There is nothing like a golden wedding – an anniversary of fifty years – to bring out the sweetness of youth in an older couple.  Two hundred years ago it was a feat since death was always close – illness, child birth, fevers, etc.  Today it is almost impossible since people are not as serious about marriage and consider it not worth the effort to sustain the love with patience and endurance.  Ritchey and I celebrated our 39^th wedding anniversary in March – hopefully we will live another eleven years to hit this milestone.

Interior Journal, Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky

Friday, April 27, 1883

Golden Wedding

Garrard County Section:

On Wednesday, the 25^th inst. Mr. and Mrs. James H. Yantis, celebrated the 50^th anniversary of their wedding day, or their “golden wedding”.  On the 25^th day of April 1833, Mr. J. H. Yantis was married to Miss Margaret A. Stewart, at Danville.  To this couple were born 12 children, who are now living, viz. W. A. Yantis, of this place, Mrs. Mary D. Daniel, of Cincinnati; Dr. Robert H. Yantis, Fleming County; Mrs. T. Curry, Thomas S. Yantis, Mrs. Nannie B. Jennings, Mrs. Jennie Martin, S. S. Yantis, Jas. L. Yantis, Mrs. Carrie Davidson, Misses Hattie and Nettie Yantis, all of this town and county.  All of the children were present at the reunion, also two sisters of Mrs. Yantis, Mrs. John Sneed, of Missouri, and Mrs. N. D. Price, of this county.  There were also a great many of their grandchildren and near friends present.  The presents, consisting of gold, were numerous and valuable.  Mr. Yantis is 76 years old.  He was at one time a popular dry goods merchant of this place.  He has also been sheriff of the county, and is now a Magistrate.  His wife is 66 years old.  Very few men have the good fortune of living to celebrate their golden wedding with the wife of their youth.  Mr. and Mrs. Yantis have the best wishes of their many friends in this community for their continued prosperity and longer life.

James H. Yantis was from Lancaster, Garrard County, Margaret Stewart was from Danville, Boyle County.  However, in 1833, Boyle County was still a portion of Mercer County, it was not formed as an individual county until 1842.  That’s why we find their marriage bond and consent in Mercer instead of Boyle.

Know all men by these presents that we, James H. Yantis and Robert B. Miller, are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the penal sum of fifty pounds current money to the payment of which well and truly to be made.  We bind ourselves, our heirs and jointly and severally, firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals and dated this 22nd day of April in the year 1833.

The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is a license about to issue for a marriage intended to be solemnized between James H. Yantis and Margaret Ann Stewart.

Now if there be no lawful cause to obstruct said marriage then the above obligation to void, else to remain in full force and virtue.

James Y. Yantis, Robert B. Miller

Witness, Phil T. Allin, D.C.

Danville, April 22, 1833

Mr. Thomas Allin, C.M.C.C.

Sir, will you be so good as let James H. Yantis have license to enter in to the life of matrimony between himself and my daughter, Margaret Ann Stewart, and you will oblige.

William Stewart

Robert B. Miller, Joseph Carter