On Tuesday, January 27, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Cooper celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. In the evening forty-six invited guests were resent at their home and enjoyed a social evening. During the social hours Mrs. Cooper unwrapped their gifts and showed them to the guests. The gifts included nearly fifty dollars in gold; stationery, set of orchid trimmed sheets and pillow cases, candle sticks with gold trim, and beautiful greetings from friends. Mrs. Ruby Schmaling baked a delicious layer cake and decorated it beautifully – including “50th” and presented it to them. The cake was cut and each guest received a piece.

Friends present to wish Mr. and Mrs. Cooper many pleasant years to follow were: Mrs. A. W. Anderson, Eden Prairie , Minn. ; Mr. and Mrs. Willard Anderson and children Willard Jr., Dorothy, and Delores of Eden Prairie, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Edwards, Oelwein , Iowa ; Mr. J. W. White, Oelwein , Iowa ; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Croffoot, Mt. Carroll; Rev. and Mrs. Lyone, Mt. Carroll; Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Clevidence and Morris, Mt. Carroll; Mrs. R. Chapman and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Heitman, Thomson; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Robison, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Melendy, Mrs. Hattie and Miss Charlotte Kneale, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Foltz, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Schmaling and Leland; Mr. James Haley; Henry and Miss Nellie Parsons, Mr. and Mrs. N. R. Kenyon, all of Argo-Fa. Of the family with Mr. and Mrs. Cooper were their son John and son Clarence and wife and their children Kenneth, Ruth, and Ray. Guests departed at a late hour after wishing them many pleasant returns of the day.

Albert V. Cooper, son of Jacob and Anna Cooper and Miss Jennie H. White, daughter of Jonathan and Ellen White, all of Hanover , Ill. Were united in marriage at the home of the bride’s father in the presence of forty relatives and friends, on January 27, 1881. the Reverend John Gilmore of the Presbyterian Church officiated. The bride wore a wine colored silk dress while the groom wore “the conventional black.” The couple was attended by Miss Hattie Limage, now Mrs. Cooper of Missoula , Montana , and Ralph White, now deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. Cooper began housekeeping on a farm near Hanover , Illinois and lived there until 1913, when they purchased a farm near Argo-Fa , Ill. In 1919 they retired from active farm life and bought a comfortable home adjoining the farm. Their Hanover home is now a portion of the Proving Ground.

Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have been very active in various lines of work – always farmers, yet Mr. Cooper was section foreman for more than twenty years on the Burlington railroad. Mrs. Cooper added in a big way, she having cooked for the employees, having as many as thirty for weeks at a time.

Whereas theirs have been active and busy lives, they have had time for the spiritual side of life. Mrs. Cooper has been and is at present actively engaged as teacher in the Sunday school; as member of the ata society, and enjoys life as when much younger. Their home is always open and they enjoy the company of their friends.

They are the parents of three energetic sons, all living. Harry living at Houston , Texas , where he holds a lucrative position with the Missouri Railway Company as Claim Agent; John and Clarence, farmers of York township. They have five grandchildren; Mrs. Louise Cooper Dale of Ft. Wayne , Ind. ; Miss Gladys Cooper , student at DeKalb State Teachers College , Kenneth, Ruth, and Raymond of Argo. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are in good health and do their own work; he is seventy-four, and she, seventy-one.