Wheeling (WV) Intelligencer, 20 Mar 1879

Half a Hundred Years of Married Life, A Reunion Out at West Alexander

Quite a number of friends and relatives of Joseph Carson and family assembled at the Old Mansion by way of a "surprise party", it being the 50th Anniversary of the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Carson. Among the visitors was George Valentine and wife, Thomas Ralson and wife, J. R. Bell and wife and Mrs. Rachel Whitham and others. Mr. Carson and Miss Anna Brown were both "born and bred" in the county of Ohio, and were married on the 19th day of March 1829, by the Reverend John McClusky, the third pastor of the Presbyterian Church of West Alexander, at the residence of the bride's parents near Triadelphia. Joseph Carson was born on the farm on which he resides, about one mile west of West Alexander, and is the second son of Richard Carson who was a soldier in the War of 1812 and died while serving his country. Mr. Carson is the only member of a family which consisted of seven children (five boys and two girls). Mrs. Murray, his last sister dying only a few days ago at Bloomington, Illinois. She was the wife of the late lamented Professor Murray of Washington College.

Mr. Carson and wife are blessed with ten children (one dying in infancy), four sons and five daughters. The oldest, Eliza is married to Reverend Criswell who preaches near Bloomington, Illinois. Hannah the second daughter is married to H. Milligan residing one mile west of Bellaire. Sara, the third daughter is married to W. V. Coe and resides near Valley Grove. Mary Ann, the fourth daughter is married to David Boggs, formerly of Ohio County, but has removed to Princeton, Illinois. Richard, the oldest son is a very eloquent and energetic preacher, located at Clinton, Missouri and is unmarried. William the second son is also unmarried. Almira their youngest daughter is not married. Vincent, third son, is married and resides in the Old Mansion. John, their youngest son is married and resides in Chester(field) County, Virginia, near the city of Richmond.

Mr. Carson is a man of more than ordinary intelligence and has been a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church of West Alexander for more than 20 years. He is a man of very social habits, and is now in his 78th year and very active for a man of that advanced age. He can read your paper without spectacles; the only indication of old age is his deafness. It is said he very much resembles in personal appearance the late W. H. Seward of New York. Mrs. Carson is in her 68th year and to rise the common expression, is "as brisk as a bee". She walks to church nearly every Sabbath, preferring to do so instead of riding in a spring wagon; and, not to be invidious, is one of the finest looking old ladies in the county. Thus you see Mr. & Mrs. Carson have traveled life's checkered path for more than 50 years and have not lived in rain. They have lived to see their children grow up like "olive branches" around them and also quite a number of grandchildren. I almost forgot to say that Mrs. Emily Carson, wife of Vincent, had a very elegant dinner prepared for the occasion, and after the whole party had partaken of the rich repast they were invited back to the residence of the old folks, which is only a few yards from the Old Mansion, where with "Billy" and his guitar and Mr. Coe and his fiddle and the balance of the family, were had some very appropriate instrumental and vocal music "but no dancing". It was the intention to have the old folks remarried, but R. I. Lester failed to put in his appearance, and that interesting ceremony had to be postponed.