Elmira Telegram, Sunday, September 25, 1898
After Fifty Years
Golden Wedding Fittingly observed
On Tuesday last was held the golden jubilee or the fiftieth anniversary
of the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Rulandus Culp, of Springfield Township,
Pa. It came in the nature of a surprise to them, as all the arrangements
were made and carried into effect by their children without the knowledge
or any suspicion on the part of their parents. However, it began to dawn
upon them when their friends from near and far unexpectedly put in an appearance
at their pleasant home, tendering to them the compliments of the season,
with a wish and hope that they might be spared to see many happy returns
of their wedding day. An interesting feature of the occasion was the presence
of Rev. Thomas Mitchell, of Troy, Pa., who joined Mr. And Mrs. Culp in
the bonds of wedlock half a century ago on the same farm on which they
now reside and within a short distance of where their handsome residence
now stands. And while Mr. Mitchell has passed the four score milepost in
the journey of life he is still in possession of his mental faculties,
unimpaired, while his elastic step and general appearance show that the
weight of years sits lightly on his shoulders. After some time spent in
interchange of friendly greetings and hearty enjoyment of the generous
welcome and pleasant surroundings the friends, preceded by our hosts, repaired
to the dining rooms, where a bountiful spread awaited the guests, and which
did ample justice to the reputation of their table for generous hospitality
and good cheer. At the close of the banquet all repaired to the parlors,
where Mr. Mitchell offered prayer and invoked the divine blessing of our
heavenly Father upon all, after which he gave a short address on the duties
of mankind, their social and moral obligations to their families, their
neighbors and friends prefaced by the text, “Love Ye One Another.” His
remarks were well times and befitting the occasion. Hon. E.M. Tuton being
present was called upon by Mr. and Mrs. Culp to respond to the remarks
of Mr. Mitchell and also to return thanks to the friends who had honored
them with their presence and kind remembrance on the occasion. He spoke
in substance as follows:
It has been my good fortune to have been on terms of friendly, social
and business relations with our host for over forty years and during the
year of 1862 and part of the year of 1863 was a member of the family. And,
as I look back through the dim and misty years of the past to that time
and recall to my mind the fact that I was a diminutive tramp, homeless,
half clad, with few friends, and orphan without a mother’s love and watchful
care, exposed to all the evil influences of those times – it was in that
critical period in my history that I became a member of this family. At
this time it hardly seems possible. But truth is some times stranger than
fiction, and as my memory recalls the gentle yet persuasive admonition,
the appeals made by them to the better qualities of my wild, aggressive
and impulsive nature, I realize that God does exercise a special care over
the orphan and the homeless one. Through all the years that have passed
and gone the latch string of this home has ever hung outward for me and
mine. And whatever good there may be in me, however much I may have risen
above the level of the conditions and the surroundings of my boyhood days.
I still owe to them a debt beyond my power to repay, and I feel that they
richly merit all the praise I can bestow. The man and woman whose lives
are spent in harmony with the golden rule are object lessons: their moral
influence for good lives beyond the grave, leaving the impress of their
high character upon their posterity for generations to come. And, so our
host by his honorable and manly like, by his integrity of purpose, by his
unswerving fidelity to the principles of common honesty in his dealings
with his fellowman, has made a record and a reputation in this community
for himself and family which command the respect even of those who place
but little faith in the term, known as “Common Honesty.” And, now in their
behalf I extend to each and every one present today, their deep and heartfelt
thanks for this manifest token of your love and esteem.
Among the friends present was James Sugden, of Elmira, who had the
honor of being a guest at the wedding half a century ago, also Mr. &
Mrs. Jud Hendy, Mrs. Maxwell Haight, Joseph Robinson, and Mr. Rhodes, all
of Elmira. A letter was received from Thomas Gerity, a life-long friend,
wherein he stated his disappointment at being unable to attend. However
he sent a substantial token of his love and goodwill to his old friends.
The many mementos in the shape of presents consisted of two classes – the
useful as well as ornamental – and bore the evidence of excellent taste
and good judgment on the part of the donor.
Rulandus B. Culp, 1824-1909 [obit on site @ Old 2nd St. Cemetery, Elmira]
Mary J. Mayhood, d. 1904; 20 May 1904 – Death records 1901-1905 [Old
2nd St. Cemetery, Elmira] |
