NEWSPAPERS: Weddings: Mr. and Mrs. John Weeks, Phoenix, Jackson County, Oregon *************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *************************************************************************** Transcribed and formatted for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Elizabeth Corethers 8 Jan 2003 *************************************************************************** Medford (Oregon) Mail, Friday, 11 Jul 1902, p. 2 CELEBRAT[E]D THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING. Mr. and Mrs. John Weeks of Phoenix, the Happy Couple - Half a Century of Wedded Life - Friends Assist in Commemorating the Event. A fiftieth wedding anniversary is an occasion which few people hop or expect to celebrate. It is because that these occasions are rare that attaches to them the importance which commemorates the event. An half century of life is in itself alm the allotted period, and many people are a long ways on the downward grade when they have reached that age, but when one thinks of fifty years of wedded life, the thought appears to us as almost too marvelous to be true, and in this particular instance, where both the bride and groom of fifty years ago are as sprightly, almost, and as clear of mind as are any of their children, the fact seems even more marvelous. It was upon Tuesday evening of this week, July 8, 1902, at the pleasant home of Dr. and Mrs. H. P. Hargrave, in Phoenix that Mr. and Mrs. John Weeks celebrated their fiftieth anniversary of blissful, wedded life. There were fully sixty-five relatives and invited friends present upon this occasion, many of them with silvered or whitened locks - relatives and dear friends of this good, honorable and upright couple. All had assembled to do honor to their aged, but very happy neighbors, and the glad expressions of good cheer which were so illuminously portrayed upon the faces of all told plainer and more forceful than words of the joy they felt. It was an evening of glad rejoicing and the congratulatory words spoken to and of this aged couple will be pleasant memories to those upon whose ears they felt. Members of the family were very ably assisted in entertaining the guests by Mrs. Vawter, who sang several well chosen and appropriate songs, Miss Webber with piano solos and the Misses Florence and Gracie Weeks, granddaughters of the host and hostess, gave two recitations each, all of which were listened to with much interest and pleasure, especially one by Miss Gracie, which was very appropriate and had been selected because of its being so fitting. Later in the evening the guests were invited to the lawn, where beneath bows of pine and oak there was spread one of the finest feasts ever prepared by the deft hands of Southern Oregon women. The scene was well lighted with Japanese lanterns and a picture of plenty and grandeur was presented. When the guests had taken their assigned positions along side this heavily laden table, divine blessing was pronounced by Rev. Clyde. After all had partaken of the hospitality of their host and hostess Rev. Clyde read a few well and carefully selected lines, which he had prepared, touching upon the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Weeks, as he had seen them from his ministerial vantage grounds. Rev. C. H. Hoxie pronounced the benediction, and the guests again assembled indoors and an hour or more of very agreeable interchange of pleasantries and "shop talk" followed and between twelve and one o'clock the guests began taking their departure, expressing as they did so the congratulations and good fellowship which they felt for their host and hostess of the evening. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks were the recipients of many beautiful and valuable presents in gold, silver, cut glass and hand painted china. The home of Mr. Hargrave was beautifully draped in old gold silk, with decorations of roses and nasturtiums. The souvenirs of the occasion were old gold ribbons, pinned in a bow with gold headed pins, and upon the ribbons were printed the years, "1852" and "1902." Those of the relatives present from a distance were Mrs. McKay, sister of Mrs. Weeks, and daughter, Miss Ida, of Canada; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Weeks and son, Henry, of Oakland, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Weeks and children, Misses Florence and Gracie and Master Stewart, of Oakland, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Hargrave, of Winnipeg, Canada. Those present from home and nearby points were: Ashland - Rev and Mrs Clyde, Mr and Mrs Mathes, Miss Jessie Mathes. Medford - Rev and Mrs Hoxie, Hon and Mrs Stewart, Mr and Mrs Vawter, Mr and Mrs Whitman, Mr and Mrs Bliton, Mr and Mrs Webb, Dr and Mrs Pickel, Mr and Mrs McGowan, Mrs Orr, Bertie Orr, Miss Webber, Miss Critchlow, Alfred Weeks, Mark Baker. Phoenix - Mr and Mrs John Weeks, Mr and Mrs Coleman, Mr and Mrs Furry, Mr and Mrs Lehner, Mr and Mrs Epps, Mr and Mrs Blackwood, Mr and Mrs Foudray, Mrs Culver, Mrs Furry, Miss Gertrude Weeks, Mr Fred Weeks. A bit of history regarding these people will not be out of place here. Mr. John Weeks was born in England in 1828. In early manhood he took passage in a sailing vessel for Canada, where he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business at Woodstock. On July 8, 1852, he was married to Miss Sarah Lateman. The wedding took place in Woodstock, where the happy couple began housekeeping and where they resided until eleven years ago, when, with their children, they moved to Phoenix, Oregon, where Mr. Weeks re- engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, which business he still follows. Mrs. Weeks was born in Oxford County, Canada, in 1832. Ten children were born to them. Three of these died in infancy; the remaining seven are Arthur Weeks, of Oakland, Calif.; Alfred Weeks, Mrs. Eugene Orr and Mrs. W. H. McGowan, of Medford, Mrs. H. P. Hargrave, Miss Gertrude and Mr. Fred, of Phoenix.