And your time is not all invested;
Mr. Hospers will try and write it,
And others will be interested.

Westfahl buys your produce,
And he buys it on the square;
And he pays you more for eggs and cream
Than you can get anywhere.

Westfahl buys your chickens,
And he also sells you feed;
He also has the oyster shells,
Or anything else you need.

Dayton sells the jewelry,
And glasses on the side;
And he has the best silverware,
Ever you have tried.

Guy Thompson fixes the telephones,
And he surely knows his stuff;
And when he works all day,
That ought to be enough.

The operators are now planning
And working out a scheme;
So that the monthly payday
Will not be so far between.

Fred said he would like to pay
The operators at least one a week;
But when he came to look,
The bank had sprung a leak.

Stingley repairs your shoes,
And they look so nice and neat;
It looks almost a shame
To put them on your feet.

Dave Curtright, he’s a workman,
And don’t you think he aint;
You ought to see him hang the paper
And how he slings the paint.

Macomber runs the drugstore,
And Jerry was his clerk;
He had been the business so long
He understood the work.

Macomber sells all kinds of drugs,
Everything down to salts;
And if taken according to directions,
You sure will have to waltz.

Frank Fall says “I have not much to worry me,
And my troubles would be few;
If it wasn’t for that ornery
And ever good for nothing J. W.

Earl Hart says you need not worry,
Although it seems so awful funny;
The depression will soon be past,
And we will all have lots of money.

His wife she listened, then she said,
“Earl I know your always right;
But I have worked here two months,
And theres not a payday yet in sight.

Houstman works for Uncle Sam,
And his ability is unsurpassed;
And you had ought to see his clerks,
If anyone should ask.

Save up for old age,
I thought it meant for me;
But when the boom was busted,
I began to see.

Hart sells hardware and groceries,
He sells them on the square;
And the milk and meat,
You will always find them there.

If you call for Dr. White,
And he tells you what you need;
Take his medicine according to directions,
And he will have you on full feed.

Now Reva White, his wife,
We could not do without her;
She looks after those in need,
All around about her.

Vernon moved his auto shop,
He moved it on the street;
And when you get your work done,
It looks so nice and neat.

Vernon went to Chicago,
To learn the auto trade;
And by his skill and practice,
Can fix any car that’s made.

Frank and Payson run a shop
On the east side of the street;
And when you buy your groceries,
You can also buy your meat.

Frank he works so hard
And he has his books to keep;
And when he goes to bed,
He can hardly go to sleep.

Miles, he keeps his books,
Although he never trusted;
And if the bank had been the same,
It never would have busted.

Yet the bank went busted,
But it did not all leak out;
And when the receivers turned the key;
They will get the rest no doubt.

If Mayor Carter sees anyone
Comitt a minor crime
He calls them in to court
And imposes on them a fine.

And Marshall Freeman watches
And if they can not give the bail
He takes them by the collar
And throws them in the jail.

He fed them bread and water
Until they were almost dead
But times got so hard
He had to cut out the bread.

But if the bank has busted
And had not left a cent
The receivers would of turned the key
And away they would of went.

Mason does the plumbing
Everything up to date
And Fluton runs the hardware
And you never find him late.

Taylor sells the Buick,
Just the car you need;
He also sells the Chevy,
That has got it skinned for speed.

He also carries a line of repairs,
And he always has enough;
He also has a gang of workman,
That surely know their stuff.

William Peck runs a restaurant,
On the west side of the street;
And when you go there,
You can get something good to eat.

We have three stations,
That sell oil and gasoline;
But the competition on all three
Is so very, very keen.

Mr. Cole is our lawyer,
And he does our legal work;
And if he has a case in court,
Will never duty shirk.

We have three good barbers on the street,
And they want their cash right down;
And we also have a lady barber,
In the northeast part of town.

John Gordon has farming tools,
And would sell them if he could;
But the farmers have no money
And their paper is no good.

We finally got our school house,
By a long continued fight;
And sometimes it was hard to tell,
Who was in the right.

Lawsons sell dry goods by the yard,
And sells the groceries by the pound;
And he gets the news on the radio,
Almost the world around.

Swartzell handles groceries,
And dry goods on the side;
He also has a line of shoes,
The best you ever tried.

And if you trade with Nellie,
And she tells you what’s the price;
You had better not try to Jew her,
For she will charge you twice.

If there is a nice young lady
Coming at the door;
And Nellie waits on her,
Then Robert he is sore.

Mr. Swartzell says it’s easy
To figure the gain and the loss;
But it’s sometimes hard to tell
Who is the boss.

Richell Miller says
Everything’s on the bum;
But according to the laws of nature,
Good times are sure to come.

Jurgenson has the highest job,
He elevates the grain;
And when he gets a supply on hand,
He loads it on the train.

And now in writing this poem
I hope I have not lost a friend
And wishing you many kind wishes
I bring it to an end.


John Wesley Lyon
Born September 23, 1860
Died December 20, 1883 in Jones County, Olin, Iowa