BioA: Cole, Beder & Martha (Gold - 1938)

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Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: COLE CUMPSTON DITTNER STEINHAUS BECKMAN JOHNSON PITT LAWTON

----Sources: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 05/05/1938

Cole, Beder & Martha (Gold - 1 MAY 1938)

Approximately 125 relatives and friends gathered at the home of Dr. and Mrs. B.A. Cole on Sunday, May 1, 1938, to help them celebrate their golden wedding.

Dr. Beder A. Cole and Martha J. Cumpston were married on May 1, 1888 at the Cumpston home in Vernon County, Wis.. Their marriage was witnessed by Dr. Cole’s brother, Charley Cole, and Mrs. Cole’s sister, Polly Ann Cumpston, now Mrs. U.S. Lawton, both of whom were present at the golden wedding.

Dr. and Mrs. Cole then made their home in West Lima, Richland Co., Wis., where Dr. Cole carried on his practice until his health began to fail. In May 1911 they moved to a farm in Butler, Clark County, where they have since resided. To this union were born one son and four daughters: Bird, at home; (Sarah) Mrs. Henry Dittner, Thorp; (Mary) Mrs. Geo. Steinhaus, Cornell; (Bethel) Mrs. Geo. Beckman, Eau Claire; (Lois) Mrs. Leonard Johnson, Greenwood. There are nine living grandchildren namely: Martha and Ethel Beckman, Eau Claire; (Bertha Beckman) now Mrs. Henry Pitt of Bell, Calif.; Lois Steinhaus, Cornell; Margaret, Maynard and Norman Dittner, Thorp; Vera and Dale Johnson, Greenwood, and one grandson, Alworth Steinhaus, deceased. All children and grandchildren were present at the golden wedding except Mrs. Beckman, who is a patient at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, and her daughter, Mrs. Pitt of California.

The occasion was celebrated with a bountiful dinner. The rooms and tables were prettily decorated with gold and white streamers and flowers.

In the afternoon, at the request of Dr. Cole, the members of the family gathered around the organ and sang several hymns, among them being "When Shall We Meet Again?," "Jesus, Savior Pilot Me," and "When We Gather ‘Round the Great White Throne." At the Sunday school in Butler, of which the Coles are regular attendants, special songs were sung, among the "The Beautiful Garden of Prayer," by the Shoemaker girls, and "Blest Be the Tie." At 4 p.m. the radio was turned on tot eh Eau Claire station and all present listened to the devotional broadcast of the First Baptist Church in Eau Claire, which was dedicated to the occasion. It consisted of song, including: "Silver Threads Among the Gold," "The Old Rugged Cross: and "The Lord is My Shepherd," and the talk by Rev. Barry, pastor of that church.

Among those from away who were here for the celebration were: Mrs. U.S. Lawton and Anita, Alex Lawton, of LaFarge; Mr. and Mrs. Fuss, Geo. Beckman and Martha and Ethel, of Eau Claire; Mr. and Mrs. George Steinhaus and Lois, of Cornell; Mr. and Mrs. John Misfeldt, Worden; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wavrunek and Mr. and Mrs. Ed Timmler, Neillsville; Mrs. C. Pavloski, Wis. Rapids, and Mr. and Mrs. L. Johnson and children, Greenwood.

The crowd left in the late afternoon wishing Dr. and Mrs. Cole many more such happy wedding days.

The Cole family wishes to extend thanks to each and everyone who came or sent congratulations or helped in any way to make the celebration such a pleasant one.