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Show 91st Birthday Celebrated By J. WWiddoes The 91st birthday of John W. Wid-does Wid-does was the occasion for a happy celebration at his home Monday. "Open house" was held during the afternoon and between 2 p.m. and late evening sixty one friends called and tendered Mr. Widdoes their hearty congratulations and wishes for many more such happy occasions. occa-sions. Mr. Widdoes received several bouquets of flowers, a number of cards and messages bearing birthday felicitations. During the afternoon a poem composed by Mrs. Laura Timpson was read. Refreshments were served all who called. Mr. Widdoes was bom February 4th, 1844, in Belmont County, Ohio, and during his life time has lived in various parts of the country coming here from Califoornia with his wife about twelve years ago. They were so pleased with the climate, and the friends they made here, that they purchased a home and made this their permanent abode. Mrs. Widdoes Wid-does passed away two years ago. He has three daughters living, Mrs. Delia F. Evans of Missouri County, Iowa; Mrs. Olive Shoff of Morehead, Iowa, and Miss Myrtle Widdoes of North Hollywood, California. With a mind unusually alert and retentive of many interesting events of his life, Mr. Widdoes enjoys good health. He is a veteran of the Civil War, and is one of the eleven surviving sur-viving members of the war affiliated with the G. A. R. in the state. One of his prized possessions is a document docu-ment bearing the inscription "The President's Thanks and Certificate of Honorable Service" issued when Abraham Lincoln was the president, and Edwin M. Stanton, the Secretary Secre-tary of War. The certificate was issued in 1864. Mr. Widdoes was a member of Company "K", 145th Regiment of the Illnois Volunteers and participated in the General Sherman's campaign against Generals Gene-rals John and Hood. The volunteers were called to special 100 days service serv-ice and Mr. Widdoes was one of those who served an extra twenty days, receiving no pay for the "over time" until fifty seven years later when he received a check from the United States Treasury Department for $10.67 for back pay, covering the extra twenty days service. |
