Person:Frances Joy (2)

Mike Baumanns to Celebrate 50th Wedding Anniversary on Wednesday, April 7

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Baumann, who live on their farm eight miles south and two miles west of Franklin, will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary April 7.

The Baumanns have spent their 50 years of married life on this farm, raising eight children there, and he is still farming part of it this year, although he admits he does not farm as much as he once did.

When the couple were married on April 7, 1898, the ceremony was held at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Joy, who lived at Reamsville in Smith County, Kansas. They moved to their farm, and lived in a dugout for three years, until a storm tore a hole in it.

They built a three room frame house to replace the dugout, 16 by 26 feet, and today they are still living in the same house although by now it has grown to contain nine large rooms. The house stands only about 20 yards from the site of the dugout. Their farm is about 1000 acres, and Mr. Baumann farmed 160 acres last year himself. He has between 55 and 60 head of cattle on the farm.

Mr. Baumann, 74, came to this country from Mannheim, Germany near the Rhine Valley. After living in Thayer County, Nebraska, near Chester for a year, he and an uncle, George Wehee, came to Franklin in 1892 and he went to work on a farm north of Reamsville.

Mrs. Baumann, 67, who had been born in Smith County, Kansas, was working at the same farm, and that was how the couple became acquainted. They had eight children, four girls and four boys, all of whom are living and plat to attend their parent's celebration. They are Mrs. Fred Norton of Alma, George Baumann of Nevada, Mo., Mrs. Pearl Smith of Kensington, Kans., Mrs. Clara Marran of Franklin, Mrs. Edna Panter of Athol, Kans., Phillip Baumann of Bloomington, Karl Baumann of Lemoyne and Ralph Baumann of Athol.

They also have 26 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren living and one grandchild who is dead.

One hundred fifty invitations have been sent out to a dinner at the Baumann home April 7. Open house will be held at the home from 2 to 5 in the afternoon and during the evening. No written invitations for the open house have been issued, but Mr. and Mrs. Baumann invite all their friends, relatives and neighbors to come and see them.

Mrs. Baumann has one brother who lives on the West Coast who has been invited to the celebration, but none of her husband's relatives will be able to attend as they all live in Germany.