longevity
noun lon·gev·i·ty \ län-ˈje-və-tē , lȯn- \
: long continuance : permanence, durability
“Longevity.” Merriam-Webster.com, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/longevity. Accessed 3 Aug. 2018.
'Longevity' is the word for week 3! A marriage that lasts fifty years certainly meets the definition of longevity. As I was looking for couples in my database, I came across several that celebrated a golden anniversary, and even one or two that lasted 60+ years! Today I am sharing a bit about one of those couples.
I came across this invitation to the fiftieth anniversary of Verne and Velda (Anthony) Hixon when looking through a box of artifacts that had belonged to Verne's sister, Lucile. I knew that is something that I wanted to share.
This motivated me to do a little more research. I hoped to find a wedding announcement for this couple in a newspaper from Michigan City, Indiana, where Verne lived his entire life. Unfortunately I could find none online. If I really decide I need it I can either request a search from the local library for a fee, or add it to my list of things to explore if and when I get to Michigan City again.
When I couldn’t find quick access to an online newspaper, I took a closer look at what I already knew, and lo and behold, I’d missed a very important detail — Verne’s obituary states that he and Velda were married in South Haven, MICHIGAN!! Though I’d recorded this in my database, it had slipped past me somehow, because I’d assumed that they’d always lived in Michigan City!
That started me on a search for South Haven newspapers, and I was fortunate to find that these newspapers are available online at NewspaperArchive.com, which I can access from home with my library card! I not only found references to the marriage very quickly — an article about a pre-nuptial shower for Velda, and an article about the newly-weds setting up house in Detroit — but I found enough to convince me that the South Haven newspapers will be a treasure trove of information when I am ready to continue my research on the Hixon family! I'd say that's a win!
Below is a photo of Verne and Velda celebrating the longevity of their marriage and a copy of the invitation to the Golden Anniversary celebration for Verne and Velda.
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| Verne and Velda (Anthony) Hixon 50th anniversary celebration Michigan City, IN - 6 Oct 1985 photo from the collection of Lucile Hixon Striebel digitized by KM Kolk |
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| Invitation to 50th Anniversary celebration for Verne and Velda Hixon from the collection of Lucile Hixon Striebel digitized by KM Kolk 2015 |
To learn more about my 52 Ancestors in 2018 project, read my introductory blog post.
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