Golden Wedding Anniversary Celebrated (Longley)

[genealogynut]

Howard Courant
June 25, 1925

Mr. and Mrs. E. K. Longley Celebrate the Event, With Their Children and Grandchildren

At their pleasant home in Howard, with their children and grandchildren around them, Mr. and Mrs. E. K. Longley yesterday enjoyed a most happy celebration and reunion.   On June 24, 1875, at the public school buiding in Howard City, Kansas, (the local newspaper called it "the church" and it was used for church as well as school purposes in those early days) Mr. Ezekial King Longley and Miss Carrie Hall were married in the presence of a goodly company for the doors were thrown open to all.  The very brief account of the wedding published in the local paper may be seen on the 4th page of this paper, in the "Fifty Years Ago" items.  The bride's own piano was brought in from her farm for the occasion, and it was perhaps the only piano in the entire county at that time.  The bride's older sister played Mendelssohn's Wedding March" as the bridal party moved down the aisle, and that same sister was present yesterday to help celebrate the Golden Wedding Anniversary, coming from her home in Illinois for the happy occasion.  There are still quite a number of persons living in this community who were present on that other happy occasion.  One man tells us he, then a young boy, sat on his pony just outside the building, and "saw it all" and heard it all, through the open windows of the school house on that beautiful June day 50 years ago.

Yesterday was a beautiful June day as was that other day fifty years ago.  It found Mr. and Mrs. Longley in excellent health, and supremely happy that all their living children and grandchildren were able to be with them for the Golden Wedding.  Mrs. Abbey Bender, with her husband and two sons, Billy Bob and Roy, and daughter, Margaret Joy; Mrs. Olive Joy Wright, and daughter, and Mr. Roy Longley and wife, all of Cleveland, Ohio, all came especially for this event.  Also Mrs. Ella V. Strachan and daughter, Mrs. Virginia May Turner, of Rockford, Illinois, sister and niece of Mrs. Longley; Hall Torbett amd Mrs. Kate Torbett Hegler, nephew and niece of Mrs. Longley, of Rogers, Arkansas, and yesterday at noon the bride and groom of fifty years sat down to a sumptuous dinner, surrounded by their loved ones--a most happy occasion, truly.

In the afternoon, from 3 till 5, an informal reception was held and a large number of friends called to offer them congratulations and sincere good wishes that many more happy years together may be vouchsafed, Mr. and Mrs. Longley.    Ice cream and cake were served the guests by the daughters and grand-daughters of Mr and Mrs. Longley, and it was the remark of all who came the young ladies performed that pleasant service most charmingly and gracefully.  It was indeed a happy event for Mr. and Mrs. Longley and their loved ones and all their friends.

A few of those from a distance have today left for their own homes, while some will remain a few days for a longer visit.