Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1917 — Venerable Couple Have Travelied Life’s Pathway Together for 60’ Years. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Venerable Couple Have Travelied Life’s Pathway Together for 60’ Years.

Mr. and Mrs. Norman Warner Celebrate Their Diamond Wedding Anniversary Today—Were Married February 24, 1857, and Have Resided In Same House For the Past Fifty-Six Years. * . A few, married people live to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, still fewer live to see their fiftieth, or golden wedding anniversary, but rare indeed is the couple that live to celebrate the sixtieth, or diamond wedding anniversary. To the latter class belong Mr. and Mrs. Norman Warner, of this city, who today, February twenty-fourth reached the sixtieth, anniversary of their wedding day. Sixty years have this venerable old couple traveled life’s pathway hand in hand and today they are just as happy as they were when they were in their twenties. Their picture which is published here, was taken at the time of their fiftieth wedding anniversary and very little change has been recorded in their features since that time. The wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Warner occurred about 1 o’clock p. m., on February 24, 1857, at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. ana Mrs. Daniel Grant, one mile west of town. The wedding took place on* the back porch of the old log house which stood on the place at that time, showing that they had mild February weather even in those days. . The ceremony was performed by Rev. Isaac Sayler. who was a well known local Methodist preacher in those days. Following the ceremony the inevitable big dinner was served and of course the bridal couple got to eat at the first table and Uncle Norm says that it was the first time in his life that he had ever been granted that privilege and that it scared him so that it turned his hair white long before he waS fifty years of age. Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Warner , went to .Waveland, Montgomery county, where they lived until December, 1858, when they moved back to Rensselaer and this has been their home ever since. Mr. Warner run a blacksmith shop here for a great many years in connection with a wagon shop and in those days when wagons, buggies, plows and most other farm tools were nearly all home made. He finally merged his business into a hardware store, which his sons, •Daniel G. and Norman H., still run. ■ Their other son is Charles C., at-pres-ent one of the proprietors of the Grant-Warner Lumber Co. Another thing which Mr. ana Mrs. "Warner take a great deal of pride in, is the fact that they have continuously resided in the house in which they now live for the past fifty-six years. The comfortable and spacious house was built about two years after their return from Waveland. Although today is the anniversary of their marriage the occasion will be, celebrated at a big family dinner, which will be held at the home of their younger son, Charles’, residence Sunday. The guests at the dinner will be: Mrs. Margaret Hill McCarter, of Topeka, Kans., formerly of this place, where she was for a number of years a school teacher, and a’great friend of the family. Mrs. McCarter is an authoress of some note now and her works have been read by many of our citizens; Mr. and Mrs. Hale Warner: Grant Warner and son, Rex and family; Charles Warner and family, and probably Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Hamilton, of Indianapolis.

Mr. Warner was born in Rush county, Indiana, on March 15, 1833, and therefore will be 84 years of age next - month. He has been a continuous I resident of Jasper county for the past I fifty-seven years and knows our city ' from the time it was a hamlet until ' the present time and has been closely 1 associated with its advancement durI ing these many years. He made his first acquaintance with Jasper county when seventeen years of age and worked at odd jobs for a time before embarking in business for himself. His | father, Daniel K. Warner,* died when he was twenty-three years of age. Mr. Warner is one of the very few original republicans still living in Jasper county. He cast his first ballot for John C. Fremont, the first standard bearer for the republican party, in 1856, and for more than half a century has steadfastly affiliated himself with that party. His chief public service was in the capacity of county coroner for fifteen years. Mr. Warner is a member of the Church of God. The passing years have dealt kindly with Uncle Norm and a visit by the kindly old gentleman always very greatly appreciated by everyone. Were it not for the fact that his hair and beard are grey, Uncle Norman would readily pass for a much younger man. His age would never be hgtrayed from the standpoint of health for he is as dashing as the gay young Lochinvar, of fiction fame, who came out of the west. A firm step, a clear eye and a steady nerve are those of Mr. Warner. Uncle Norman confesses that he can bake bread, pies and cakes and do housework the same as any woman. He does not need spectacles to help him read the daily papers and is as well posted on current "topics as anyone, and'when it comes to making garden he is as adept as the best Mr. Warner has one brother who is still living, Marsh P. Warner, of this city. Mrs. Wamuer was born May 6, 1835, and therefore will be 82 years of age next May. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Grant were her parents, and she, too, like Mr. Warner, has spent nearly her entire lifetime in Jasper county, and has been a wonderful helpmate to her husband. Although not in quite so good health as Mr. Warner, Aunt Josephine is able to be up and around and apparently bids fair to live for a great many years yet. She has been a kind and loving wife and mother and is happy and contented in her surroundings. Mrs. Warner is also a member of the Church of God. Mrs. Warner has one brother, who still survives, Shelby Giant, who has also been a lifelong resident of this county. Four brothers, Thomas, Stott, Alton and James, have passed away. A feature of Mr. Warner’s personal adornment on his wedding anniversary of ten years ago was a large nugget of native gold, weighing about an ounce, which he wore on the lapel of his coat. He wore this same nugget as a breast pin when he was married. The nugget was picked up by his father in California in 1850 and is greatly prized as a keepsake. Although he has not told us so, we venture that Uncle Norm will have this nugget in its accustomed place during this, the sixtieth anniversary of his marriage. In closing we wish to extend to Uncle Norman and Aunt Josephine our heartiest congartulations and wish for them that they may live to see their seventieth anniversary day.

Mr. and Mrs. Norman Warner