Mary Joanna Robertson Dinwiddie
(Mrs. Oscar Dinwiddie)
The following undated, unidentified newspaper article was found in a copy of Helen Craft's Scrapbook at the Lowell Public Library:
Surprised Dinwiddies
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Dinwiddie reminded of the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of their Wedding. -- Hon. Jerome Dinwiddie also Reminded of his Fifty-first Birthday
Last Wednesday evening February 1st, Oscar Dinwiddie was quietly sitting by his fireside with his family, when suddenly the door was opened from without and a company numbering upward of seventy of his neighbors coolly walked in and took possession of the premises. To say that he and his good wife were surprised is putting it mildly. Upon inquiry as to what it all meant, they were reminded that the date was the twenty-fifth anniversary of their wedding and the neighbors thought it a good time to have a social gathering. After an hour or so spent pleasantly visiting, eight of the young ladies of the party took possession of the kitchen and dining room, warning Mrs. Dinwiddie to keep strictly in the other part of the house. From baskets and parcels that had appeared with the invaders were produced such a variety of eatables as only farmers’ wives know how to prepare; an abundance of oysters were also "discovered" and a great feast was soon spread.
The "raid" was so hastily arranged for that no time was had for obtaining any suitable present but after the guests had departed a "silver" box was discovered in which those present had each dropped a silver piece with the request that the total, which amounted to $11, be expended in procuring a souvenir of the occasion. Thos present are as follows: Joseph Robertson and family, L.C. Dunn and wife; Wm. Dunn and wife; John Pearce and family; Mrs. Thos. Ross; Mrs. and Miss Servis; Thomas Pearce and family; Henry Stahl and family; Ed Bryant and family; Joe P. Dinwiddie and family; Carl Brownell and family, S.C. Kenney and family; J.W. Hoel and family; Frank Holmes and family; C.C. Shoup and family; Lester Wallace and family; F.E. Brownell and family; Jerome Dinwiddie and daughters Grace and Daisy; Fred Toppen and wife; Wm. Buchanan and wife; Dr. J.A. Dinwiddie and wife.