Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, October 18, 1917

Anniversary

Pioneers? Observe Golden Wedding

Workman?s Receive Friends At Big Affair

Hundreds of Floral Tributes as Well as Many Messages of Congratulation are Sent Couple Who Celebrate Their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary.

Amid a profusion of yellow and white chrysanthemums, to the strains of Lohengrin?s Wedding March, flittering through the decorations from a concealed orchestra, Mr. and Mrs. W. II Workman lived over the day, fifty years ago when they became man and wife, at their home, No. 357 South Boyle avenue, yesterday afternoon, the occasion being a reception given in their honor. From early in the afternoon until into, hundreds of friends congratulated the couple on their half-century of married life.

The feature of the afternoon reception was the presentation by the Los Angeles County Pioneers? Society of a large leather reclining chair to ?Uncle Billy,? as he is affectionately known. The ceremony was under the direction of Edward Nittinger and the presentation speech was made by Will D. Gould, a pioneer and long-time friend of the couple.

Mrs. Workman was dressed in a white satin wedding gown and carried a bouquet of bride?s roses. She and ?Uncle Billy? received their guests in the room in which on October 17, 1867, they were wed.

?Uncle Billy? Workman is truly one of the pioneers of Los Angeles, coming here on October 17, 1854, when the town was little more than a pueblo. It is a curious coincidence that Mr. Workman should have married on the same day of the month that he arrived in Los Angeles.

From 1886 until 1889 Mr. Workman served this city as its Mayor and will long be remembered by residents of that period for his sterling administration of the city?s affairs. He caused the building of two cae lines to Boyle Heights and secured the construction of the City Hall.

Mr. Workman met his wife at a party given by the proprietors of the Bella Union Hotel, he states. Mrs. Workman was Miss Boyle, then, a daughter of Andrew A. Boyle, who came to this city in 1858 and had large property interest where Boyle Heights stands now.

In the receiving line at yesterday?s reception were the members of the family, Mr. and Mrs. Boyle Workman, Mr. W. H. Workman, Jr., Eleanor and Audrey Workman, Tom Workman, Miss Mary Workman, Miss Elizabeth Workman, Mrs. Charles Masson and Miss Charlotte Workman, who assisted the pioneer couple in entertaining their friends.

A delegation from the Chamber of Commerce in charge of Senator Robert N. Bulla, including F. Q. Story, D. F. McGarry, Maj. E. W. Jones and W. D. Wollwine, attended the reception.

Among the other friends who called during the afternoon were: