Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1898 — A Glorious Golden Anniversary. [ARTICLE]

A Glorious Golden Anniversary.

On Wednesday, September 21st, 1898 one hundred and more of the citizens of Rensselaer and vicinity assembled at the beautiful country residence of Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Halstead, a few miles west of Rensselaer. The occasion was the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of our esteemed townsman Jared Benjamin to Lettie Halstead, the sister of Mr. M. B. Halstead. Early in September 1848 Mr. Jared Benjamin and his brother Sainnel H. Benjamin, together with their sister Mrs. David Nowels and her husband left the home of Mr. Nowels. taking the Indian trail, which lead through what is now known as Indian lake, crossed the Kankakee river at what was then “Eaton Ferry,” now known as Baum’s bridge and arrived at the home of Miss Halstead, near Door Village in La Porte County, Indiana. At that time there was not a house between Mr. Nowels’ home north of town, now owned by Mr. Andrus, and the home of Mr. Eaton north of the Kankakee river. Mr. Benjamin and Miss Halstead were married at her father’s home on the 10th day of September 1848 and soon thereafter they returned to Jasper County and set up house keeping on the farm nowowned by Orpheus C. Halstead, and there they continued to reside until they moved into Rensselaer in the house where they now live. It was amusing and highly entertaining to hear Mr. Benjamin relate the experience of his early courtship. The parties lived far apart and the way was lonely and tiresome and their courtship was largely conducted by correspondence. The trials and difficulties of acquiring a livelihood in their early days cannot be appreciated by our young people of today. Among some of the older members present' the writer saw and recognized Jared Benjamin and wife, Alfred McCoy, Mrs. Alfred Thompson, W. W. Wishard and wife, Lucius Strong and wife, Mrs. John T. Harris, Berry Paris and wife, Richard Grow, Capt. Norman Warner and wife, Mother Teresa Reeves, Marion L. Spitler and wife, Thomas Thompson and wife, Mrs. Francis, David Crow and wife, John Martindale and wife. Alton Grant and wife, Mrs. R. C. Hemphill, M. B. Halstead and wife, James Yeoman and wife, Jonathan Pancoast, F. W. Mauck, and Thomas Grant and wife. There were also present Mattie Benjamin, Flora Harris, Rev. Austin and wife, Mrs. Harry Wade, Jared Martindule and wife, Eva Sayler, Miss Hemphill, Mrs. Omar Morlan, Marion Freeland nnd wife, A. C. Pancoast, wife and daughter, O. C. Halstead and wife, John W. Mauck, Kate Mauck, E. J. Duvall, wife and family, John W. Duvall, wife and family, and many younger people unknown to the writer. The oldest person present was Grandmother Reeve. The longest resident in the County, David Nowels. At one o’clock the crowdjgathered around a sumptuously loaded table of provisions consisting of chicken, pies, cakes, breud and butter, pickles and many other choice eatables provided by the generous and comely ladies who were present, and wrho took special pleasure in seeing that every one was amply served. A merrier, happier .or better contented crowd could not be imagined. After dinner quite a while was devoted to visiting and general sociability, in which every one participated, after which Mrs. Jared Martindale assisted by Miss Hemphill rendered some excellent

instrumental and vocal music. Miss Miller, Mr. Miller and Miss Yeoman each delivered interesting and amusing declamations. Mr. Halstead with the phonograph and Will Halstead with the violin contributed much to the pleasure of the occasion. We cannot pass without speaking of the kind and generous hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Halstead. We never saw Mrs. Halstead enjoy herself better. She said she had a good time and hoped all the others did. Alfred McCoy said it was the best meeting of the kind he ever attended and was glad he came. Bro. Wishard said that he would not have missed being there for the best sheep McCoy had. After all were feasted and feted to their full delight, all united in singing “God be with you ‘til we meet again” when we went to our respective homes resolved to meet at tin? happy home, fifty years hence.