The Goldens, and Less - Saturday Night Genealogy Fun (on Sunday)

Randy Seaver of Saturday Night Genealogy Fun at Genea-Musings suggested we find which of our ancestors celebrated golden wedding anniversaries.  My memory told me that there were at least four couples among my ancestors, but a search through only four generations revealed seven.

The Seven Goldens (thus far discovered)

William Carl Robert Meinzen and Emma Virginia Bickerstaff were married 58 years, 4 months, and 30 days.  They married on September 8, 1914.  The marriage ended when she died on February 7, 1973.  They celebrated their golden anniversary in 1964, and were honored with a newspaper article.

Henry Carl Meinzen and Elizabeth Armitage were married 50 years, 2 months, 2 days.   They were married on April 24, 1870, and she died on June 26, 1920.  They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1920.

John Thomas Thompson and Lydia Bell were married 50 years, 5 months, 9 days.  They were married on September 23, 1872.  He died on March 4, 1923.  They celebrated their golden anniversary in 1922.  (From all information I can find, this marriage may have terminated years earlier -- let's just say it didn't appear to be wedded bliss -- but there was no divorce.)

William Bickerstaff and Susanna Holmes were married 63 years, 18 days.  They were married on March 4, 1830.  They celebrated their golden anniversary in 1880. 

Frederick K. Gerner and Elvira Bartley were married 53 years, 8 months, 2 days.  They were married on July 24, 1872.  They celebrated their golden anniversary in 1922. 

William Doyle and Tressa Rose Froman were married 51 years, 10 days.  They were married on March 17, 1885.  They celebrated their golden anniversary in 1936. 

Dixon Bartley and Rebecca Smith were married 61 years, 5 months, 13 days.  They married on July 16, 1836 or 1838.  (Calculation is based on 1838.)  They celebrated their golden anniversary in 1888 and were honored with a grand fete which was reported in the newspaper.  Their marriage ended at her death in 1899. 

The Almost Goldens

Lee Doyle and Audrey Victoria Meinzen were married 48 years, 8 months, 4 days.  They married on September 15, 1938, and ended at Lee's death in 1987. 

Edward Jesse Bickerstaff and Mary Thompson were married 49 years, 5 months, 22 days.  They were married on March 15, 1891.  Their marriage ended at her death after

Andrew Doyle and Elizabeth Jane Laws were married 48 years, 9 months, 19 days.  They married on November 11, 1861.  Their marriage ended at his death.

The Briefest Marriages
These ended when a spouse died a premature death due to illness or accident.

Gust Doyle and Beulah Mae Gerner married 1 year, 3 months, 14 days.  They married on December 19, 1911.  The marriage ended at her death.

John Froman and Catherine Saylor were married about 10 years.  They married in about 1861.  The married ended at his death in 1871.

Abel Armitage and Eliza Hartley were married less than 12 years.  They married on 13 January 1847.  She died between 1852 and 1859.

Ellis Bickerstaff and Emma Nelson were married 16 years, 8 months.  They were married on September 1, 1861.  The marriage ended when she died on May 1, 1878.


This has been an interesting post to write, considering that I believe marriages can continue into eternity.  When I write of the number of years of marriage, I'm writing about mortal, temporal years.

Thanks for the fun, Randy.

--Nancy.

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