EVENTS IN CLUB AND SOCIETY

CELEBRATE GOLDEN WEDDING

Mr. and Mrs. Norman A.

Thomas Married Fifty Years 

Mr. and Mrs. Norman A. Thomas were host and hostess to over a hundred guests at their home Tuesday in the honor of their golden wedding anniversary Two hundred and fifty invitations were sent out several weeks ago and nearly all who received one responding.

The Thomas home was converted into a bower of beauty by huge bouquets of marigolds, dahlias, asters and golden red. Dotted about the rooms the color scheme of yellow and white predominating. The tent which had been erected on the lawn was prettily decorated in the prevailing colors.

The bride and groom received their guests and mingled with them, enjoying a social time and the rehearing of the happenings of fifty years till later in the afternoon when the following program was rendered:

Vocal Duet, Mrs John McIlnay of Polo and Ralph Thomas.

Piano Solo, Miss Florence Mott. of Kewanee.

Reading, Fifty Years Ago, Mrs. Henry Mott.

Piano Solo, Mrs. Lee Little.

Music was also furnished during the afternoon on the Victrola.

At 4 o'clock dainty refreshments were served. During the day many congratulations were received coming from Rockford, Chicago, Walker, Ia., Morrison, DeKalb, Rochelle and Des Moines, Ia.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were the recipients of many beautiful gifts as mementoes of the happy occasion, among them being a handsome Spanish leather rocher given by the Rock Falls Mfg. Co. employees of which Mr. Thomas is an employee, a gold headed cane from the Sterling Plating Works, and a number of smaller gold articles including a handsome goll mantel clock. Also holding a prominent place among the gifts was a huge bouquet of golden roses, in the center of which was hidden a tiny yellow silk bag containing a $20 gold piece. This was presented by Miss Helen Hults, granddaughter of the worthy couple.

A number of gold pieces were also among the gifts amounting in all to $60.

A beautiful jardiniere of handsome golden marigolds, were the gift of Miss Una Thomas of' DeKalb, while several huge bouquets of gladiolas and asters intermingled with ferns were among the gifts.

In the evening the immediate relatives and friends were entertained.

The afternoon program was also excellent and was as follows:

Solo, I Love You Truly – A. E. Horner

Reading – Mrs. Henry Mott.

Solo, When We Were Sweethearts - Miss Dorothy Gibson

Original Poem, The Family History – Mrs. Harry Thomas.

Solo, 0 Promise Me - Miss Ruth Lingel

Vocal Duet, 0 That We Two Were Maying - Miss Dorothy Gibson and Mr. A. E. Horner, responding to an encore.

French Alto Horn Duet, Silver Threads Among the Gold – Harry and Bert Haug, accompanist, Mrs. Harry Haug.

Mrs. Lee Little and Miss Dorothy Gibson accompanied the other soloists. Rev. W. B. Doble, in a few well chosen remarks made the presentation speech when the golden roses and the gold pieces were presented.

Following the program a repetition of the wedding service of fifty years ago was held before a bank of flowers in the parlor, Rev. W. B. Doble performing the ceremony. The bride looked sweet and charming in a gown of lavender silk.

One guest, Mrs. Henry Mott of Kewanee, was also a guest at the wedding fifty years ago.

After the ceremony a two course luncheon was served.

Norman Thomas and Miss Elizabeth Lennox were united in marriage at the home of the bride's parents, Sept. 7, 1865, the Lennox home being only a short distance from the present home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas.

All of their married life his been spent in this city and all except five years being spent in their present home.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are the parents of twelve children, three having been spent in their present home.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are the parents of twelve children, three having died in infancy. The children who are all residents of this city, were all present and are as follows:

Bert, Frank, Will, Harry, George, Ralph, Mrs. Earnest Stabler, Mrs. Rolla Hults, and Walter. There are also fourteen grandchildren, all of whom were present except one, that being Glenn Thomas, of Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are among Sterling’s most highly respected citizens both having been prominent in the early life of the city. Mr. Thomas served the city council for nine years and was also on the bridge committee when the First Avenue bridge was built. He also served in the war of' the- rebellion serving for a year as quartermaster on the gunboat Alexander (USS Alexandria) on the Mississippi. For the past twenty years he has held a responsible position with the Rock Falls Mfg. Co.

Both Mr. and 'Mrs. Thomas are staunch members of the First Methodist Church where they are faithful workers.

The out of town guests were Mrs. Culley and Mrs. Henry Mott of Kewanee, Miss Florence Mott of Peoria, Mr. and Mrs. Wood of Ashton, Miss Una Thomas of DeKalb, Mrs. Ellan Lennox, Martin Lennox, mr. and Mrs. Will Lennox and family, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Lennox, Mr. and Mrs. Hobb, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Belcher and Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Tarvin all of Dixon.

The guests who were present as well as all the friends and acquaintances of the worthy couple join in wishing them many more happy anniversaries.

A feature of the celebration was the original poem which was read as follows:

A is for the anniversary we are here to celebrate, also for Ada on whom Will doth wait.

B is for Burton, for Blanche and Belle, also for Burt who loves Florence so well.

C is for children who are gathered here, together with Crawford to dbid you good cheer.

D is for Donald, our noted athlete, for the two Dorothys who are both very sweet.

E is for Elizabeth in whose honor we are here, for Etta, Emma and for Earnest who joined us this year.

F is for Frank and for Florence our teacher, also for Francis, a dear little creature.

G is for Gerald who to school did just start; for George and Glenn who is immersed in his art.

H is for Harry and Harold, his son and also for Helen who is chuck full od fun.

I is for Infants, who by ones and twos did arrive, for the Income for which father to support them did strive.

J is for James, a dear baby boy, the pride of his father, his mother’s chief joy.

K is for the Kinfolk, both near and far, who extend their greetings wherever they are.

L is for Lawrence, for Lida and Lee, for Linn and all lovers, whoe’er they be.

M is for May, our very latest bride, also for Mabel who Harry doth reside.

N is for Norman, of all fathers the best’ though you search many miles, north, east, south or west.

O is for the loved ones who’ve gone on before, whom we all hope to meet on the beautiful shore.

P is for the People, both great and small, who are here assembled, together with Paul.

Q is for the Question father asked years ago. O, aren’t you glad mother didn’t say no.

R is for Richard, for Ralph and for Russel, also for Rollo who knows how to hustle.

S is for spankings which mother gave the boys whene’er they deserved them or made too much noise.

U is for "U" dear, each and every one, Hope you'll all have a good ships of course.

T is for Tom, the faithful old horse, who aided and abetted all the court time and join in the fun.

V is for Vina, the youngest daughter, who always helps mother as a good girl "oughter'”

W is for-William and for Walter, so tall, for dear little Willard, the youngest of all.

X is for ten, multiply by five, and then it numbers the years they wedded have been.

Y is for Youngsters, of whom they were plenty; in numbers exact, eight less than twenty.

Z is for: Zeal with which we here-all do greet the groom of fifty years and his dear bride, so-sweet

Now we all bid them adieu, may they live happily for years, not a few

September 1915 - probably in the Gazette - Contributed by Jerry Thomas

Illinois - "Our Way"