----Source: HUMBIRD ENTERPRISE (Humbird, Clark County, Wis.) 12/08/1923

Garber, Mr./Mrs. John (Gold Anniv-7 Dec 1873)

On Friday evening, Dec. 7th, 1923, the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Garber, in Cleveland, Jackson Co., Wis., was the scene of an event which happens in the lives of a comparatively few wedded couples, the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary, or golden wedding. Nearly seventy relatives and neighbors gathered to help Mr. and Mrs. Garber fittingly celebrate this half-century milestone of the time when they joined hands and hearts to travel life's pathway, and all partook of a repast that almost eclipsed the original wedding dinner.

In retrospective, John Garber and Miss Emma Burkhardt were united in marriage, at the farm home in western Sauk Co., Wis., on Dec. 7, 1873. Both of these young people were born in Germany, and came with their parents when mere babes, to this country, the parents being among those sturdy pioneer settlers of Sauk Co. For sixteen years following the marriage their home was made in that vicinity, and finally, thirty-four years ago, hit the trail for northern Jackson Co. to grub out a farm and make home of their, in what was then, a near wilderness. Their first home was a two-room long house, "shanty," Mr. Garber calls it, and the first winters the wife and little ones suffered extremely with the cold. But patience and industry brought their reward, and now Mr. and Mrs. Garber have one of the best farms in this section, a good comfortable home, convenient farm buildings, but best of all, a happy family of children and grandchildren to cheer the declining years, and, perhaps next best, the love and respect of all their neighbors.

Mr. Garber was born in Aug. 1846, and is 77 years young. Mrs. Garber is nearly nine years his junior, being in her 68th year. They have had ten children, three of whom are deceased. Four sons and three daughters are living. They are Emil G. of Altoona, Louis, who has charge of the home farm, Alvina and Will; Mrs. Chas. Winscher, Mrs. John H. Bryner, and Mrs. Alex Lubinski. Mr. Garner has four sisters, one residing at Camp Douglas, one in Beloit, one in Milwaukee, and one in the state of Washington. None of these were present at this gathering, but three brothers of Mrs. Garber, Herman, Edward, and William Burkhardt, came from their homes in Sauk County to help celebrate this golden wedding.

Both he bride and groom of fifty years ago are enjoying the best of health, and find pleasure in their daily tasks about home and farm. May they both be spared to enjoy, united hand and heart, many more happy wedding celebrations.