Daily Democrat, Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, Friday, October 17, 1924

Golden Wedding Anniversary

W. G. (Billy Green) Wooldridge and his splendid wife celebrated their golden wedding anniversary Wednesday, October 15 at their farm home, five miles west of Mammoth Spring, on the State line road, and fully 500 person were present at the occasion. Billy Green had barbecued a beef for the feast and the most of it was eaten, so great was the crowd. They were there from Springfield, West Plains, Koshkonong, and Thayer, Mo., and from Jonesboro, Walnut Ridge, Hardy, Salem and Mammoth Spring, Ark., and throughout the country surrounding their home.

Billy Green and Aunt Lizzie Wooldridge are dearly beloved landmarks of this great country, both of them having been born here. When they married 50 years ago he was 20 and Lizzie Trantham was 19, John H. Davis, father of the late lamented Charley Davis, sheriff of Oregon County, performed the ceremony. He was a justice of the peace.

Five persons who witnessed the marriage 50 years ago were present at this golden wedding anniversary: W. J. Highfill, banker at Thayer, Mose Wooldridge, brother to W. G.; Jim Trantham, a brother and Mrs. Frank Adams, a sister to Mrs. Lizzie; and Sarah Jane Harmon, a sister-in-law.

The weather was ideal for the occasion and a table, 50 feet in length, was constructed in the yard and the same was loaded down with good things to eat. After everybody had eaten, there was enough left for supper and exactly 200 remained for supper and treated the couple to an old fashioned charivari.

To the delight of those assembled the happy pair were reunited. Elder John H. Talley performed the ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Talley acted the part of the best man and bridesmaid. And when it was announce that congratulations were in order the “newly weds” were showered with presents in gold, sil- (missing the lower part of the article when copied from the newspaper’s microfilm)…treated those assembled with a few selections of old time music – and it was music – sure enough, with Everett Wooldridge beating time on the strings with a pair of knitting needles, while Billy Green danced. He produced the double shuffle, backstep, etc. with the ease of a man of 20, yet he is 70.

There were talks by W. J. Highfield, W. McLellaud, Editor Walquist of the Democrat, Mammoth Spring, and delightful response by Billy Green. In the course of his remarks Billy Green accused Lizzie with talking him into marrying her 50 years ago and with trying several times since to talk him out of it, but had failed. Then Aunt Lizzie came forward and entered a denial of both charges, declaring she has been satisfied all the years with what she got, and is ready to take on 50 years more of it.

The song that Jim Trantham didn’t sing was highly amusing as well as one Billy Green sang and hummed.

While there was much fun and merry making all through the program which was sponsored by Eld. John H. Talley, and while none of crosses and vexations of life, none of the sadness and bereavements experience along the pathway were alluded to, the onlooker allowed for these and was bound to realize the truth of the old saying, “Life is what we make it.” There was another truth also that came to light: the nation, state, county, community or family that takes Jesus for its partner meets with success. This old couple have followed the teaching of the meek and lowly Nazarene all their life. Jesus has been their burden-bearer, their hope and their stay and they have delighted themselves in this service all the years.

The beautiful influences of the pure religion of these two people have spread throughout this entire section of country to live on and on long after they have passed away. How grand it is that the people are so ready to toss them bouquets while yet they live.

While there was no sorrowing in …. (missing the lower part of the article when copied from the newspaper’s microfilm)

Daily Democrat, Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, November 28, 1924

It Can’t be Beat

Hays lodge No. 289, F and A. M. Union, this county, has a membership of 17, five of whom are Confederate soldiers. We doubt if another lodge of any order exist in the United States with such per cent of Confederates. The men are W. C. Singleton, Andy Hogan, Sr., Sam Miller, “Uncle Tine” Woods, A. W. Campbell. W. C. Singleton was the lodge representative in the grand lodge this year, and he was there.

Mrs. Dillard, Dead!

Mrs. Eliza Jane Dillard, 85 years of age, mother of R. L. Dillard and grandmother of Mrs. J. H. Martin, wife of the cashier of the Peoples Bank, died last Tuesday and was buried in the Shiloh graveyard in south Fork township the following day. Elder B. M. Lemmons, Church of Christ evangelist, conducted the funeral service.

We Do Grow

W. A. Yeurnshaw, for 24 years a grocery and meat man of Kansas City, has purchased of Ralph Keck, the land man, an 80-acre farm 10 miles west of Mammoth Spring. He and his wife will move to same next week and become permanent citizens. He is 62 years of age.

Dr. L. Gay McElbany, formerly of Camp, but now residing at Weldon, Jackson County, was in Mammoth Spring Monday. He and his wife and four of the children came up in their car and spent a few days visiting their daughter, Mrs. Jimmie Sutherland, at Camp.

Carson Thompson, who recently sold his farm south of town to Mr. Walker, of Leavenworth, Kansas, has purchased a farm of Oather Ellis on Big creek, and built a house and moved to same. Harry French has rented the place of Walker’s, where Mr. Hydecker lives, and Hydecker will move to his own farm on the west side of town.

J. M. Ground was up from Wynne this week collecting rents off his splendid farm near town, and disposing of same. He returned in his Ford Wednesday.

Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Scott and baby, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed through town in his Form Wednesday morning enroute to Harrisburg to visit the family of Jim Layer, Mrs. Scott’s brother.

Mrs. E. Jones and her daughter, Mrs. Robert Priddy, were visitors at this office Saturday. They are jolly, fine people and we are always glad to welcome them.

Oscar Ellis returned last Friday from Little Rock, where he attended the Baptist State Convention and the Masonic Grand Lodge.

R. S. Landers is here this week receiving a carload of Ford cars for the Landers garage at Salem.

S. T. Hays, of the Palace Drugstore, returned Tuesday afternoon from a visit of a week with his parents at Newport. Mrs. Hays and the baby remained for a couple of weeks longer.

Jim Henning, who was operated upon for tumor on the brain in Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis, while able to be up and out, is not permitted to read or attend school as a precautionary measure for the protection of his eyes.

J. A. and Mrs. Underwood are moving from their Mammoth Spring property back to their South Fork farm. We are sorry to lose these excellent people. They have taken an active interest in every movement of progress and uplift and could always be counted on the clean side.

Harve Head was in from his Big Creek farm a few days ago.

P. C. Goodwin and family of Salem passed through town last Friday morning enroute home from Masonic grand lodge and Baptist State convention.

M. A. Wood returned last Saturday from a three days trip to Kansas City.

Mrs. E. Jones has been improving her farm home, doing of the stone work herself.

Joe Warsham has rented his farm land on the L. E. Schaff place south of town. No, Mr. Schaff is not going to move. He will remain right where he is. He didn’t rent his house – only his land.

Updated 16 Feb 2015