William Northcross, Marshall Northcross, 7 North 52 West








July 1940 Santa Ana A hundred friends gathered yesterday in First Christian church parlors to honor one of the church members who soon will be 100 years of age, Mrs. Lenora Northcross. Mrs. Myron Cole, one of the speakers of the afternoon expressed the thought of those present when she said that the occasion had been planned not so much honoring Mrs. Northcross as being honored by having the opportunity to share in the celebration. Mrs. Northcross will be 100 years old July 19. She has been a member of the church and of the Women's Missionary society for many years past, and was happy in the company of her friends. A daughter of the Old South, Mrs. Northcross was born in Trenton, Tennessee, and vividly recalls the happy days of her youth preceding the Civil war, which, she says, seem the more distant because they are so strangely out of key with the present and now seem a world that has vanished. In a brief talk, Mrs. A. R. Smith, a close friend, expressed a tribute of appreciation of Mrs. Northcross, long-time friend in the church, telling of her coming to California nearly 50 years ago: from a prosperous home in the South, with its luxury and romance, following the sunset trail with her husband and little family, across the cacti-covered desert and mountain wilderness, finally to make her home in Orange. Mrs. Smith said, 'When Mrs. Northcross came to California 50 years ago it was a comparatively barren spot, and there were few conveniences, but she made a home here and cared for her family, helped to sustain the church, and was a neighbor in all that the word implies in the new country. She had sorrows but her trust was in God. With refreshing optimism she spread good cheer and helpfulness among her friends and the community at large.' Also, when called upon, many old-time friends offered impromptu congratulatory talks and reminiscences. Mrs. Bonebrake, as president of the Loyal Women's class, presented Mrs. Nbrthcross with a lounging robe and slippers, a gift from the women of the church. Many other gifts, cards, and a congratulatory telegram were also received. Mrs. Northcross made the first cut in a beautiful large white birthday cake, decorated with yellow roses and with 'Happy Birthday, 1840-1940.' This was served the guests with punch. Pictures were taken of the group. Terry Stephenson, authority on Orange county history brought a number of old time pictures which were viewed with interest. The party was sponsored by the Missionary society and Loyal Women of the church. They had planned to use only gold-colored flowers in the decorations, but so many beautiful floral pieces were brought in by friends during the afternoon the color scheme became varied. Of the out-of-town guests present, many had been attendants of the Christian church. These included Mrs. Sula Northcross, Mrs. Martha Northcross Young and Mrs. Sula Northcross-Pierce, of Santa Monica; Mrs. Elenor Hammock-Northcross, Mrs. Martha Northcross-Joplin and Mr. and Mrs. Terry Stephenson, of Santa Ana; Mrs. Ruth Northcross-Harper of Luguna Beach. Of Mrs. Northcross' five living children one daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Hammaek, has been a missionary in Teguci-Galpa, Honduras, for the past 20 years." |
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