Fifty years of happy married life were celebrated yesterday by Mr. and Mrs. James H. Rittenhouse of Smock when many relatives and friends gathered at their home to do them honor.
It was brought out during the celebration that during the entire 50 years the couple were separated but once. On this occasion Mr. Rittenhouse was called to Chicago on business and was away one week. With this one exception, the wedded life of the couple has been unbroken.James H. Rittenhouse and Dorcas Hazen were united In marriage on September 17, 1879, by the Rev. O. B. Strayer, Baptist preacher, in his stone house located between Grindstone and Tippecanoe. Following the ceremony the bride and groom traveled by horse and buggy to Washington county, then considered a great distance to travel, where they spent a brief honeymoon. They returned to Franklin township and went housekeeping with Mr. Rittenhouse’s parents. More than twenty years ago they purchased the home and property In Franklin township where they have since occupied.
To this union were born four children, all living, who with their families shared the honors of the occasion. They are Mrs. Mary Rittenhouse Lee, her husband, Frank, and their children, Luther, Hazen and Thelma, of Smock; Mrs. Carrie R. Rittenhouse Fleming, her husband, Guy Fleming, and their children, James R. and Harry, of Smock; Dr. Harry Rittenhouse, his wife, and their sons, George, Frank, William and Arthur, of Bridgeville, and Hazen Rittenhouse, his wife and their children, Grace and James, who make their home with Mr. Rittenhouse’s parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Rittenhouse had planned to celebrate their anniversary with an evening dinner for the immediate family and several relatives and were taken by complete surprise when they returned about noon from an errand to Uniontown and to the Franklin township School where they cast their primary votes to find several hundreds of their relatives and friends who had assembled In their home and yard during their absence. More than six hundred invitations had been extended and between three and four hundred guests were in attendance.
J. G. Roblnson of Flatwoods, a close friend of the family, acted as master of ceremonies and introduced the speakers who Included the Rev. C. E. Houck of New Concord, Ohio, Rev. Harry Fowler, pastor of the Flatwoods Baptist Church, and Robert Wolfe of Star Junction.
ADD J S RITTENHOUSE (Note: This line appeared on the story and probably was a type-setting error.)
A radio, the gift of Dr. Rittenhouse, and money in gold pieces, were among the gifts received by the couple.
Among the relatives who were present for the occasion were Mr. and Mrs. Harry Holman, cousins of Pittsburgh, Mr. and Mrs. James Hazen, cousins of Smock; Rev. W. F. McKee, a cousin, of Monongahela; Dr. and Mrs. H. R. Frye, cousins of BeallsvilIe; Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Murphy, Mrs. D. A. Murphy and Miss Olive Murphy of Speidel, Ohio. Directors of the Southwestern Mutual Fire Insurance Association of which Mr. Rittenhouse is also a director, were among prominent guests. They are E. E. Arnold of Vanderbilt, G. E. P. Graham of Waynesburg, J. C Johnson of Rea, Washington county and J. T. Smith, Franklin township.
Guests from Uniontown, Connellsville, Pittsburgh, Franklin township and other points include: Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Dunn, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Kelley, Warren Frederick, Mr. and Mrs. W. J . Noble. Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Noble, John C. Lee, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Cowell, Mrs. J. W. Shanafelter, Miss Jessle Brown, Mrs. R. H. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Clarke Hagerty, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Tate, Mrs. Jonathan Shaffer, Mr. and Mrs. Ira G. Jones and daughter, Mary Elizabeth, Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Vance, Mrs. D. R. Mosler, Mrs. Henry Cooke, Mrs. Grant Blair, Mrs. Clyde Brown, Mrs. Emma Fuller, Albert Gaddis, Miss Ida Oliver, Mr. and Mrs. N. E. Garwood, Mrs. George Zier, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Elder Frederick and three children, Warren, Dorothy Carol and Muriel, Mr. and Mrs. John McIlravey, Mr. and Mrs. P. W. Luce, Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Guthrle. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence E Porter, Dwight Porter. Mr. and Mrs. Watson Arnold, Miss Minta Arnold, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Shanafelter, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Bute, Mrs. Columbus Porter, Mrs. R. B. Otto, Mr. and Mrs. John Allen, Mr. and Mrs. William Murphy, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Murphy, Miss Olive Murphy, Mrs. D. A. Murphy, Mrs. John T. Smith, Miss Lulu Henshaw, Mrs. William Henshaw, Mrs. Pleasant Radmon, Mrs. Dorothy Beal and daughter, Virginia, Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Graham, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Weaver, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Harmon, Mrs. James Goe, Miss Lauretta Duff, Mrs. M. M. Duff, Mr. and Mrs. Bateman Goe, Mrs. Bradley McCay, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Davidson, R. M. Powell, Mr. and Mrs. Grant Blair, Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Cook, Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Arnold, Luther Noble Lee, Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Allen, Mr. and Mrs. William Hazen, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Blaney, Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Griffith, Mrs. Arthur Higinbotham and daughter, Betty Jean, Mr. and Mrs. John S. Dunn, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Vail, Mrs. P. G. Henshaw, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Smith, Mrs. J. N. Randolph, Rev. and Mrs. C. E. Houk, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Arnold, E. W. Henshaw, Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Murphy, Mr. and Mrs. Dale W. Houk and children, Mr. and Mrs. John Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cooper and son, Raymond, Mrs. Maude Murphy and daughter, Betty Lou, Mrs. W. E. Johnson, Mrs. N. L. Patterson, Mrs. Ana Martin, Miss Dorcas Murphy, Miss Elizabeth Murphy, Mrs. Beunelt Jones, Mrs. B. M. Wade, Mrs. G. C. Shouffler, Mr. and Mrs. James E. McCay, Mrs. J. C. Blaney, Mrs. J. Byers Brice, Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Lynn and daughter, Dorothy Jane, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brock, Mr. and Mrs. George Elliott, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Arnold, Mr. and Mrs. N. C. Piersol, Orland Cunningham, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lee, Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Work and son, Jimmie, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Dunn, Miss Martha M. Fleming, Dr. J. R. Carothers, R. H. Brown, Rev. and Mrs. Harry W. Fowler, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Sesler, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Fleming and daughters, Nell and Emma Ruth, Mr. and Mrs. John Jones and children, George and Garnet, Dr. and Mrs. H. R. Frye, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Robinson and children, Mr. and Mrs. William M. Duff, Miss Mabel Murphy, Mr. and Mrs. R, M. Galloway, Miss Anna McKay, Mrs. H. D. Core, Mrs. Annette Phillips, Mrs. James Allen, Miss Anna Powell, Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Arnold, T. Scott Dunn, Mr. and Mrs. I. W. McClelland, Mrs. J. R. Fleming, Mr. and Mrs. G. E. P. Graham, and J. T. Smith.