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 To Julia Beatrice Metcalf, 
 
 the eldest of the family, whose generous love, 
 ivithotU the knowledge of her parents, planned 
 the observance of their golden wedding; whose 
 many Christian virtues, unseen charities, and 
 benign influence in the home circle and society, 
 bless and purify life; whose love for father, 
 7)tother, and family is only limited by her devo- 
 tion to God, this little vohime is most affection- 
 ately dedicated by the author and compiler. 
 
 281051
 
 Believing that family life, with its joys and sorrows; 
 its separations and reunions; its devoted love and un- 
 selfish sacrifices — is a heavenly type of "things not seen :" 
 believing that the simple word Home embraces all that is 
 most sacred to the human heart, and that to strengthen its 
 holy influences is to elevate human character : believing 
 that mercies received from the "Giver of all good gifts" 
 should be gratefully acknowledged : therefore is this little 
 volume written and sent forth to the loving hearts of the 
 family circle, who have just cause for joy and gratitude 
 in the preservation and union of two most precious lives 
 through the past fifty years. 
 
 If their examples of faithfulness and courage prove an 
 incentive to others, and strengthen hearts often ready to 
 despair, then has this simple narrative fulfilled its humble 
 mission.
 
 On the evening of January 29, 18S9, at the country 
 residence of Col. Samuel Hall, near Mt. Vernon, Ohio, 
 the near relatives and friends of the family gathered as 
 spectators of an event full of interest to all, and of hapjji- 
 ness to two, who were present to be made one, according 
 to God's ordinance, for all time to come. 
 
 The father and mother of the bride, well advanced in 
 years, gave a reluctant consent to part from their daughter 
 whose life and happiness they hesitated to confide to the 
 care of a young man whom they had only known a short 
 time, and who had no means of support save the profession 
 on which he had just entered. 
 
 The bride was fair, tall, and graceful ; added to a nat- 
 ural dignity, she had just enough of culture to improve 
 gifts which were embellished, but could never have been 
 created by art. 
 
 The groom was not only young, but reckless in assuming 
 the responsibilities of married life without a dollar, de-
 
 8 
 
 pending upon the vincertain iueouie of an untried profes- 
 sion to support a wife, whom he was about to deprive of 
 all the comforts of a well-ordered home. But he was so 
 infatuated that the future had no place in his thoughts. 
 He did not stop to consider earthly things. The experi- 
 ment was full of danger. His days had been passed in 
 school, and in a law office among the text-books, so that 
 in case of a failure in his profession he could not fall back 
 on a trade or any experience at manual labor. 
 
 Thus it was, oblivious to all else save the enchanting- 
 spell of love, John F. Kinney led to the altar Hannah D. 
 Hall, and they were married by a man of God. The even- 
 ing was clear and beautiful; the stars were bright, and 
 seemed joyous; the full moon, in unclouded splendor, ap- 
 peared to join with minister and pious parents in their 
 blessing and benediction. 
 
 And now, after fifty years of wedded life, through the 
 mercies of God, in the full enjoyment of health, they are 
 permitted to celebrate their golden wedding, surrounded 
 by children and grandchildren, whose congratulations of 
 tender love shed a sweet frag-rance over their lives.
 
 John Fitch Kinney was born in New Haven, Oswego 
 county, N. Y., on the 2d day of April, 1816, and was the 
 fourth child and second son of Dr. Stephen F. Kinney and 
 Abby Brockway, who, during the preceding winter, re- 
 moved from Oneida county, N. Y., and settled in the 
 wilderness county of Oswego. The only houses in New 
 Haven at that time were log-houses, and in one of them 
 the son was born. His father was born in Worthington, 
 Mass., January 22, 1789, was educated at Hamilton Col- 
 lege, studied medicine with Dr. Fitch, who also married a 
 Brockway, and who was one of the most skillful physi- 
 cians and surgeons of his day. After practicing medicine 
 in Oswego county for twenty-five years. Dr. Kinney re- 
 moved to Marysville, Ohio, where his son was then living. 
 At the ripe age of eighty-five he died, having been for 
 more than half a century an earnest Christian man. 
 
 Abby Brockway was born in Ellington, Conn., in 1790, 
 the daughter of Kev. Thomas Brockway, a Presbyterian
 
 10 
 
 divine of great attainments, and the author of a remarkable 
 book entitled the "Gospel Tragedy," an epic poem of rare 
 value. Rev. Brockway preached to one congregation for 
 fifty years, and died while a pastor of the church where he 
 began his work. Those who trace their lineage to "Grand- 
 father Brockway" feel an honest })ride that they are able 
 even remotely, to claim descent from so great and good a 
 man. His daughter Abby, wife of Dr. Kinney, died in 
 New Haven, N. Y., in 1824, leaving a family of seven 
 children, the eldest fifteen years old, the youngest but a 
 few weeks. These, with great composure, she called 
 around her in her dying hour, and committed them in 
 prayer to the care of the Heavenly Father. The loss of a 
 Cliristian mother is a sad affliction. No love equal to 
 hers — none so boundless. No one can fill the vacant place. 
 Three sons and four daughters, as time wore on, more and 
 more lamented her death. The sons still live: Elislia M. 
 Kinney, of Kenosha, Wisconsin ; John Fitch, of Nebraska 
 City, Neb. ; and Lathrop B., of Salt Lake City, Utah. 
 Only one daughter survives — Mrs. Eliza S. Jewett, of 
 Waterville, N. Y. 
 
 The means for education in the early settlement of 
 Western New York were very limited, being confined in 
 the country to the public schools. To these John was sent 
 until he was fifteen years of age, when Joel T. Headley, 
 since distinguished as an author, opened a i)rivate school 
 in New Haven, M'hich he attended. After six months in 
 that school, he was sent to Hamiibal, N. Y., to a private 
 school, and after one year there he entered the "Rensselaer 
 Oswego Academy," where he studied for two years the 
 languages and higher branches of mnthcmatics. Forty
 
 11 
 
 years after his connection with the academy there was a 
 reunion of the old pupils and teachers on the classic ground 
 of their alma mater, which brought together many hun- 
 dreds, embracing lawyers, judges, authors, ministers, and 
 law-makers, the occasion being the semi-centennial cele- 
 bration of the opening of the academy. Mr. Kinney was 
 made president of this convention. 
 
 After his two years at the academy he commenced the 
 study of law with Hon. Orvillo Robinson, in Mexico, N. 
 Y., and after two years and a half study bade farewell to 
 his native state and started westward, landing in Marys- 
 ville, Ohio, in September, 1837. Here he fell in with 
 Augustus Hall, a young lawyer from Batavia, N. Y., 
 with whom he read law one year, and was then admitted 
 before the court in Banc at Columbus. Through Augustus 
 Hall he became acquainted with his sister Hannah, whom 
 he married on the 29th day of January, 1839. 
 
 Augustus Hall was a brilliant lawyer and a great advo- 
 cate. He removed to Iowa in 1842, became prominent at 
 the bar, and in 1854 was elected to Congress, and in 1857 
 was appointed by Mr. Buchanan Chief Justice of the Su- 
 preme Court of Nebraska. In January, 1861, he died, while 
 in office. He left two daughters and one son : Theodosia 
 Burr, now Mrs. Shepherd, living in Ventura, California; 
 Ellen, now Mrs. Enderlien, living in Los Angeles ; and 
 Richard S. Hall, Esq., now a prominent young lawyer in 
 full practice in Omaha, Neb. 
 
 In 1840 Mr. Kinney settled in Mount Vernon, Ohio, 
 and soon succeeded to an active practice. In the summer 
 of 1844 Col. Hall, J. C. Hall and Augustus, with their 
 families, having removed to Iowa, he followed them, and
 
 12 
 
 landed at Fort ^Madison in August. In the spring of 
 1845 he was elected Secretary of the Legislative Council, 
 a position he held for two sessions. In 1846 he was ap- 
 pointed Prosecuting Attorney, and in June, 1847, then 
 only thirty-one years of age, he was appointed by the 
 Governor, Justice of the Supreme Court, holding the office 
 by appointment until 1848, when he was elected in joint 
 convention of the Legislature for the term of six years, as 
 then provided in the State Constitution. His judicial 
 opinions appear in the first, second, third, and fourth vol- 
 umes of G. Greene's Iowa Supreme Court Reports. 
 
 In August, 1853, Judge Kinney was appointed by 
 President Pierce, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of 
 Utah, without being an applicant for the office, nor desir- 
 ing it. He hesitated about accepting, nor did he decide to 
 do so until the meeting of the Supreme Court in January 
 when, by reason of the feeble health of his wife, he, 
 announced to the court and bar that, believing a trip 
 across the plains would be a benefit to her, he should 
 resign his position on the bench, and accept the place ten- 
 dered him by the President. On his retiring, the lawyers 
 in attendance held a formal meeting, prepared a series 
 of resolutions which they presented to the court, which 
 were highly complimentary to Judge Kinney, and his 
 seven years' labor upon the bench in shaping tlie jurispru- 
 dence of the state, and regretting that circumstances were 
 such as to compel him to dissolve the pleasant relations 
 which existed between liim and the bar. These resolu- 
 tions, on motion, were ordered to be spread upon the 
 records of the court. 
 
 The vacancy thus made by Judge Kinney's retirement
 
 13 
 
 was filled in the appointment of J. C. Hall, of Burling- 
 ton, the senior brother of Augustus Hall. Of him the 
 impartial biographer Avell said, that as a profound and 
 erudite lawyer and able jurist he had few equals in the 
 Northwest, and no superior. Judge Hall died in Bur- 
 lington, Iowa, in 1874, at the age of sixty-six. His only 
 son, Benton J. Hall, the present U. S. Commissioner of 
 Patents, and late member of Congress from Iowa, has 
 succeeded to his father's great ability as a lawyer. His 
 eulogy in the House of Representatives upon the death of 
 Vice Pres. Thomas J. Hendricks, as a piece of English 
 composition, and as a correct analysis of the character and 
 life of that great, good man, has been pronounced the 
 most beautiful and classic of all the tributes paid to his 
 memory. 
 
 In the spring of 1854 the journey to Salt Lake City, 
 of fifteen hundred miles by private conveyance, was suc- 
 cessfully accomplished. While en route a son was born, 
 believed to be the first white child born in Nebraska after 
 it was organized into a Territory. The monotony of the 
 journey was occasionally relieved by an "Indian scare." 
 During the summer of 1854, nearly every party that 
 crossed the plains were attacked and suftered more or less 
 by the hostile Indians then on the war path. Judge Kin- 
 ney's party passed a number of fresh but hastily con- 
 structed graves, Avhere were buried those who had fallen 
 in Indian attacks upon trains, and in one instance stoppetl 
 and reburied the bones of a person, which, by reason of 
 shallow burial, had been dug up by the wolves. Of the 
 Indian scares which befell the party, one only will be 
 mentioned. 
 3
 
 14 
 
 Camped ou the Platte river five hundred miles west of 
 the Missouri river, grazing the stock after a morning's 
 drive, the camp Avas suddenly alarmed by the ajipearance 
 of a war party of about fifty Indians on a bluif, who, from 
 all appearance, had unexpectedly come in sight of the 
 campers. They were about a mile distant, and as seen 
 through the field glass were making preparation for an 
 attack. They dismounted, took their guns from the buck- 
 skin covers and their arrows from their quivers, and then 
 remounted, and with a frightful Indian "war-whoop 
 yell," started on a full run for the little defenceless party, 
 with the certainty of an easy victory, thereby adding 
 scalps to their belts, and gaining plaudits for their valor. 
 
 In the camp were twenty-five men, all of whom were 
 well supplied with arms and ammunition when starting 
 out on the journey. In the slow travel of about fifteen 
 miles each day, four weeks had passed without having 
 seen an Indian, and they had concluded there were no 
 more in the country, and that they had gotten beyond all 
 further danger. One man in the party who had crossed 
 the plains, had warned them that the time would come 
 when they least expected Indians they would appear, and 
 so it proved to be. They had also been warned by emi- 
 grants who had preceded them, by notes dropped along 
 the road, "Look out for Indians," mentioning fights and 
 loss of some of their number; but these warnings, and 
 the frequent graves of the killed, all failed to inspire a 
 wholesome caution, sufficient to induce the men to keep 
 their arms in order and their ammunition in place. Now, 
 when most needed, there was not a loaded gun in camp, 
 nor could the amnuniition be found. Idealizing their sit-
 
 15 
 
 uation, hoping to escape death by concealment, the men 
 ran to their wag-ons and secreted themselves behind boxes 
 and under blankets. On came the bloody fiends, with 
 spear and bow, with gun and battle-axe ; came with the 
 fury of demons and the ferocity of hungry wolves. It 
 was a moment of awful reality. Mrs. Kinney in her 
 ambulance, with an infant in her arms and four other chil- 
 dren closely nestled around her, calmly asked her husband, 
 who was standing by the carriage watching the Indians, 
 what he was going to do. Inspiration, rather than cour- 
 age, prompted the reply, '' I am going out to meet them." 
 George Zeigle, a young man of the party, then said, 
 " Judge, I will go and die by your side." Hastily thrust- 
 ing unloaded pistols into their belts, with a brave exterior 
 but with faltering hearts, the two marched out to meet 
 what seemed to human eyes certain death. 
 
 As the men advanced, the Indians slackened the speed 
 of their ponies, no doubt wondering what this rash act 
 could mean, and as the two came still nearer, apparently 
 undaunted, the ponies came to a walk, and then the war- 
 rior chief dismounted, walked a few steps till he met 
 them, reached out his hand, and gave the usual Sioux salu- 
 tation, "How !" Then the Chief Justice and his compan- 
 ion breathed easier, the heart was relieved of its mighty 
 weight, the face resumed its natural color, the limbs were 
 stronger, the sun shone brighter, and all nature seemed 
 clothed in more beautiful garments than a few moments 
 before. Tiic Indians had construed the hiding of the 
 men in their wagons as a lodgment to shoot from cover, 
 and the approach of the two white men as a brave act, 
 which an Indian not only admires but fears with a super-
 
 16 
 
 stitious awe; and to mean that the "captain" was willing 
 to offer his hand in friendship or wonld fight them, as they 
 might prefer. 
 
 The war party was conducted into camp, where large 
 presents of flour, sugar, coffee, bacon, and tobacco were 
 given them. The traditionary pipe of peace was then 
 smoked, to the relief of all. Then it was that an Indian, 
 in order to emphasize more fully their character and the 
 business they were engaged in, took from a sack twenty- 
 seven scalps, around which they chanted their exultant 
 song of victory. 
 
 It was with great satisfaction that the little band of 
 campers recognized none of their own among them; but 
 in order to make sure that they were not mistaken, they 
 involuntarily put their hands on the tops of their heads, 
 and finding their scalps in place, only wondered, and 
 thanked God. 
 
 At length, after four months of weary travel, the top of 
 the last mountain was reached, and the city, nestling at its 
 foot was seen in the distance. With thankful hearts for a 
 safe deliverance, three hearty cheers were given for the 
 city of the plains. Mrs. Kinney was well and could 
 walk up the steepest mountain. The child survived all 
 the hardships of the journey, and still lives to boast that 
 he was the first white child born in Nebraska. 
 
 JJrigham Young was then Governor, having been 
 appointed by Millard Fillmore. Judge Kinney held his 
 courts without intcrru[)tion, and administered the law 
 without interference. In holding courts remote from the 
 city, an escort of U. S. soldiers was provide<l by Col. 
 Steptoe, as protection against the Indians. In the spring
 
 17 
 
 of 1856 the family returned by private conveyance to 
 their home in Iowa. In the spring of 1857 they removed 
 to Nebraska City by steamboat, taking twenty-one days to 
 make the trip from St. Louis. 
 
 In July, 1860, while engaged in a profitable practice, 
 Mr. Kinney, without any previous knowledge of the fact, 
 was appointed by Mr. Buchanan again Chief Justice of 
 Utah. This came to him as a surprise, as he was not an 
 applicant, nor did he desire the position. Again was the 
 overland journey performed, but by stage, involving 
 twelve days of continuous night and day travel. The 
 family were left to enjoy the comforts of a nice home 
 which had been provided during the three years' stay in 
 Nebraska City. 
 
 The courts were again held through the years 1860-61 
 and spring of 1862, when leave of absence was obtained 
 from the President, and the journey back to Nebraska 
 City was made by stage without serious lesults. The 
 tedium of the trip was relieved by the coach being upset 
 in "Bear River," the floating ice frightening the leaders. 
 The body of the coach became separated from the running 
 gears, and the Judge and David Street, the paymaster of 
 the road, Avho had a large amount of money in a carpet 
 bag, were carried down stream at the mercy of the rapid 
 current and floating ice, but were at last rescued by the 
 driver throwing a rope to them. 
 
 The disagreeable feature of this incident was, that the 
 wet passengers lost their liats and baggage, and were 
 obliged to travel twenty miles with their clothing frozen 
 solid, but thankful that they did not keep their hats and 
 baggage company down the river. In Nebraska City the
 
 18 
 
 monotony of a summer vacation was broken by a demo- 
 cratic nomination for Congress. According to the returns, 
 Mr. Kinney was beaten, and again returned overland to 
 Utah to resume his official duties. 
 
 In June, 1863, by the eifort of the republican delegate 
 from Nebraska, he was removed, on the ground that the 
 year before he had run as a democrat for Congress. This 
 removal resulted in his election to the same Congress he 
 had been beaten for in Nebraska. 
 
 The 38th Avas emphatically the " War Congress." It 
 was in the early days of the session that Fernando Wood, 
 of New York, the acknowledged leader in the House of 
 the anti-war party, made his great speech, in which he 
 denounced the war as "a hellish crusade of blood and fam- 
 ine." Mr. Kinney made an impromptu reply to this 
 speech, which was extensively published at the time, with 
 flattering comments. The following resolution introduced 
 by Mr. Kinney is taken from the " Congressional Daily 
 Globe," of jSIay 26, 1864, which is given here to show his 
 status in Congress upon the greatest question that has 
 ever agitated the country, or dominated in the halls of 
 Congress : 
 
 " Resolved, As the sense of this House, that the present 
 crisis in the history of this causeless and unjustifiable 
 rebellion calls loudly upon Congress for united ])atriotic 
 action. That while our gallant and self-sacrificing sol- 
 diers, with a courage unexampled either in ancient or mod- 
 ern wars, are sustaining the honor of the nation in the 
 field, they are entitled to the thanks of the country, and 
 the hearty support of Congress, and forgetting for the 
 present all differences on old party issues, it is the duty of
 
 19 
 
 Congress to sustain the constituted authorities of the coun- 
 try in their efifbrt to suppress the rebellion." 
 
 This resolution was adopted. 
 
 At the close of the 38th Congress, Mr. Kinney returned 
 to his home in Nebraska City, and did not further partici- 
 pate in public aifairs until February, 1867, when, with 
 five other gentlemen, he was appointed by the President 
 on a special Indian commission to visit the Sioux Indians, 
 then at war, and particularly to make full inquiry and 
 report concerning the " Fort Phil Kearney massacre." 
 He was engaged in this work many months. At Fort 
 Laramie the commission divided, and he was the only one 
 who visited Fort Phil Kearney, a further distance of two 
 hundred miles, through a hostile country, but was favored 
 with a military escort. The report which he made as to 
 the management of Indians by the government has been 
 largely incorporated into our present system for the civil- 
 ization of the Indians and the education of their children. 
 
 In July, through the influence of Nebraska's able Sen- 
 ator, General C. H. VanWyck, Judge Kinney was ap- 
 pointed by President Arthur U. S. Indian Agent for the 
 Yankton Sioux Indians in Dakota, a place of great 
 responsibility. 
 
 As Mr. Kinney was a democrat, his appointment by a 
 republican President evoked strong opposition from the 
 republican delegation in Congress. The President was 
 appealed to, to withdraw the nomination, and the Senate to 
 withhold the confirmation, on the ground, only, that Mr. 
 Kinney was a leading democrat, and the position was due 
 to some republican. But Senator A'anWyck, with that 
 courage and fidelity which have distinguished him during
 
 20 
 
 all of his eventful public life, insisted upon the appoint- 
 ment and confirmation; contending that qualification and 
 fitness should be the test of merit, and that Mr. Kinney 
 possessed these, with large experience among the Indians. 
 President Arthur, in the face of the opposition, took the 
 same view of the matter as did Senator VanM^yck, and 
 twice appointed Mr. Kinney to the office, and his appoint- 
 ment was confirmed by the Senate. 
 
 On January 10, 1889, after his term of office had ex- 
 pired, at his own request he was relieved by the appoint- 
 ment of a successor. 
 
 When he was about to leave the Agency, the chiefs, 
 head men, and nearly all the adult male Indians of the 
 reservation, assembled at the Agency to bid him good- 
 bye, and in their speeches referred to his long services and 
 the good he had done them by settling them on farms, 
 providing them the means for farming, building for them 
 houses, etc., and expressed much sorrow because he could 
 not remain witii them as their agent and father as long as 
 he lived. After they liad thus spoken, all shook hands 
 with him. 
 
 On the 15th day of January, he and INIrs. Kinney re- 
 turned to Nebraska City, where, at the home of their 
 eldest daughter, Mrs. Julian Metcalf, on the evening of 
 January 29th, their "golden wedding" was becomingly 
 observed by their children and grandchildren, none but 
 members of the family being invited — an agreeable sur- 
 prise planned and carried out by Mrs. Metcalf. 
 
 Hannah D. Hall was born in Batavia, N. Y., on the 
 12th day of November, IHlfJ. In addition to the educa- 
 tion obtained at the public sciiools, she attended the Ladies'
 
 21 
 
 Seminary at Bethany. In 1838 she came to Ohio, where 
 her father, Col. Samuel Hall, was then living, he having 
 removed to Knox county in 1836. He was born in Wor- 
 thington, Mass., in August, 1782; was an officer in the 
 war of 1812, and bore the title of Colonel up to the time 
 of his death, which occurred in September, 1850. In 
 1802 he married Hannah Chapin, daughter of Jonathan 
 Chapin, Esq. She was born near Springfield, Mass., in 
 1784, and died while visiting her daughter, Mrs. Mary 
 Jane Burr, in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, in 1858. Mrs. Hall was 
 a woman of rare intellect and extensive reading, with a 
 remarkable memory, and at will could call up dates and 
 events in history, and catalogue the reigning kings and 
 queens of England, the time and reign of each, with an 
 accuracy which was wonderful. Her father was graduated 
 at Harvard, and a distinguished lawyer in his day. Sam- 
 uel Hall and Hannah Chapin were the parents of five sons 
 and three daughters. The second daughter, Hannah D. 
 Hall, tlirough the marriage with John F. Kinney, is the 
 mother of two daughters and five sons. The eldest, Julia 
 Beatrice, was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, October 29, 
 1839. In 1856, she was graduated at Miss English's 
 school in Georgetown, D. C, and by reason of her progress 
 and attainments, was chosen to prepare and deliver the 
 class valedictory, a poem which was published in the Na- 
 tional Intelligencer, the leading paper in Washington, with 
 editorial reference to its merits as the original production 
 of a young lady then only in her seventeenth year. She 
 was also awarded the only prize medal for highest attain- 
 ments in music. In the spring of 1857 the family removed 
 from Iowa to Nebraska City. That year a town site was 
 4
 
 22 
 
 selected ou the Blue river, in Nebraska, by gentlemen who 
 were passengers on the same boat from St. Louis u}). The 
 town, without a house then, was named by these gentlemen 
 "Beatrice," in her honor. July 4, LS57, the location was 
 ratified by the members of the company, in the presence of 
 a large number of persons who had gathered from Ne- 
 braska City, and the day was appropriately observed by 
 the erection of a flag-staif and the presentation of a silk 
 banner by the ladies, the reading of an original poem by 
 Miss Julia Beatrice, and an eloquent response by Albert 
 Pike, Esq., a young lawyer, now prominent at the St. 
 Louis bar. Arrangements were also made to commence 
 building and start the town by providing a steam saw-mill. 
 
 Beatrice is now the third city of the state, has a popula- 
 tion of 15,000, and acknowledged to be the most beauti- 
 fully located city in Nebraska. 
 
 On July 31, 1861, she was married to Mr. Julian 
 Metcalf, engaged in banking in Nebraska City, who was 
 born in Charlestown, New Hampshire, December 29, 
 1833. His father, Horace Metcalf, was born May 10, 
 1801, and died November 19, 1879. He married Chloe 
 Cheney, September 13, 1824, who was born August 30, 
 1801, and died November 19, 1874. Horace Metcalf is 
 mentioned in the history of that town as "a successful 
 farmer and financier, a man of intelligence and sound 
 judgment, and long prominent in his portion of the state, 
 and as having acquired a fortune." His brother, Ralph 
 Metcalf, in 1855 was elected governor of the state, serving 
 two terms. The mother of Julian Metcalf was the daugh- 
 ter of Col. Wm. Cheney, of Newport, N. H., who was an 
 extensive mill owner and manufacturer, and for many
 
 23 
 
 years a representative in the state legislature, and died 
 leaving a large estate. In 1824, when Gen, Lafayette 
 made the tour of New England, he was entertained by 
 Col. Cheney at his mansion, 
 
 Julian Metcalf settled in Nebraska City in 1857, and 
 soon engaged in banking. In 1865 the Otoe County Na- 
 tional Bank was organized, since which time he has been 
 cashier and manager. There ha%^e been born to him and 
 his devoted, Christian wife, two daughters and one son. 
 Their eldest, Gertrude Metcalf, born in Nebraska City, 
 Neb., April 29, 1862; Minnie Metcalf, at the same place, 
 May 17, 1864; Horace Metcalf, same, July 22, 1866. 
 
 Gertrude was two years at Wellesley College, near Bos- 
 ton, but was graduated at Hellmuth College, Ontario, 
 Canada, in 1880, with marked distinction. She is now 
 vice principal of "St. Hilda's Hall," near Los Angeles, 
 California, From her early childhood she was a lover of 
 books, and a close student. In addition to her scholarly 
 attainments, Gertrude possesses a rare charm of person 
 and manner. 
 
 Minnie Metcalf has the gifts of genius, draws and paints 
 well, is a natural artist, and a cultivated reader. She was 
 also at Helmuth College, and has had liberal opportunities 
 to improve her gifts. 
 
 Horace, the only son, was educated at Shattuck school, 
 Faribault, Minn., is a young man of sterling character, 
 has just passed his twenty-second birthday, is book-keeper 
 and one of the directors of the Otoe County National 
 Bank. 
 
 Ellen Hall Kinney, the second daughter, was born in 
 Mount Vernon, O., July 25, 1841. When thirteen years
 
 24 
 
 of age she was the eldest child that accompanied her pa- 
 rents on their perilous journey across the plains. On their 
 return, in 1856, she was placed at school in the "Virginia 
 Female Institute," Staunton, Va., a seminary of high rank, 
 where she was graduated in 1858, receiving medals for 
 scholarship and drawing. She excelled in mathematics, 
 and always preferred study to the gayetics of life. October 
 10, 1861, she was married, at the residence of her father, 
 in Nebraska City, to Jasper A. Ware, proprietor of 
 " Ware's Bank." He was born in Todd county, Ky., 
 March 5, 1831. His father, Edmund AVare, was born in 
 Frankfort, Ky., Oct. 19, 1797, and died in February, 
 1 852. He settled in Todd county in 1826, and then bought 
 the plantation on which he lived up to the time of his 
 death. Large additions in land and improvements, in the 
 meantime had been made by him, and at the time of his 
 death was the owaier of a large estate. 
 
 In 1823 he was married to Louisa B. Anderson, who 
 was born in Louisa county, Va., Sept. 21, 1801, and died 
 in October, 1846. 
 
 There have been born to Jasper A. Ware and Ellen 
 Hall Kinney three daughters and one son. The eldest, 
 Florence, was born in Nebraska City, June 27, 1863, 
 received her final school education at "Brownell Hall," 
 Omaha, graduating witli the highest honors in the class 
 of '82, being valedictorian, and receiving the scholarship 
 medal. She is loved by all for her gentle manners and sweet 
 disposition. June 25, 1884, she was married, at "Wild- 
 wood," the residence of her j)arcnts, near Nebraska City, 
 to Richard S. Hall, Esq., the only son of Augustus Hall, 
 deceased.
 
 25 
 
 Od May 4, 1888, a son was born to them, Richard Ware 
 Hall, who occupies the place of honor, by being the only 
 great-grandchild of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Kinney. 
 
 Ellen Ware, the second daughter, graduated at the High 
 School in Nebraska City in 1883, is an earnest student, was 
 principal teacher and organist in the government boarding 
 school at the " Yankton Indian Agency," Dak., for more 
 than two years, nntil she resigned. She discharged her 
 duties to the entire satisfaction of the department, winning 
 the love of the children and the highest esteem from her 
 co-teachers. Lovable in her ways, energetic in all she 
 undertakes, and pleasing in her manners. She is now prin- 
 cipal of Belmont school, Nebraska City. 
 
 Grace AV'^are was educated at Schoenberger Hall. She 
 early evinced a talent for music, was persistent in her 
 study of the art, received instruction from her aunt, Mrs. 
 Met calf, and has been for the past two years a diligent 
 pupil of the accomplished pianist. Miss Neally Stevens. 
 Her great natural talent, supplemented by hard study, 
 has made her a brilliant player. Dignified, but courteous, 
 respectful to all, but familiar with none outside the family 
 circle, she closely resembles the bride of fifty years ago, 
 her now much loved " Grandma." 
 
 Norton Ware, a dear boy, born April 3, 1880, at Ne- 
 braska Cily, is at this early age a gentleman in his man- 
 ners, and if spared to take his place in the active scenes of 
 life, will undoubtedly make his mark in the world, for ho 
 has that will-power which is so necessary to success. 
 
 Daughters and son give ample proof of the careful, 
 affectionate training of a refined Christian home. 
 
 In addition to the two daughters, Mr, and Mrs. Kinney
 
 56 
 
 have had five sous born. Samuel Hall Kinney, the eld- 
 est, was born in Mount Vernon, O., Dec. 29, 1843. lie 
 early developed a tendency for study, and a talent for 
 mathematics. At the age of sixteen, in 1860, he was 
 appointed Cadet to the U. S. ^Military Academy. In 1864 
 he was graduated in the Artillery Corps, and was at once 
 assigned to duty in front of Richmond. He was engaged 
 in battle about the time of the evacuation and surrender. 
 For gallant and meritorious conduct in this fight he was 
 promoted to a first lieutenancy, and breveted Captain. He 
 was afterwards stationed on the Pacific coast, then sent 
 with his company to Alaska, where, in 1868, Dec. 2d, in 
 the twenty-fifth year of his age, he died. At the time of 
 his death he was brevet Major in the First Artillery, U. S. 
 A. His remains were removed to Wyuka cemetery, 
 Nebraska City, Neb. 
 
 John Fitch Kinney, Jr., was born in West Point, Lee 
 county, Iowa, March 28, 1846, where he received his first 
 lessons in English education, at the select school taught by 
 Mr. and Mrs. Roots ; was sent to Georgetown, D. C, and 
 Edge Hill, Princeton, N. J., and when home in Nebraska, 
 then sixteen years of age, entered as a private soldier in the 
 Nebraska 2d, and was engaged M-ith the regiment under 
 Gen. Alfred Sully in subduing and capturing hostile In- 
 dians in Dakota and Minnesota, the occasion being a war 
 inaugurated by the Santee Sioux in 1862, when they com- 
 mitted what is known as the "Minnesota Massacre." 
 After his term of service expired, he returned home, again 
 attended school, then became book-keeper in a baidt. In 
 Nebraska City, on the first day of September, 1868, was 
 married to Miss Hattie Sabin, who was born in Ovid,
 
 27 
 
 Seneca county, N. Y., in April, 1846. In 1878 they took 
 charge of St. John's Episcopal Mission Indian boarding 
 school, located near Ft. Bennett, Dakota, where they have 
 since remained. Under their management the school has 
 been a great success, and is now acknowledged to be at the 
 head of all Indian mission schools. 
 
 Brockway Kinney was born in West Point, Iowa, Nov. 
 15, 1849. His education was obtained at Georgetown, D. 
 C, Edge Hill, N. J., and Kenyon College. He studied 
 law in his father's office, was admitted to practice in 1872, 
 was elected Police Judge in Nebraska City, and Nov. 29, 
 1876, married, in St, Louis, Miss Abby Curtis, daughter 
 of Mr. Mark Curtis, now deceased, then extensively en- 
 gaged in the manufacture of stoves and hollow ware. 
 Four children have been born to them, two now living, a 
 son and daughter. The eldest child, Julia, lived until she 
 was seven years old, but being too tender and lovable for 
 earth, was then borne away on "angels' wings," for of 
 such is the Kingdom of Heaven. 
 
 In the absence of the mother, her remains were tenderly 
 laid away by the heart-broken father in Bellefontaine Cem- 
 etery. Each Sunday since, as this in her life-time was 
 "papa's day," he has visited the sacred spot where his 
 darling lies, strewing sweet flowers, which she so dearly 
 loved. 
 
 His struggle at the bar in St. Louis, as against old and 
 well-established lawyers, was attended with many discour- 
 agements and sore trials, but his application, courage, and 
 perseverance, after ten years' practice, placed him in a posi- 
 tion to the court and bar as an acknowledged factor in a 
 profession in which success is only attainable by well- 
 deserved merit.
 
 28 
 
 Steptoe Kinney was born at AVood River, in Nebraska, 
 June 24, 1854, while his parents were en route to Utali. 
 His birthplace was in tlie tent of Dr. Clark, who had es- 
 tablished a hospital to relieve the sick and especially those 
 who were wounded by tlie Indians while crossing the 
 plains. This tent was reached at night, and tlie next 
 morning the child was born. Two desperate outlaws had 
 opened a whisky shop close by the Doctor's quarters. 
 These men and the Doctor were the only persons there. 
 Two men, an ambulance, a wagon, and four horses Judge 
 Kinney had retained, and sent his train forward. They 
 were camped some twenty miles in advance. When tiic 
 child was only one day old, and while the father was in 
 the tent with the sick and suffering mother, the two des- 
 peradoes hitched a pair of horses to the baggage wagon, 
 were seated, and in the act of driving away, when they 
 were discovered by Mr. Kinney. When ordered to drop 
 the lines and get out, he was answered l)y oaths and a flat 
 refusal. A drawn pistol ready for action, with the assiu*- 
 ance that it would be discharged unless the demand was 
 obeyed, had the desired effect, and they left the wagon 
 threatening certain death. Not thinking it prudent to 
 remain there longer, the mother and child were at once 
 placed in the ambulance, and a rapid drive was made to 
 the camp. The next day (iencral I^anders was met, re- 
 turning to the states; the chihl then being two days old, 
 he christened it "Bill Nebraska," in honor of the pas- 
 sage a few days before of the Kansas and Nebraska bill 
 organizing those territories. Jn a letter })ublished by 
 him, in the account given of this meeting, he stated that 
 when he met the party in camp, the mother and "Bill
 
 29 
 
 Nebraska" were feasting on buifalo meat, and both were 
 doing well. 
 
 At his baptismal christening, the soubriquet given by 
 General Landers was dropped, and the child was named 
 Steptoe, after a very dear friend, Col. Edward Steptoe, of 
 the U. S. Army. He was educated at Edge Hill, Prince- 
 ton, N. J., Talbot Hall, and at the Nebraska College; 
 read law with his father, was admitted to practice, went to 
 California in February, 187G. When in Santa Clara, the 
 last of May of that year, he was married to ]\Iiss Mary 
 Luis Josephine Argiielio, second daughter of Don Luis 
 Antonio Argiielio, she then being in her eighteenth year. 
 Her grandfatiier and great-grandfather were at the head, 
 respectively, of the government of the Province of Cali- 
 fornia before the United States acquired the country by 
 the Treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo in 1847. Argiielio is 
 an old Spanish family of Castilian blood, and trace their 
 ancestry to some of the most notable families of Spain. A 
 poem by Bret Harte recites in graphic measure the tragic 
 story of the death of a Russian officer who had been de- 
 puted by his government to visit Governor Argiielio, and 
 while visiting the family fell in love with the daughter. 
 They became engaged, and the officer returned to his 
 country. When he again visited California to claim his 
 bride, in passing over a precipitous mountain, his horse 
 stumbled and fell, and the gallant young officer Avas 
 thrown, and his body found hundreds of feet below, hav- 
 ino- been killed in his descent among; the rocks. The 
 bride elect immured herself in a convent, where she ended 
 her days without any intercourse with the outside world. 
 
 In the early iiistory of California the Argiielio family
 
 30 
 
 held a prominent place, and as grantees of the Spanish 
 and INIexiean oovornments, wore tlic rccij^ients of extensive 
 grants. 
 
 The marriage of Steptoe Kinney, the child of the plains, 
 was like that of his father's, after only a short acquaint- 
 ance. The attractions of the captivating and handsome 
 senorita were too strong to admit of delay, lie has always 
 been a constant reader of hooks, is a ready debater, a fluent 
 and easy writer, has a natural inclination for the law, pos- 
 sesses a generous nature, has the faculty of making friends, 
 is very popular among his ac(}uaintances, and with appli- 
 cation will win distinction in his profession. 
 
 On May 19, 1877, in Santa Clara, a daughter was born 
 — named after her mother, Mary Josephine. Mamie is a 
 child of great promise, loved by all, a leader among her 
 seniors, bright and energetic, with an aptitude for books 
 and study — and in her recitations at school and at read- 
 ings displays a rare natural talent which gives promise of 
 distinction if it is fully developed by culture. 
 
 One more son born to Judge Kinney remains to be 
 mentioned. Renfrew, the youngest, born in Nebraska 
 City, September 23, 1860, died March 15, 1863, the 
 darling of the family w'hile he liv'ed. 
 
 The dark shadow which overspread the home circle by 
 the death of two sons, still follows closely through all 
 these years the retreating footsteps of the parents, and it 
 will only be lost in the Divine light of a reunion. 
 
 Surviving children and dearest grandchildren impart u 
 charm to declining years, and add a fascination to life. 
 Their golden wedding anniversary, in the lovely presence 
 of their children, marks an exceptional epoch on the dial
 
 31 
 
 of tinie. It will pass into history, and remote descend- 
 ants in their social family gatherings will refer to it as a 
 remarkable instance of Divine mercy. Few who l^egin 
 life together reach this climax of married bliss. Xone 
 whose lives are more harmonionsly blended with the lives 
 of their children than those whose golden anniversary was 
 so beautifully celebrated on the evening of January 29, 
 1889. 
 
 Fifty years had come and gone since they stood at the 
 Altar. The then shadowy future with all of its dreamy 
 uncertainties, in these years has been crystallized into stern 
 realities. 
 
 Then, the future was a sealed book — now, it is an open 
 volume. Every page has intensified love, and by the joy 
 and sorrow it has revealed, has sanctified their married 
 life. Then, the formal wishes of friends for the future — 
 now, the warm congratulations of sons and daughters and 
 their children, for their safe arrival at the golden altar. 
 
 The trials and sufferings mutually borne through the 
 long journey were all forgotten. There was no room for 
 disappointed hopes or unsatisfied ambition. Honors and 
 riches seemed less than dross. Filial love and tender 
 homage dominated the hearts of all, and in the midst of 
 a profusion of fragrant flowers, the grandparents were 
 crowned with honor and haj)piness by the earnest congrat- 
 ulations of tlieir devoted chikh'en.
 
 32 
 
 The following letter written to an absent member of 
 the family, describing the evening's entertainment and 
 reunion, we are kindly permitted to publish : 
 
 Nebraska City, Jan. 30, 1889. 
 
 Dear G. — We regretted your absence greatly from our 
 festivities last evening, and knowing you too regretted it, 
 I feel the only compensation we can make is to give you 
 the particulars of the "Golden Wedding." By so doing, 
 you may have some faint idea of the delightful event, 
 which is long to be remembered by those who were so for- 
 tunate as to participate in it. 
 
 Our hostess had planned a surprise for her parents, 
 having received many gifts and letters of congratulation, 
 written from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts. These she 
 kept a mystery, not to be revealed until the memorable 
 evening. 
 
 "Blessed is the bride that the sun shines on," is the old 
 saying, and on the twenty-ninth the sun shone gloriously. 
 " Just such a day had we fifty years ago," Grandma said, 
 with great satisfaction. The night, too, was mild and 
 balmy as spring-tide. The guests arriving in the early 
 evening found the house bright with lights and flowers, 
 and when the dear bride and groom entered, aim in arm, 
 their heads white with the gentle frosts of time, their faces 
 fresh with the youth of love and tenderness, and stood re- 
 ceiving the congratulations of their children and children's 
 children, how proud we were ! and how our hearts blessed 
 them in their sweet fulfillment of all life's sacred duties. 
 
 After congratulations, Uncle Brock stepped forward 
 and presented the bride with an exquisite bourpiet of half
 
 33 
 
 open rosebuds, saying there was nothing so emblematic of 
 the purity and fragrance of her devoted life as the sweet- 
 ness of flowers; his voice faltered as the dear hands trem- 
 blingly received them, while love beamed from the dim, 
 sweet eyes. Not one of us but held his breath and felt a 
 quickening of the heart beats. Fortunately, to the relief 
 of all, supper was announced, and we laughingly followed 
 the bride and groom to the dining-room. 
 
 We reverently stood around the table, beau.ti fully deco- 
 rated with flowers and ferns, while in a voice full of 
 emotion and gratitude, dear Grandfather returned thanks 
 for the blessings of the past and of the present. 
 
 The supper was all a wedding supper should be; the 
 souvenirs lovely and artistic, made and designed by Grace. 
 White and gold, with the years 1839 and 1889 painted 
 with date and monogram. After these were admired and 
 appropriated, we "fell to" in earnest over the bountiful 
 repast ; the bride of half a century cutting the bride's 
 cake amid cheers and laughter. 
 
 How many reminiscences were recalled ! How many 
 anecdotes told! How much mirth and fun sparkled 
 around the festal board ! As the table was cleared for the 
 last course, the uninitiated were surprised by the delivery 
 of the evening mail, and a great pile of letters and pack- 
 ages was deposited by Grandfather's plate. To see the 
 look of sur])rise on tlie two dear faces at such a collection, 
 and their utter lack of suspicion but that they all came in 
 that evening's post, will be one of the sweetest remem- 
 brances of the hour. 
 
 Our host had supplied the table with most delicious, 
 mellow currant wine, made by his mother thirty -six years
 
 34 
 
 before, and in this we toasted each writer and donor as 
 letters and gifts were ojjened. Then to sec Grandma as 
 slie looked at tlie lovely presents, so unexpected, and from 
 friends so far away, was a picture of itself! How royally 
 all were toasted I How cheered were the absent ! Plow 
 happy and united were those present! Surely such family 
 reunions are foretastes of the blessed reunions to come ! I 
 looked around at the faces, from those of three-score years 
 and ten to those in full maturity ; from those in their 
 youth to the dear ones in their childhood ; and saw the 
 winter and autumn, the summer and spring of life all 
 blended in one happy circle. As the last letter and poem 
 were read, the groom arose (dear Grandpa, you know), 
 and presented to the bride a l)eautil"ul wedding ring. I 
 wish I could remember word for word what he said, it 
 was so tender and true, but as I cannot, will not give you 
 a garbled version of my own. Only, dear G., if /ever 
 iind any one who can say sucli sweet things, with Grand- 
 father's grace and dignity, as he placed the ring on Grand- 
 ma's finger, remembering their fifty years of love and toil, 
 of cloud and sunshine — why I for one yield myself to 
 iiim as my liege lord, worthy of hand and heart. But 
 alas! G., the youth of our day are not like the courtly 
 old school, and I see but little hope for us or them. This 
 digression is unpardonable, so I take u]) my thread again. 
 After this we returned to the parlor, where the gifts were 
 admired, and mirth and music were in order, all joining 
 in the dear, old song, "Jlome, Sweet Home." Tlion an 
 old-fashioned (luadrille was formed, ti»e bride and groom 
 leading olf. 1 wish you could have seen us, young and 
 old, thread the "mazy dance." With what dignity
 
 35 
 
 Grandma and Grandpa moved, stately and quiet as the 
 courtly minuet, and with what audacity Horace, who was 
 caller, shouted, "Everybody kiss his partner!" "It was 
 not so done in my day," Grandma said, as she submitted 
 to be heartily kissed by one and all, for they seemed to 
 claim her as partner alone. Then ices were served, and 
 social talk was busy until the unnaturally bright eyes of 
 the children's children reminded the older ones that mid- 
 night was striking, and that the hour for good-nights and 
 good-byes had come only too soon. With many a tender 
 word and prayerful wish, with blessings and benedictions, 
 we all sang the grand old Doxology — 
 
 " Praise God from whom all blessings flow, 
 Praise Him, all creatures here below; 
 Praise Him above, ye heavenly host, 
 Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." 
 
 and separated for the night. But long after all was quiet 
 my thoughts were full of the far-reaching past, which to 
 me seemed so misty and dim, and of the dear ones who, 
 amid the love and reverence of their children, had now 
 passed their "Golden Anniversary." 
 
 I wish I could give you the toasts, some never to 
 be forgotten, the menu, and a full description of all the 
 beautiful gifts, but space forbids. Only one gift I must 
 mention, which was a great box of California flowers, from 
 Cousin Thco's beautiful garden. There were layers of 
 callas and carnations, stocks of every hue, cyclamens and 
 ferns, and last, but best of all, roses and biids, such as can 
 only be found in the " land of sunshine." They were as fresh 
 as though just gathered, and filled the house with their fra- 
 grance. Enough ! If I continue I shall never stop, so I
 
 36 
 
 close with tlic wisli that you and I may live to celebrate 
 our "Golden Wedding," but alas! the promise is poor, 
 for there is no prospect of a first that I can see. 
 Your devoted but hopeful cousin, 
 
 B.
 
 37 
 
 K5 
 
 BongFakrlaloF^ ;^0tt^F, 
 
 St. John's Wm. Welsh Memorial Mission School, 
 Fort Bennett, Dak., Januaiy 20, 1 889. 
 
 My Dear Father and Mother — Hattie and I send 
 you a trifle to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of your 
 marriage. 
 
 In the ups and downs of life it is a rare blessing, vouch- 
 safed to few children to rejoice over. We are thankful 
 that a kind Providence has so ordained it. 
 
 On the twenty-ninth we will be with you in spirit, and 
 our prayers will be for your continued prosperity and 
 happiness. 
 
 Your loving children, 
 
 Fitch and Hattie. 
 
 To Hon. J. F. Kinney, Nebraska City, Neb. 
 6 
 
 28105:L
 
 38 
 
 San Jose, California, Jan. 24, 1889. 
 
 Dear Father — Yours of 22d inst., from Nebraska 
 City, received to-day, aud was glad to hear of your safe 
 arrival there and fortunate release from the Agency. After 
 four years and a half sojourn on an Indian reservation, 
 civilization must seem most welcome again. ] have no 
 douht that the Golden Anniversary will be most appro- 
 priately and fittingly celebrated, knowing that Julia is the 
 master (or mistress) of ceremony. How else could it be 
 other than successful ? 
 
 The children have sent congratulatory letters, under great 
 excitement, but every time I attempted anything of the 
 kind my poor pen failed to do justice to the subject, and I 
 finally gave up in despair. 
 
 Among so many expressions from dear ones you will not 
 miss my feeble voice. 
 
 We are looking forward with much pleasure to your and 
 mother's visit. We call it the bridal tour, and will wel- 
 come the bride and groom with joy and acclamation. 
 
 With much love and wishes for many more years of 
 
 marital felicity, 
 
 Yours as ever, 
 
 Steptoe Kinney. 
 
 Santa Clara, Cal., Jan. 24, 1889. 
 
 Dearest Father and Mother Kinney — Accept 
 from your youngest daughter the heartiest congratulations 
 upon the occurrence of the fiftieth anniversary of your 
 weddcKl life. Although many handsome and eloquent 
 tributes from States and Territories are pouring in upon
 
 39 
 
 you, let this letter be not the less accepted. Yes, dear 
 Father and Mother Kinney, I also thank you on this 
 occasion for your kindness shown me while at your home. 
 I do also ask that my little faults of the past be forgiven 
 and forgotten. 
 
 Wishing you much happiness on this great event, and 
 hoping to welcome you soon in California, 
 
 I am, as ever, your true and affectionate daughter, 
 
 Josephine Arguello Kinney. 
 
 TO FATHER AND MOTHER. 
 
 Fifty years of light and shade, 
 
 Fifty years of joy and care, 
 Fifty years most happy made 
 
 By the crown of love you wear. 
 
 Golden is the light, I ween — 
 
 Golden are the joys as well; 
 Of the shade and care, no dream 
 
 Mars to-night Love's golden spell. 
 
 J. B. M. 
 
 Los Angei.es, Cal., Jan. 22, 1889. 
 
 My Dear Grandparents — I cannot tell you what 
 great pleasure it gives me to be able to congratulate you 
 on this rare and happy occasion. 
 
 The privilege of claiming a share in the affections of 
 two who have proved not only a great happiness in my 
 own life, but an honor and source of pride to the commu- 
 nity at large, is, and will always be, esteemed by me one 
 of my choicest blessings.
 
 40 
 
 With the hope that the future still holds many happy 
 years in store for you, I am 
 
 Your very affectionate granddaughter, 
 
 Gertrude Metcalp. 
 P. S. — Please accept the enclosed gift, with dearest love. 
 
 G. 
 
 2416 Farnam St., Omaha, Nek., 
 
 Jan. 29, 1880. 
 My Dear Grandparents — I regret so much that we 
 cannot be with you on your approaching anniversary, 
 owing to Richard's unavoidable absence. 
 
 Please accept with this little gift our best wishes and 
 congratulations for the occasion, in which your great- 
 grandchild most heartily joins. 
 
 Affectionately, 
 
 Florence Ware Hall. 
 
 Pottstown, Pa., Jan. 26, 1889. 
 
 My Dear Grandma and Grandpa — Ah, let's see! 
 Fifty years ago dear Grandma was a bride, and you, 
 Grandpa, Avere the groom ! I cannot remember quite that 
 far back, but I can shut my eyes and picture it all. 
 
 Grandma, fair, stately, and tall, radiant in her wedding 
 gown. How young and blooming she was ! and you, 
 Grand2)a, how proud of her you were, and what an ener- 
 getic, handsome, and royal young man you must have 
 been! Oh, I am glad J was not at ih<ii wedding. How 
 horribly jealous of Grandma 1 would have been, and
 
 41 
 
 Horace would like to have stood in yonr place at the altar 
 beside that beautiful young girl whom to-day ten of us 
 call ''Grandma." So you see everything is for the best. 
 Grandpa, dear, your hair at that time wasn't so gray, and 
 your form wasn't so plump. You did not wear spectacles, 
 nor did you carry a cane. Your and Grandma's hearts 
 seem to have stood quite still, while your bodies were 
 growing old gracefully. Fifty years ago you wrote poems 
 in praise of Grandma's beauty and charms. All lovers 
 write such things, although they are often merely pretty 
 words. Fifty years of time have only ripened Grandma's 
 loveliness, Avhile your sonnets have been proven true by 
 fifty years of faithful love. Your Golden Wedding! 
 And from the sunny Pacific to the misty Atlantic comes 
 the greeting, ''May joy and happiness be yours." 
 
 As I think of you both now, with your children's 
 children about you, and see the bright faces of Horace and 
 Gertrude, ]\Iamma and Papa, uncles, aunts, cousins, and 
 that dear baby Richard, of the fourth generation, all wish- 
 ing you good cheer on your Golden Wedding day, I am 
 very glad that fifty years ago dear Grandma said she would 
 marry you. 
 
 I wanted to write you a poem, but "Pegasus" is a 
 spirited horse. Grandpa dear, and lie hates side-saddles, I 
 know. 
 
 God bless and keep yuu both, is the golden wish 
 Of your loving granddaughter, 
 
 Minj^ie Metcalf.
 
 42 
 
 Santa Clara, Cal., Jan. 24, 1889. 
 
 Dear Grandpa and Grandma — 1 do think. Grand- 
 ma, this is a great day for you, more so because it was a 
 surprise! How nice it woidd liave been to have all your 
 children together, especially your grandchildren, but I am 
 to be counted." as your little daughter, because I am under 
 many obligations to you, sweet Grandma, as you and 
 Grandpa really raised me from an infant until I was quite 
 a big girl. Nonv, dear Grandpa and Grandma, please ac- 
 cept my congratulations on this happy day of fifty years 
 married. I hope the Lord will spare you many more 
 anniversaries, and that He will also provide and protect 
 you both, is the prayer of 
 
 Your little granddaughter. 
 
 Age eleven. Mamie Kinney. 
 
 Santa Clara, Cal., Jan. 24, 1880. 
 Hon. J. F. Kinney and ir//e, Nebraska Citij : 
 
 Dearest Grandpa and Grandma — As the last beams 
 of 1888 have been borne into eternity, and the New Year 
 has brought with it this great and memorable day, I 
 hasten, dearest Grandpa and Grandma, to congratulate 
 you on this the happiest of your days — the fiftieth anni- 
 versary of your wedding. Though our congratulations 
 must find their way for thousands of miles, 1 feel assured 
 that they will reach their destination and will be fully 
 appreciated. True, dear Grandma, we have never looked 
 upon your kind face, nor have we ever listened to the 
 gentle accents of your voice, but the loving hearts of those
 
 43 
 
 who know and love you well, have opened to us the noble 
 and generous sentiments of their loved inoth.er and father, 
 so that we feel very well acquainted with you, despite the 
 great distance between us. Therefore your granddaughter 
 Louise would niina;le her voice in the earnest congratula- 
 tions for your fiftieth anniversary, with those who are so 
 favored with your dear presence. May the Eternal One 
 bless you on this happy day, with an especial benediction 
 upon your worthy deeds, and when this life is ended may 
 He with open arms receive your precious souls, is our 
 prayer. Again congratulating you on this most happy 
 day, I subscribe myself, 
 
 Your loving adopted granddaughter, 
 
 Louise Arguello. 
 
 Santa Clara, Cal., Jan. 24, 1889. 
 
 Hon. J. F. Kinney and Wife, Nehrafihu ('Hi/, Xeb.: 
 
 My Dearest Grandpa and Grandma — It is with a 
 heart full of joy that I come to offer you my best wishes 
 and congratulations on this happy day. We all wish Ave 
 could be there with you to eujoy the reunion. I hope 
 you may live to see many more anniversaries among all 
 your children and grandchildren. jNfay our dear Lord 
 grant you both a long and happy life! I feel quite hon- 
 ored to write you this English letter, although it would 
 be much easier to send my good wishes to you in S})anish. 
 We wished to send you some presents, but brother Steptoe 
 advised us to keep them here until you arrive in Califor- 
 nia. We are so anxious to see you both, especially you.
 
 44 
 
 dear Graiulina, wliom we never had the pleasure of seeing. 
 Hoping your lives may he sj)ai'ed to your children for 
 many more years to come. 
 
 I an] your adopted granddaughter, 
 
 Ignacia Akguei.i.o. 
 
 Santa Clara, Cal., Jan. 24, 1889. 
 
 Dear Grandma and Grandpa — This great day has 
 
 arrived, and I come with ray little heart full of love and 
 
 gratitude to give you my heartiest congratulations on this 
 
 great event. Now, dear Grandpa and Grandma, I being 
 
 the youngest in Mamma's family, my letter must be the 
 
 shortest. Hoping to see you soon in California, I must 
 
 finish with — 
 
 This joyful anniversary, 
 
 May you see, 
 And many sweet returns 
 
 Be stored to thee. 
 
 From your adopted granddaughter. 
 Age ten. Marcjarita Arguello. 
 
 Santa Clara, Enero 22, 1889. 
 
 QuERiDOS Amigos — Comc ya se acerca un dia tan 
 grande y de tantos reeuerdos para ustcdcs, no podemos 
 menos que congratularlos y esparamos que Dios los guarde 
 en buena salud y felicidad, y que vivan ha celebrar otro 
 aniversaria todabia. Mucho gusto tendriamos si pudier- 
 amos nosotros ser contados en el numero de los (jue par- 
 ticiparan de la dicha de acompanarlos ese dia feliz. Pero 
 desde a qui haremos munchos recuerdos en eompania de
 
 45 
 
 vuestro buen liijo y su familia. Espero que si algun dia 
 vienen a California tendrctuos el gran placer de juntarnos 
 y pasar unos ratos felizes. Conclugo con salu darlos a 
 todos en general y reciban espreciones de mi familia y sus 
 nictos. 
 
 Sen mas somos sus servidores. 
 
 Mr. and Mes. L. Arguello. 
 
 Kexosha, Wis., Jan. 25, 1889. 
 
 My Dear Brother and Sister — Permit me to con- 
 gratulate you on this golden anniversary. It must be a 
 great source of satisfaction to you in looking back upon a 
 well spent life, and forward with bright anticipations for 
 the future, to feel that life has well been worth the living. 
 
 May you yet see many happy days, and as you near the 
 river, which we all have to cross, may your path grow 
 brighter and brighter even to the perfect day, is the ear- 
 nest wish of 
 
 Your elder brother, 
 
 Elisha M. Kinney. 
 P. S.— Kindest regards from all to all. E. M. K. 
 To Judge J. F. Kinney and Wife. 
 
 Wateeville, N. Y., Jan. 24, 1889. 
 
 My Dearest Brother — I cannot express to you the 
 many memories that fill my heart as I recall the past, and 
 remember that the fiftieth anniversary of your wedded life 
 will soon be here. Fifty years married ! How long our
 
 46 
 
 Heavenly Father, tlirout^li His great mercy, has spared 
 your lives to one another. AVith thankful hearts we are 
 oifering our fervent devotion that you have not only been 
 spared to your dear family, but to your loving sister. 
 Fifty years married, my dear brother. How time flies! 
 It seems but a little while since we were children together 
 in the dear old home, and as I left before you, I can never 
 forget how my heart ached at leaving you behind. How 
 kind has "our Father" been in giving us loving homes 
 of our own, though the dear home of our childhood can 
 never be forgotten. 
 
 With congratulations we invoke that Father's blessing, 
 and pray that your lives may yet long be spared, and that 
 love and happiness, which are now so precious in your 
 last days, may continue until you are called to the heav- 
 enly home. I am 
 
 Your most loving sister, 
 
 Eliza S. Jewett. 
 
 692 John St., St. Paul, Minn., Jan. 27, 1889. 
 
 My Dear Sister — How well do I remember fifty years 
 ago, when you were married, and I was your proud and 
 happy bridesmaid ! Our dear father and mother, and 
 many other dear friends, Avere with us then, who have 
 passed away from earth. INIany, many changes have come 
 to you and me since that time. Then the world was be- 
 fore us bright and beautiliil, and we looked forward to a 
 life of happiness and success, expecting our paths to be 
 strewn with flowers. But alas ! my dear sister, how often 
 have we found thorns by the wayside, that have not only
 
 47 
 
 torn our feet, but have made our hearts very sore. Now 
 we are neariug the eud of our journey. Instead of being- 
 young, fresh, and joyous, looking to the future with bright 
 anticipations, we look back and find that life has failed 
 us in many of its promises. The good we could have done 
 has been left undone, and our duties have been so often 
 neglected. 
 
 You and I are all that are left of a large family. I miss 
 the dear ones more and more, and our eldest sister most of 
 all, for she was always a mother to me. 
 
 May you, dear one, and your good husband, have a 
 joyous life filled with prosperity, and every effort of yours 
 gain success. May you both have health and happiness 
 as long as your lives are spared. I send you a slight 
 remembrance, which I hope you will enjoy. It was a labor 
 of love, and it bears you all the wishes of my heart for 
 continued blessings. 
 
 Lovingly, your devoted sister, 
 
 Mary J. Burr. 
 
 To Mrs. J. F. Kinney, Nebraska City. 
 
 Shedd, Oregon, Jan. 15, 1889. 
 
 Dear Sister — I received a letter informing me that 
 you would celebrate your Golden Wedding on the 29th of 
 this month. Well do I remember the day you were mar- 
 ried ! To look back it only seems a short time, but when 
 I see my children and grandchildren grown up to man- 
 hood and womanhood, I realize that I am indeed an old 
 man, full of years. Allow me to congratulate yoti on the 
 happy event. May you spend many happy days Avith your
 
 48 
 
 family around you. I ■would like to be present on so 
 unusual an occasion, but it is out of the question. All join 
 in sending love to Aunt Hannah and her dear ones. 
 Your loving foster brother, 
 
 Wu. M. Powers. 
 P. S. — Come to Oregon if you want to find a delightful 
 liorae. We are having a beautiful winter, and gathered 
 roses out of the garden to-day. 
 
 W. M. P. 
 
 652 John Street, Saint Paul, Minn., 
 
 January 23, 1889. 
 
 Dear Auntie — The letters of good wishes for you at 
 this time are numerous. As we all wish for you the same 
 good, we must all say much the same. I am going to give 
 the words of another, as she says it all more pleasantly 
 than I could — 
 
 " ' Time flies,' they say. Perhaps it's just as well 
 To watch him flying and not wish to stay him; 
 Especially as I don't know the spell 
 That could delay him. 
 
 " And if he paused, 't would trouble folks who take 
 A yearly due of rent and rate and tax. 
 And might confuse the thoughtful souls who make 
 Our almanacs/ 
 
 " No, let him fly! But as he hurries on, 
 Would he but hear my wish, he should 
 Take nought away of happiness by-gone. 
 Bring naught but good. 
 
 '' He should not point to mem'rics half efiaced, 
 Nor dole the sands of life in scanty measure; 
 Time, like an eager messenger, should hasle 
 To do your pleasure.
 
 49 
 
 " He should bring hope, to gladden all the year, 
 Hope, with no lingering shadow of regret, 
 And passing, make the home that you hold dear 
 Still dearer yet. 
 
 " He should not change the friends that round yon stand, 
 But added names upon the record trace; 
 The circle should not know a loosened hand, 
 A missing face. 
 
 " No thought of sadness should this passing leave, 
 No! Evermore should he so lightly fly 
 That only by his gifts you should perceive 
 Time had gone by. 
 
 " Ah — but enough of this; I fear lest you 
 Should laugh at foolish thoughts and clumsy rhyme — 
 Foolish ? Perhaps. But that's what I Avould do 
 If I were time." 
 
 With love and congratulations, 
 
 Your devoted niece, 
 
 LiDE S. Wheeler. 
 To Mrs. J. F. Kinney, Nebraska City, Neb. 
 
 Saint Paul, Minn., Jan. 20, 1889. 
 
 3frs. J. F. Kinney: 
 
 Dear Aunt — The twenty-ninth of this month will be 
 the fiftieth anniversary of your marriage, and I desire to 
 extend to you my congratulations and good wishes that 
 your future years may be as full of pleasure, happiness, 
 and content as it is possible for human life to be. I know 
 you have had some sorrow, and I presume your life has 
 been much the same as other mortals. You have had 
 your joys, pleasures, and gratified ambition; and you have 
 borne your share of grief and disappointment, and even at 
 times almost despair. In looking back over the half cen-
 
 50 
 
 tury, you find you have not realized all you looked for- 
 ward to on the twenty-ninth day of January, 1839. With 
 others I presume you have often felt life was a failure, 
 but have struggled on, and brighter times have come, and 
 you have been in some measure compensated for all the 
 severe trials and burdens of life. Now, we who are past 
 the prime of our life, with our own children fast becoming 
 men and women, we who have known you long and well, 
 can truly say to you on this anniversary that comes to so 
 few, that you have been a wise, patient, and good mother, 
 a true and faithful wife, and an earnest, sincere Christian ; 
 that you have borne your trials and burdens bravely and 
 well, and you will receive your reward, if not in this 
 world, in heaven. God is good, and may He bless and 
 protect you and give you many years of happiness and 
 joy, is the heartfelt wish of 
 
 Yours aifectionately, 
 
 Walter T. Burr. 
 
 Dear Aunt Hannah — I add my congratulations and 
 wishes ta Walter's for this beautiful anniversary. I hope 
 you may live to celebrate many more happy wedding days. 
 May this great occasion be all you could Avish, so that you 
 may look back Avith great pleasure to it as long as you 
 live. With love for you and yours, 
 
 I am sincerely, 
 
 Clara M. Burr. 
 
 San Buena Ventura, Cal., Jan. 24, 1881). 
 
 J)]:Ait Aunt and Uncle — The news comes to me that 
 in a finv days your golden wedding iinnivcrsary will have
 
 51 
 
 come and gone. How long a time, and yet how short a 
 time it is, since I, a young girl, was with yon, and you 
 were in the prime of life. Now I am in my prime, and 
 you are on the "thither hillside/' still hale and hearty, 
 they tell me. Please accept my heartiest congratulations, 
 and many wishes for good years yet to come. I hope you 
 may find it possible in the near future to seek a home in 
 this lovely climate, where you can spend your years with- 
 out the discomforts of long, dreary winters, storms, and 
 heat, where beautiful flowers ever greet you, where mother 
 Nature is kind and tender. 
 
 I send you some flowers to bear the wishes of affection 
 from our little group, for your golden wedding day. I 
 trust they will do their duty, keep fresh, look beautiful, 
 and speak to you all the nice things I would like to say, 
 but which dull paper, pen, and ink refuse to express. 
 
 We will be most happy to welcome you when you come 
 to California, which I hope will be soon. 
 
 Your loving niece, 
 
 Theodosia B. Shepherd. 
 
 To Judge and Mrs. J. F. Kinney, Nebraska City, Neb. 
 
 Hastings, Neb., Jan. 26, 1889. 
 
 My Dear Uncle and Aunt — Accept my heartiest 
 congratulations on this happy event of the fiftieth anni- 
 versary of your wedded life. 
 
 May the Creator and Preserver of mankind allow you 
 many years more to enjoy life and the remembrances of 
 the past.
 
 52 
 
 I regret my inability to cxteiul my congratulations in 
 person, a pleasure I greatly desired. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 Louis A. Kinney. 
 To Hon. J. F. Kinney and Wife. 
 
 Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 26, 1889. 
 
 Dear Aunt and Unci.e — Please accept my warmest 
 congratulations on the fiftieth anniversary of your wed- 
 ding. I well remember yowY first Avedding, although only 
 five years old at the time. If my dear mother were living 
 how her heart would overflow on this happy occasion — 
 she who loved you so dearly, and to whom you were ever 
 kind. May you live to enjoy your diamond wedding, is 
 the sincere w ish of 
 
 Your affectionate niece, 
 
 Abbie B. Spenny. 
 To Hon. J. F. Kinney and Wife. 
 
 Buffalo, X. Y., Jan. 18, 1889. 
 
 DeaFv Aunt Hannah — Ever since I heard through 
 Auntie Burr that you were soon to celebrate your "Golden 
 AVedding," it has been my intention to write you my con- 
 gratulations, as distance prevents my giving thorn in per- 
 son, as I would greatly prefer. It is certainly an event 
 which is rare, and I trust it may be to you a sweet and 
 luvinir commemoration of the wedding day of vour voutli. 
 J had the pleasure last week, January 9tii, of celebrating 
 my fifth anniversary, but 1 cannot hope ever to reach the
 
 53 
 
 golden period. I trust, dear Auntie, the season will be 
 one of joy to you and yours, and that your last days may 
 be your best days. I would that my darling mother might 
 have been spared to rejoice with you. Now you must 
 gratify a woman's curiosity and write me after the great 
 event shall have passed, and tell me all about it. I am going 
 to send a little remembrance along with my letter, just to 
 show that I remember you with love. My husband joins 
 me in congratulating you and Uncle Kinney, and hoping 
 that you may enjoy health and prosperity all the rest of 
 your days, 
 
 I remain your loving niece, 
 
 Mettie Buxton Holmes. 
 To Mrs. J. F. Kinney. 
 
 Batavia, N. Y., Jan. 22, 1889. 
 
 Dear Aunt Hannah — Sister Em and I are most 
 happy to extend our congratulations to you on this unusual 
 occasion. So few are spared to enjoy so many years that 
 it seems like a special blessing from the "Giver of all 
 good gifts" to you and your children. To such a devoted 
 mother as you have always been only praise and thanks- 
 giving can be offered by them. Yea, they shall rise up 
 and call you blessed. How I wish our dear mother could 
 be here to rejoice with you, and she may be, for I often 
 think she may be watching and guarding us from on high, 
 when we know it not. 
 
 We send you some little gifts as a token of our love to 
 you, and hope you will accept them as such. 
 8
 
 54 
 
 With wislics i'or licavcn's choicest blessings to rest on 
 you and yours, I am 
 
 Most faithfully, 
 
 Fanny J. Buxton. 
 
 Western Union Telegraph Co. 
 
 [Telegram] 
 From Hon. Benton J. Hall, U. S. Comm'r of Patents. 
 
 Washington, D. C, Jan. 29, 1889. 
 
 3Irs. Julian 3Ietcalf, Nebr'oska City: 
 
 Through you Louise and I extend to Uncle Kinney and 
 
 Aunt Hannah congratulations on their fiftieth anniversary. 
 
 May peace and comfort attend them always through many 
 
 years to come. 
 
 Benton J. Hall. 
 
 50 E. 126th St., New York, Jan. 27, 1889. 
 
 Judge and Mrs. J, F. Kinney : 
 
 My Dear Cousins — I gladly avail myself of this op- 
 portunity to send a word of kindly greeting and of warm 
 congratulations to you upon the enjoyment of your Golden 
 Wedding day. 
 
 It is granted to but few to reach that milestone in life, 
 and I am glad you are among the chosen and fortunate 
 ones. I congratulate you and yours upon the glad event, 
 and permit mc to hope most sincerely that yet many 
 golden day.s and years may be added to your fifty years of 
 wedded life, and that happiness, health, and prosperity may 
 be granted you.
 
 55 
 
 I think I have never seen you, though my father used 
 often to speak of you and your family. 
 
 As you know, I have been engaged for several years in 
 collecting together the names of the descendants of our 
 Grandfather, Rev. Thomas Brockway, and I take great 
 pleasure in sending you the result. One copy is for you, 
 and the other for Mrs. Metcalf. 
 
 I wish the genealogy were more extended and perfect. 
 
 I wish we could see you in our home here, and when 
 you visit New York we shall expect that our home will be 
 your home. 
 
 Again I ask you to accept our heartfelt congratulations 
 and very best wishes. 
 
 Sincerely and affectionately yours, 
 
 A. N. Brock WAY. 
 
 Battle Creek, Mich., Jan. 29, 1889. 
 Dear Cousin — I was very thankful to hear from you, 
 as it brought to mind many interesting reminiscences of 
 the past. How strange it seems to look back fifty years 
 to our acquaintance in Marysville, and the many changes 
 that have taken place during that time. How few of 
 those who were our associates are now living. Of my 
 father's family there arc only three left. Father, Lathrop, 
 and William died here, and their children are now doing 
 the work that we were doing fifty years ago. I will not 
 go into details of my family, which naturally is a very 
 interesting one to me, but if I could sit down with you 
 for a long, quiet talk, what an unspeakable pleasure it 
 would be to review the history connected with bi)th our
 
 56 
 
 lives. I cannot realize that you have been married fifty 
 years. For several years I have not known much of" your 
 past life, but have often thought of you and many inci- 
 dents connected witli your history, of which I would like 
 to know more. 
 
 I take great pleasure in congratulating you upon reach- 
 ing your fiftieth marriage anniversary, and hope you have 
 many years of enjoyment in store, though life has many 
 trials. This world is a beautiful world, and I would like 
 to spend many years longer in it, provided I could retain 
 my faculties and strength, which are still unimpaired. I 
 am still active in business, and enjoy it now as nnich as 
 ♦ ever. Again desiring all good things for you and yours, 
 in which my family join me, 
 
 I am most faithfully yours, 
 
 Thomas B. Skinner. 
 To Hon. J. F. Kinney, Nebraska City. 
 
 Omaha, Jan. 23, 1889. 
 
 Dear Uncle and Aunt — It is with a great deal of 
 regret that Florence and myself find ourselves unable to 
 be present at the golden wedding. Amid the toil and 
 competition which engross the world, it comes back to one 
 with renewed force that family ties are the ones which 
 bring with them the greatest joys and comforts, and which 
 are the most real and w^ithout alloy. It seems as if there 
 could scarcely be a happier occasion than tiic anniversary 
 oi'a half century of happily wedded lile, celebrated in good 
 health, and with a large circle of children and grandchil- 
 dren present to join in the recollections and memories
 
 57 
 
 whicli such an occasion must bring with it. So we very 
 much regret an enforced absence on such a memorable oc- 
 casion. But our hearts are with you, and we both hope 
 that this celebration may be the most enjoyable precursor 
 of the diamond wedding, to whicli we hereby pledge our- 
 selves to be present. In all of which sentiments your 
 great-grandson, Richard Ware Hall, most heartily concurs. 
 
 Aifectionately, 
 
 R. S. Hall. 
 
 Richfield, Sevier Co., Utah, Jan. 20, 1889. 
 
 My Dear Brother — Across the hundreds of miles 
 of plains and mountains between us comes the news of a 
 great family event — your golden wedding. How remiss 
 we become in our correspondence until some unusual oc- 
 currence revives forgotten memories and renews the old 
 home associations. I suppose it is because we are so ab- 
 sorbed in our own immediate circle. This half century 
 has whitened our heads and carried us from youth to age, 
 and soon we and ours, like all of human life, will exist 
 only in records of the past. 
 
 I received a letter some time ago from our cousin. Dr. 
 A. N. Brockway, of New York City, desiring me to fur- 
 nish for publication a genealogy of our family, I gave 
 him such information as I could gather. The Wolston 
 Brockway family settled in Connecticut in sixteen hundred 
 and sixty, and now there are three hundred families re- 
 corded, as happy, prosperous, and intelligent. Here is a 
 great field for some one of us to form a history to add to 
 our libraries, and it is a record of which we may well be 
 proud.
 
 68 
 
 May your wedding day be one of golden sunshine, and 
 children's children surround you, is the wish of 
 
 Your brother, 
 
 Lathrop B, Kinney. 
 To Hon. J. F. Kinney, Nebraska City. 
 
 Kansas City, Jan. 25, 1889. 
 
 Dear Mrs. Metcalf — Your kindly letter of the 6th 
 at hand. I congratulate my honored cousins on their ar- 
 rival at the noon of the century of their married life, and 
 as you ask me to indite a metrical measure, something 
 suited to this, so rare an occasion, and couch your invita- 
 tion with an intimation that I am the poet of the family, 
 how can I resist the delicate appeal? Please accept the 
 enclosed. I used the idea of the alchemist at a silver wed- 
 ding sometime since, and now adapt it to the golden ; sup- 
 posing a I'amily gathering, with some trifles of auriferous 
 gifts, etc. I do not dignify this as poetry, but there is 
 perhaps a poetical idea in giving old Time the alchemist's 
 power of transmuting all the wooden, crystal, and silver 
 gifts of their various decades, into gold tor this occasion. 
 Regretting my inability to be with you, ami with love to 
 my dear and honored friends. 
 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 T. ]>. Bl^LLENE. 
 
 'Tis Cupid, they say, who dotli intertwine 
 
 lu Love's sweet entaugleinent, sweet and divine, 
 
 Two hearts, and out of the two nmkes but one. 
 
 The story of Cupid dates hack many j'ears; 
 It is as old as liunian hopes, toiling, and tears. 
 Which silently, ceaselessly, into lite run.
 
 59 
 
 As a rule, gods are held to be reverend and old, 
 
 But Cupid is youthful, rosy, and bold, 
 
 Much given to coquettish pranks by the Avay. 
 
 And so, like the Cupid of story, who brings, 
 
 With coy, playful touch ou heart's cxuivering strings, 
 
 The rich music forth, Love does not decay. 
 
 Forests wither, 
 
 Rivers cease. 
 
 Ocean wears 
 The mountain's base. 
 
 Suns burn out 
 
 And worlds decay, 
 Stars are quenched 
 
 And pass away. 
 
 Love is young and new, and never 
 Love from youth can old Time sever; 
 Heads may whiten, eyes may fail, 
 Pleasures weary seem, and stale. 
 
 Love wears roses in the snow, 
 
 Love makes old hearts throb and glow 
 
 With the gladness of life's spring. 
 
 Turns to music everything. 
 
 Laughs at changes, mocks at death. 
 Having all things, with them hath — 
 Highest potency of all — 
 Power to make them all immortal. 
 
 When in that long ago ye stood 
 Your troth to give, and plight, 
 
 Ye wondered whether Heaven could 
 Send other days as bright. 
 
 The chastened love that round thee brings 
 
 Contentment more and more. 
 Looks back with sweet rememberings 
 
 And finds the promise poor. 
 
 Soon five years passed, and then around thy board 
 Thy friends assemble with their ligneous store; 
 
 A decade passed, and crystalline the hoard 
 That generous friends unto thy dwelling bore.
 
 60 
 
 And when thy horologue, O, kindly Time, 
 Struck quarter century with its silvery chime, 
 All argentine the gilts that generous hands 
 Bore to thy feast from near or distant lands. 
 
 Thus Time, the alchemist, the wood to crystal brought, 
 Then both to silver by his magic wrought. 
 And even now the silver he hath spurned. 
 And silver bright to brighter gold hath turned. 
 
 High noon, fair century! crieth kindly Time, 
 And wakens now the echo with a golden chime, 
 While from their slumber in remembered years 
 Start mingled visions, now of Joy, now tears. 
 
 Visions of the fifty years, 
 
 Ye have come together, 
 O'er the smooth and rugged path 
 
 That has led you hither. 
 
 Visions of the flowers that grew. 
 Flowers by thorns defended; 
 
 How ye plucked the one, and knew 
 Joy and pain were blended. 
 
 Visions of the storms that come. 
 Storms of grief and sorrow — 
 
 How you thought the night had been 
 Kobbed of its to-morrow. 
 
 Visions of the lifty years, 
 
 Blessed years and vision.s! 
 Some of smiles, and some of tears, 
 
 All of heaven'.^ giving. 
 
 And wlien a decade shall have passed again. 
 And we returned assemble at tiiy feast, 
 We may with conlklence the hope maintain 
 That length of days and honors still increased 
 Shall be thy portion; until full of years. 
 As full of honors, and with troops of friends. 
 Thou .shalt, as this life's golden sun.set ncars, 
 And with its glow of golden glory blends, 
 Wear brighter wedding garments witii our Lord, 
 Which thou art promised in His .sacred Word.
 
 61 
 
 There robed with kingly splendor, 
 
 Ineffalile. complete; 
 There made of God's life sharers, 
 
 And for that sharing meet. 
 
 In the glory beatific 
 
 Of the mansions in the skies, 
 May life itself be sweeter, for 
 
 These earthly memories. 
 
 T. B. BULI.ENE.
 
 •> 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES 
 
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