Golden Wedding Celebration of W. R. and Sabria Clack

From the Rhea County News, Sept. 17, 1915

Sunday, September 12, 1915, was a great day for Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Clack, who
live in Rhea county, about ten miles east of Spring City. Fifty years ago on
that date William Raleigh Clack, a native born Rhea countian, then 26 years of
age, led to the marriage altar Miss Sabria C. Newport, who was his junior by
ten years, and who was also born and reared in Rhea county. This happy young
couple began housekeeping at the old Clack home on White’s Creek, in the
extreme upper end of Rhea county, soon after their marriage, and there they
have lived and raised a family of six children, four girls and two boys.

All of the children and their families were present at this golden wedding
celebration except two: Hugh Baxter Clack, who married Miss Bertha East, and
who are now citizens of the state of Montana, and Sarah Clementine Clack, who
married J.H. Manis, and who also lives in Montana. The following is a complete
list of the 65 guest at this gathering:

Children: Mr. and Mrs. S.J. Galloway, Mr. and Mrs. E.W. Galloway, Mr. and
Mrs. R.M. Clack, Mr. and Mrs. S.M. Sharp.

Grandchildren: Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Galloway, Mrs. Jessie Armstrong, Bessie
Clack, Nellie Clack, Lela Clack, Willie Clack, Morgan Clack, Pauline Galloway,
Maggie Ruth Galloway, Sabria Galloway, Edward Galloway.

Other near relatives: Dr. and Mrs. J. Morgan Clack, Dr. Walter Clack, J.
Morgan Clack, Jr., Mollie Clack, Mr. and Mrs. Asa Stinecipher, A.J.
Stinecipher, Martin Stinecipher, Jesse Stinecipher, Mary Stinecipher, Florence
Stinecipher, Mr. and Mrs. D.J. Stinecipher, Jack East, Lena East, Mr. and Mrs.
S.S. Eaves, Idella Eaves, Flossie Eaves, Sam Eaves, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Cotton, Annie French, Mary Treadway, Eliza Etter, Mrs. Hattie Cate, Mr. and
Mrs. W.C. Profitt, Luther Majors, Mollie Majors, W.D. Smith, Alice Smith, Mrs.
Annie Chattin, Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Rogers, Laura Garrison, George Stinecipher.

Those not relatives: Judge M.S. Holloway, Dr. W.P. McDonald.

No average country house could accommodate such a large crowd as this so a
number of tables were placed on the beautiful lawn in front of the house and
from these the dinner was served in picnic style; and when the dinner hour
arrived all the guests, with Mr. and Mrs. Clack, assembled around the tables
and the roll was called. After this Mr. Clack made a short talk bidding the
guests welcome and thanking them for their attendance. Then the feasting began
and if any one present did not get a square meal it was his own fault. There
was enough fried chicken there to have stampeded a Methodist Conference, and
everything else was in proportion.

Mr. Clack is a Mason, and it is reasonable to suppose that the secrets of that
great order are the only things that his good wife has not shared with him.
They are both active members of the Baptist church, and no better people ever
lived in any community than they. They have walked hand in hand for fifty
years, sharing their joys, and the Lord has made their sorrows few. It is a
great comfort to each of them to know that during all those years of their
wedded life not a single difference has come up. It seems that when they were
wed, their lives, like mingled dew drops on the rose, were blended into one,
and they have become one as husband and wife.

Mr. Clack was a true and loyal soldier for the cause of the Southland in the
war of the sixties and wears a “Cross of Honor” conferred on him by
the United Daughters of the Confederacy in recognition of his valuable services
for the “Lost Cause”.

After dinner was over the time was spent in social conversation and in
looking at the many valuable presents given Mr. and Mrs. Clack on this
occasion. While the gifts were mostly of gold, in keeping with the custom, yet
there were some of great beauty and value that were not gold.

Late in the afternoon the guests departed, each wishing this happy old-young
couple continued joy and prosperity, and craving an invitation to their
“Diamond Wedding” in due time. May they live to celebrate it; and may
their joys of fifty years continue on and on justas long as the Great Master
allows them to remain on earth.

W.P. McDonald