Sixty Years of Wedded Life 1932

On Saturday, Feb., 13, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Franklin Daughenbaugh, well known residents of Rock Run township, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary at their farm home only a few miles from the farm on which they spent their honeymoon following their marriage 60 years ago.

While they have made no extensive plans for the event it is expected many of their friends will gather at their home to extend felicitations on the occassion. Mr. and Mrs. Daughenbaugh, who have spent practically their entire lifetime in the immediate vicinity of the farm on which they now reside, live quietly in an attractive dwelling located about three miles north of Ridott.

Mr. Daughenbaugh was born in Lancaster township on April 6, 1848, one of a family of ten children, six boys and four girls, and the son of Samuel and Susan Daughenbaugh. Mr. Daughenbaugh never had the opportunity of attending school when he was young, and he says regretfully, that he received but little education.

Mr. Daughenbaugh's birthplace was a little log cabin, 16 by 24 feet in dimensions, in which the family resided for many years. This log cabin, at one time a landmark in Lancaster township, was torn down about 20 years ago.

At the ago of 12 years the young lad was forced to "go to work" on his father's farm, however, during his early childhood it was his fortune to attend the Lincoln-Douglas debate in Freeport, where the fate of the nation was decided. Little did Mr. Daughenbaugh, realize at the time, the significance of that debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephan A. Douglas for he was but 10 years old.

In telling of his trip to Freeport to attend that debate Mr. Daughenbaugh stated that he was barefoot and playing in the yard at his father's home when James Deery, father of Harry M. Deery of Freeport, drove a team of horses and wagon in front of the home and called to him, "Come-on Ben, get in the wagon and we will drive to the city and hear Abe Lincoln."

At first declining to accept the invitation to hear one who was later to become the president of the United States for fear his father would object, the young lad finally consented to make the trip, and the two rode in a wagon to Freeport. But Mr. Daughenbaugh was to young, he declares, to remember anything of importance in connection with the day's activities. He and other youngsters, he states, "just played around while the debate was being held." He does recall, however, that many youngsters climbed up into trees to get a glimpse of the statesmen as they were on the platform engaged in debate.

Time rolled on and Mr. Daughenbaugh remained on the farm with his father, always working hard and devoting his attention and efforts to activities on the farm. Weeks passed, months passed and the years rolled by and finally he met the young lady who later became his bride. Miss Mary Jane Monsell, who was born on Jan 12, 1852 at Greenwood Furnace, Huntington county, Pennsylvania, who came to Illinois with her parents when she was seven years old.

Mrs. Daughenbaugh recalls that there was a heavy frost on the ground in Freeport on June 2, 1859, the day they arrived from the east. Their courtship which took place during the springtime in life culminated in their wedding in Freeport on Feb. 13, 1872.

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Daughenbaugh continued to reside on the Daughenbaugh farm in Lancaster township. There they remained until 1886 when they moved on the farm on which they now reside. They have a comfortable little farm dwelling in which they take great pride in maintaining. The interior is as "neat as a pin" for Mrs. Daughenbaugh, although she is 80 years of age, is most particular in her care of the home.

Mr. Daughenbaugh is also very exacting in his care of the buildings on his 40 acre farm, which represents the efforts of the couples lifetime. Mr. Daughenbaugh recalls many incidents which occurred during his youthful days. The land in the vicinity of the farm was chiefly timberland during the early days and he was forced to cut down much of the timberland on the 40 acre tract which he purchased. He recalls that he never had a crop failure although remembers when farm commodity prices were even lower than they are at present.

He recalls having sold hogs for $3.50 a hundred pounds and he realized 27 cents a hundred pounds for milk after the hauling was deducted "but we always managed to get along" he adds.

The family has never had the privilege of owning an automobile. Mr. Daughenbaugh has a horse now about 30 years old, which for many years has been his only means of transportation. Every Saturday he drives the horse to Ridott where he obtains provisions which last the couple a week; and occassionally a friend will take him to Freeport in a motor car. Mr. Daughenbaugh enjoys such rides.

The couple were the parents of six children, two of whom are living, Charles Henderson Daughenbaugh and James Franklin Daughenbaugh, both of Pecatonica.