Martha Della McFarland was 17 and feeling sassy when she spotted a handsome, dark-haired stranger and his friend strolling through the crowd at the Lawrence County Fair in 1903. On the spur of the moment she decided to get his attention — the carnival setting limited her options so, improvising, she blew a handful of flour in his face. It worked: Della and her chosen beau, Woodson H. "William" Anderson, were married nearly three years later, 7 June 1906, at her family's home on South Mill Street in New Castle, Pa.
"The house was very prettily decorated for the occasion with festoons and garlands and a profusion of flowers," the New Castle Herald reported the following day. "Promptly at 7:30 o'clock the young couple entered the parlor to the strains of a wedding march played by Miss Mabel Pearson.The bride looked charming in a costume of cream-colored silk trimmed in lace and silk embroidery. They were attended by Mr. V.J. Matthews and Miss Sarah McFarland, the latter attired in a becoming gown of white..."
Della and Woodson were together more than 50 years before his death. Her grandkids recall their devotion to each other and to their children, Virginia (b. 1927) and Ruth (Collins), Della's niece, who came to live with them before the 1910 census and whom they considered a daughter.
One of Della's treasured possessions was an autograph book dated circa 1895, featuring heartfelt, handwritten messages penned by friends and family, among them Lewis P. McFarland, who chose to remind his daughter there was more to life than money: "...Some friends would wish you joy and wealth and others freed from care. But my wish is better far, Long life and constant health..."
Annie urged her daughter to always be kind to others. "...In friendship have we met, In friendship have we been, In friendship may we part, In friendship meet again..."
The most poignant, though, was written by Della herself more than 70 years before her death:
"...And when beneath the Church's shade
My lifeless body hath been laid.
Let no one think of me with pain,
To live in Christ, to die is gain..."
(The story of Della's courtship, as told to her daughter, Virginia)
"The house was very prettily decorated for the occasion with festoons and garlands and a profusion of flowers," the New Castle Herald reported the following day. "Promptly at 7:30 o'clock the young couple entered the parlor to the strains of a wedding march played by Miss Mabel Pearson.The bride looked charming in a costume of cream-colored silk trimmed in lace and silk embroidery. They were attended by Mr. V.J. Matthews and Miss Sarah McFarland, the latter attired in a becoming gown of white..."
Della and Woodson were together more than 50 years before his death. Her grandkids recall their devotion to each other and to their children, Virginia (b. 1927) and Ruth (Collins), Della's niece, who came to live with them before the 1910 census and whom they considered a daughter.
One of Della's treasured possessions was an autograph book dated circa 1895, featuring heartfelt, handwritten messages penned by friends and family, among them Lewis P. McFarland, who chose to remind his daughter there was more to life than money: "...Some friends would wish you joy and wealth and others freed from care. But my wish is better far, Long life and constant health..."
Annie urged her daughter to always be kind to others. "...In friendship have we met, In friendship have we been, In friendship may we part, In friendship meet again..."
The most poignant, though, was written by Della herself more than 70 years before her death:
"...And when beneath the Church's shade
My lifeless body hath been laid.
Let no one think of me with pain,
To live in Christ, to die is gain..."
(The story of Della's courtship, as told to her daughter, Virginia)
Martha Della McFarland was 17 and feeling sassy when she spotted a handsome, dark-haired stranger and his friend strolling through the crowd at the Lawrence County Fair in 1903. On the spur of the moment she decided to get his attention — the carnival setting limited her options so, improvising, she blew a handful of flour in his face. It worked: Della and her chosen beau, Woodson H. "William" Anderson, were married nearly three years later, 7 June 1906, at her family's home on South Mill Street in New Castle, Pa.
"The house was very prettily decorated for the occasion with festoons and garlands and a profusion of flowers," the New Castle Herald reported the following day. "Promptly at 7:30 o'clock the young couple entered the parlor to the strains of a wedding march played by Miss Mabel Pearson.The bride looked charming in a costume of cream-colored silk trimmed in lace and silk embroidery. They were attended by Mr. V.J. Matthews and Miss Sarah McFarland, the latter attired in a becoming gown of white..."
Della and Woodson were together more than 50 years before his death. Her grandkids recall their devotion to each other and to their children, Virginia (b. 1927) and Ruth (Collins), Della's niece, who came to live with them before the 1910 census and whom they considered a daughter.
One of Della's treasured possessions was an autograph book dated circa 1895, featuring heartfelt, handwritten messages penned by friends and family, among them Lewis P. McFarland, who chose to remind his daughter there was more to life than money: "...Some friends would wish you joy and wealth and others freed from care. But my wish is better far, Long life and constant health..."
Annie urged her daughter to always be kind to others. "...In friendship have we met, In friendship have we been, In friendship may we part, In friendship meet again..."
The most poignant, though, was written by Della herself more than 70 years before her death:
"...And when beneath the Church's shade
My lifeless body hath been laid.
Let no one think of me with pain,
To live in Christ, to die is gain..."
(The story of Della's courtship, as told to her daughter, Virginia)
"The house was very prettily decorated for the occasion with festoons and garlands and a profusion of flowers," the New Castle Herald reported the following day. "Promptly at 7:30 o'clock the young couple entered the parlor to the strains of a wedding march played by Miss Mabel Pearson.The bride looked charming in a costume of cream-colored silk trimmed in lace and silk embroidery. They were attended by Mr. V.J. Matthews and Miss Sarah McFarland, the latter attired in a becoming gown of white..."
Della and Woodson were together more than 50 years before his death. Her grandkids recall their devotion to each other and to their children, Virginia (b. 1927) and Ruth (Collins), Della's niece, who came to live with them before the 1910 census and whom they considered a daughter.
One of Della's treasured possessions was an autograph book dated circa 1895, featuring heartfelt, handwritten messages penned by friends and family, among them Lewis P. McFarland, who chose to remind his daughter there was more to life than money: "...Some friends would wish you joy and wealth and others freed from care. But my wish is better far, Long life and constant health..."
Annie urged her daughter to always be kind to others. "...In friendship have we met, In friendship have we been, In friendship may we part, In friendship meet again..."
The most poignant, though, was written by Della herself more than 70 years before her death:
"...And when beneath the Church's shade
My lifeless body hath been laid.
Let no one think of me with pain,
To live in Christ, to die is gain..."
(The story of Della's courtship, as told to her daughter, Virginia)
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