BioA: Stevens, Mr. and Mrs. Irving #3 (Golden - 1969)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Stevens, Urban, Dopp, Krause, Abrahamson, Trachte, Boyer, Kurth, Winters, Coleman, Seif, Wall, Short, Reinart, Waller, Vincent

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) /1969

Stevens, Mr. and Mrs. Irving (Golden - 26 November 1969)

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Urban, Mr. and Mrs. Leland Dopp and Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Krause were hosts at the Jack Urban home Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. in honor of the Golden wedding anniversary of the ladies’ parents, Mr. and Mrs. Irving Stevens.

The basement rooms were decorated with yellow and white streamers and wedding bells. The tables were decorated with gold streamers and leaves. A large wedding cake baked by Mrs. Lyle Abrahamson was presented to the couple by Mr. and Mrs. Abrahamson, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Trachte, and her sisters and brothers, Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Boyer, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Kurth, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Trachte and Mr. and Mrs. Byron Trachte.

Refreshments were served to the guests during the afternoon. The couple received many gifts and cards and money. Between 75 and 100 relatives and friends attended the open house.

Gladys Winters, daughter of the later Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Winters of Ashburn, and Irving Stevens, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Stevens, also of Washburn, were married November 26, 1919, in Neillsville at the Methodist parsonage with the Rev. Lewis Coleman officiating. Mrs. Coleman and Mrs. Charles Seif were witnesses. They surprised their relatives and friends with their elopement, with only the bride’s mother knowing their plans. They were married around 11 a.m. and then took the 11:30 train to Evansville, where they spent several days with her brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Wall, and visited her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Short, at Merrimac. After they returned home relatives and friends gave the newlyweds a shower and charivari at the home of her parents.

Mrs. Stevens was born in the Town of Washburn April 3, 1897, on the farm which is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Reinart. When she was six years old her parents purchased the Shortville Store, which they owned and operated for many years. She attended Shortville School and graduated from Neillsville High School with the class of 1914. She was employed in her parents’ store until her marriage. Mrs. Stevens is a former member of the Washburn Homemakers Club and the Birthday Club.

Mr. Stevens was born in Granton July 20, 1897, and moved when a child with his parents to the Town of Washburn, where he also attended Shortville School. He served several months with the army in World War I. He served the town board as supervisor and was clerk of the Shortville School for several years.

The couple operated a dairy farm in the Town of Washburn all their married life, but is partially retired for a few years.

They are the parents of three daughters, Mrs. Leland (Eileen) Dopp of Marshfield, Mrs. Jack (Ione) Urban of the Town of Washburn and Mrs. Wallace (Joanne) Krause of Menomonee Falls. They also have six grandchildren. Their daughters and families all attended the celebration.

Others who attended were Mr. Stevens’ brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Waller, of Edgerton and Mrs. Steven’s sisters, Mrs. Floyd Wall and Mrs. Jim Vincent and family, and many other relatives and friends from Marshfield, Granton, Neillsville and vicinity.

The day was a beautiful sun shiny day for the celebration. Mrs. Stevens recalls their wedding day was almost a duplicate of their Golden wedding anniversary observance. November 26 this year was a snowy, bad day.

Mr. and Mrs. Stevens had a Thanksgiving and anniversary dinner at their home Thanksgiving Day with their family all home. Guests were Mr. and Mrs. Leland Dopp and daughters, Linda, Judeen and Dixie, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Krause and daughter, Cheryl, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Urban and daughters, Debra and Brenda, Mrs. Floyd Wall and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Vincent and daughter, Joyce.