They are now going downward on the western slope of time but still happy and full of zeal. I pray that they may be permitted to travel many more miles together. John and Rosy were among the first Old Baptists Myrt (my husband) and I met after moving to West Texas. We have known and loved them these many years.
Sister Rosy was born in Erath County, came with her family to Dickens Co. in 1898, settled on the farm where she married fifty years ago and where she is now living. She joined the old Fairview Primitive Baptist Chruch near Paducah and was baptized by cousin Eld, L.J. McCarty. Brother Young was born in Young County and came to Cottle in the year 1889 with his grandparents Holley. His mother passed away to her home in glory when he was a tiny baby, they settled in the Fairview community three miles from Paducah where was reared to manhood. He is a nephew of the late Elder W.G. Morris. He has a never united with the church but is a strong believer and supporter of the Primitive Baptist; is up and about His Master's business as much as most members always standing his part and ready to lend his support, let it be of his earning or his presence; it has been said of him that he is as good a deacon as a church could have.
There were four children born to this happy home, one dying in infancy and Johnny who most of us knew and loved passed away in 1941. Mrs. J.R. Speights the only daughter, we love to call her Mattie, lives at Dill City, Texas. And Newman, the only living son lives at Afton near his parents. Johnny's wife still lives near Afton. There are 12 grand chidren and 6 great grandchildren. There were 70 relatives from over Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma; some 400 friends from Dickens County, Motley and Cottle. Several of them old friends who were at their wedding 50 years ago were at this great meeting.
Both of these good people are descendants of pioneer Primitive Baptists, they lived the first years of their marriage in the Fairview Community and Hollis, Okla. then to Afton where they have lived at the same place 49 years.
I feel I have not done half justice to this fine old couple in trying to tell a little of their life and the happy Golden Wedding day.
I told Brother Young he picked the most inefficient person on the ground to write this. I am just not gifted to writing and can't express what is in my heart. But I have done the best that I could. I hope you are not too disappointed and will try to look over my imperfections.
' A very little person,More than 100 friends and relatives gathered Sunday at the J.F. Young home about four miles south of Afton post office to honor the community pioneers in celebrating their 51st wedding anniversary. Miss Rosy McCarty and John F. Young were married by lamplight in the J.J. McCarty home, July 26, 1904, in what is now the Afton-Patton Springs community at the residence of the bride's parents. Elder Minor Wilson performed the ceremony. The bride was 17 and the groom 22.
Immediately after their marriage the young couple went to Oklahoma where they lived for a year and then they returned to the community where they were married. Mr. Young bought 232 acres of land from his father-in-law and built a dug-out home. They have lived continuously for half a century on the land and the comfortable Young farm home is only a short distance from where they were married. Two of their four children are living. They are N. H. Young who farms his father's land and Mrs. Mattie Speights of Dell City, Texas. The couple has 12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Mr. Young was born in Young county east of Graham, November 29, 1882. He moved with his family to Cottle county in 1890 and they arrived the day the county was being organized. Mrs. Young was born in Earth county and came to the Afton area with her parents when she was 13 years of age. Mr. Young was a cowboy for a period before his marriage. He has served on school boards and rendered other community services during the half-century he has lived in the area. The couple's friends and neighbors brought gifts and their well wishes throughout the day as testimony of the esteem which the community holds for the pioneers. Among the friends visiting the Young home Sunday was Mrs. Rose Stark who lives in the area. She attended the wedding more than 50 years ago."
Submitted by Carol Neville