Marrying Centenarians

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 19, 9 November 1907, Page 49

Marrying Centenarians

3 he London “Daily Telegraph” recently announced that on August 26, upon the exact spot where, 80 years ago. they plighted their troth. Mr John B. Bund ren. of Tate Springs. Mass., U.S.A., would on her hundredth birthday marry Miss Rose McGuire, of Preston, Lancashire All the 200 invited wedding guests were to be upwards of 90 y ears of age. Seventeen were to cross the Atlantic from England. Bundren is 102 years of age, well pre served, over 6ft high, broad-shouldered, and in almost perfect health. With long, snow-white hair falling over his should ers and beard, he resembles a patriarch. Lut is as active as an average man of 60. The McGuire family emigrated to America in 1820. and Bumlnm. wh-n an impulsive, eager youth, fell in love with the daughter. Rose McGuire. Thf iainily frowned upon the engagement, refusing to consider the boy’s suit, although both asserted they would never marry anyon.else. The girl was sent l»ack to England. Bundren amassed a fortune in the tali fornian go hl rush. Returning to I cnnessee, he purchased the estate containing the am ient trysting plac<‘, an 1 re cently hit upon the idea of giving a reunion to old friends in Englan I. By* chance he thought of the address of his former sweetheart, and, writing to b< r. found that she was still single and waiting for him. Bundren asked her to marry him, and she consented.