The Eller Chronicles

Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Emrick are today celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. Due to a fall in her home last June in which Mrs. Emrick suffered a fractured hip, they are observing the occasion at home in a quiet way. Mrs. Emrick is the former Luzerba T. Farmer, whose grandfather, George H. Eller was one of the first settlers in Hamilton county. Indiana. Her mother, the oldest daughter of several children, helped her father fight Indiana where they built their log cabin home on White river. As the years passed the Eller reunion was held in the early fall each year and as It continued to grow In attendance, ,Mr. Eller developed a park on the bank of the river known an Ben Hur Park. It was in this park, at, the annual Eller reunion, that the wedding of Miss Farmer and Mr. Emrick took place on September 22, 1897.

Native Of Indiana
Mr. Emrick was born In Columha City, Ind., but spent his early life in Kansas. Upon his return to Kansas from Oklahoma, he travelled east to Indianapolis, where he was employed until he accepted a position in Noblesville, Ind., where he met his future wife. He returned to Indianapolis and after a three years courtship, during watch time Miss Farmer finished her education, Mr. Emrick returned to Noblesville to claim his bride. While living In Indianapolis before his marriage, Mr. Emrick gave much time to the degree work of the Knights of Pythias lodge and the uniform rank of the same lodge, thus it was fitting that Col. C. Conley and staff, Major C. Webb and staff and Capt. W. C. Ward with his uniform rank, attended the wedding in full dress uniform.

After their marriage., Mr. and Mrs. Emrick lived for a time in Indianapolis, later moving to Peru, Ind., where Mr. Emricik was in business with his fatlaer. In April 1906, he entered YMCA work and continued in this field until his first retiremnt from the secretary-ship in 1932 to enter business, but returned to the work to render service in 1934.

He again retired from YMCA work to accept a business position with the Grafton Feed and Storage company of Grafton, W. Va. A year later he was made general manager of the company and 'the following year he was made vice president and general manager.

Came Here In 1941
Mr. and Mrs. Emrick moved Elkins in 1941. And became interested in the local YMCA and became office secretary. He again retired from the work after five years of service on September 1 1946. He and Mrs. Emrick moved to Florida to make their future home. Following the death of General Secretary J. 0. Hunnicut, the board of directors of the local association called Mr. Emrick to become general secretary. In making the decision, Mr. and Mrs. Emrick, returned to Elkins, March 15, of this year to make Elkins their home.

Interested In Youth
Both have been active in the YMCA and church, and have been vitally interested In Youth and younger men and women during their 50 Years of married life.

Mr. Emrick was associated with the National War Work Council during the World War 1. After his return from France in 1918, he was located In Hoboken, New Jersey, as executive secretary of the Transportation department for the National War Work Council with operations at all ports on the Atlantic between Hoboken and Charleston, South Carolina, until the close of the war.

They have one daughter deceased, one daughter, Mrs. L. K. Conaway of Clarksburg, one son Robert Paul of Franklin, Pa. nine grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

Approach Under Swords
The bride and groom approached the mound on which they were married through a lane of drawn swords. The ceremony was preformed under crossed swords, after which an old fashioned dinner was served near the bank of the river on a table :that reacted a length so long that diners were not, recognizable from one end of the table to the other."