Mr. and Mrs. W.C. McClurg, pioneer residents of the community who have lived in and near Jefferson all their lives, celebrated their fifty-eighth wedding anniversary at their home in Jefferson Sunday, Oct. 28.

A family gathering of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren came as a suprise to Mr. and Mrs. McClurg. They went to church Sunday morning, knowing nothing of plans for a reunion. When they returned they found a group of thirty-eight relatives assembled and the table set for a family dinner.

This was the first family reunion held since 1920, when Mr. and Mrs. McClurg observed their golden wedding anniversary. Of their six living children, twenty-four grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, all were present except their oldest son, John McClurg of Spencer, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren, who were unable to be present. Two of their children are dead.

Mr. McClurg is 79 years old, and his wife is 72 years old. They lived on a farm five miles northwest of Jefferson until ten years ago when they moved to town. Mrs. McClurg was born within half a mile of the farm where she and her husband lived for so many years. He was born in Davis county, moving to Greene county in 1864. They were married by a justice of the peace in Jackson township Oct. 29, 1870.

The following relatives were present at the reunion Sunday: Mr. and Mrs. I.F. McClurg of Princeton, MO; Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Pease and son Douglas of Trenton, MO; C.C. McClurg of Marshalltown; Mr. and Mrs. Roy Black and son of Fort Dodge; Mr. and Mrs. John F. McClurg of Des Moines; Edna Hartwigsen of Auburn; Mr. and Mrs. O. H. McClurg and family of Scranton; Mrs. Elmer Gibson and children of Scranton; Mrs. Mary Wright of Scranton; Mrs. John H. Wright of Jefferson; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Lewis and son of Jefferson; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Hartwigsen and family of Jefferson; Elda Hartwigsen of Jefferson; Mr. and Mrs. Byron Hayes of Jefferson.

Source 2: From an unlabeled newspaper clipping:

Observe Great Occasion at Their Home in the South Part of Jefferson Today.

Congratulations of a special sort are due to Mr. and Mrs. W.C. McClurg, who are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary today.

They will have an "open house" today between the hours of one and five o'clock this afternoon, and all their friends are invited to call.

Mr. and Mrs. McClurg were wedded October 29, 1870, at the home of her father, Erwin [Ervin] Wright, in Jackson township. Mrs. McClurg's maiden name was Eliza [Louisa] Jane, and the wedding was performed by Frank Stokes, justice of the peace. They went to housekeeping upon what was known as the David Wright farm, but a few years later purchased and moved to the farm four miles northwest of Jefferson, which they still own. They resided there until about twelve years ago, when they came to Jefferson for a home.

Of the original company attending the wedding only two survive besides the principals. These are: Mrs. Sarah Empie of Des Moines, and Will Gibson, of Scranton.

On the wedding day the bride, 15 years of age, was sweet and winsome in her homespun dress. William was 21, and he was a mighty fine young man. They are the parents of eight children, six of whom are living, as follows: Ira of Trenton, MO; John of Okoboji; Clem of Emmetsburg; Mrs. Lewis of Grand Junction; Ora of Scranton; and Mrs. Elsie Hartwigsen, who now resides upon the home farm in Bristol. The honored couple also have 26 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Today all of the relatives will be among those who come to pay their dearest respects and love to this honored couple.

It is interesting to not[e] a little history in this connection. Mrs. McClurg's father, Erwin [Ervin] Wright, came to Greene county in 1857. With him came three of his brothers, and also they had four cousins, also of Wright name, who settled in the region west of Jefferson. The McClurg family came shortly after the Civil war and located in the Wright community. So, to the Wrights and the McClurgs great honor is due for the early strivings they made in the pioneering of this county, and their part in bringing Iowa to a fine modern commonwealth.

Source 3: From "Special Dispatch to the World-Herald" newspaper, not dated:

Jefferson, IA., Oct. 29. - Sixty years ago today, William C. McClurg of Davis county, Iowa., and Miss Louisa Jane Wright of Jefferson, IA., were united in marriage by Frank Stokes, a justice of the peace of Greene county. The bride was then a timid girl of 14 years, while the groom was a few months more than 21.

The following spring the couple took up farming on a Greene county farm and in 1880 they purchased their first farm home of 80 acres, and eight years later added another 80-acre tract thereto, and there they lived and reared their large family until 1918, when they moved to Jefferson to enjoy the fruits of their labors and spend the declining years of their lives.

Of their eight children six are still living and are: John E., McClurg, Arnolds Park, IA.; Ira F. McClung [McClurg], Trenton, Mo.; Mrs. Thenia Lewis, Grand Junction, IA.; C.C. McClurg, Emmetsburg, IA.; Mrs. Elsie Hartwigsen, Jefferson, IA., and Ora H. McClurg, Scranton, IA. They have 26 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren who add greatly to their happiness.

There are but two parties now living who were present at the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McClurg, and they are William Gibson of Scranton, IA., and Sarah Wright Empie of Des, Moines, IA.