Beeks line: Who are all these people?

While researching for a possible book in the future, I came across this newspaper article.  I am intrigued by it because I don't know all the names featured-yet.  However, they all seem to have some connection to the Aldridge family, however, distant, and therefore they would be part of the Beeks family history, too 

Here is the article,from the Huntington Herald Press of August 28, 1951, written by "Miss Barbara Beeks", Andrews correspondent:

"Meet at Park

A family gathering was held at the Memorial park Sunday in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Aldridge and Frances and Madeline Dunn, and Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Aldridge of Midland, Mich.  Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Herman Harrell and son of Lagro, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Osborn and family, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Aldridge and son Bill, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Beeks and family, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Harrell and son of Lagro, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Beeks of Wabash, Mrs. Bonnie Clements, Mrs. Sherll Clements, Sr.;, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Urschel of Bippus, Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland Harshbarger and family, Mrs. Lucile Gressley and family of Walkerton, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Keefer and son, Mr. and Mrs. Floren Kreider and family of South Whitley, Mr. and Mrs. George Inyeart and daughter of Liberty Mills, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Aldridge and family, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Harrell and son, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Aldridge and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Aldridge and Madeline Dunn."

Of course some of these people can be readily identified.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Beeks and family would have included Donald, Barbara and Vicky.  Others of their children and grandchildren in this list would be Anna Mae (Beeks) Osborn and children David, Diana and probably Ron (don't have his birth date) Norman Beeks, Bonnie (Beeks) Clements, Mary (Beeks) Harshbarger and children John and Roger. 

Frank Aldridge and Sam Aldridge were sons of Harvey and Margaret Catherine Dunham Aldridge, so they would be siblings of Cleo Aldridge Beeks.  I will have to do some more digging to figure out the rest of these connections, and to get them properly documented, but I'm pretty sure they all have a connection to one or another of the Aldridges.  If someone could help me out here, I'll be glad to post updates to this post so everyone can be properly identified.  Meanwhile, this will be a fun spare time project for me1

Beeks line: Anna Mae Beeks gets married

I'm breaking a rule here, because normally I don't write about people who are living.  This is such a wonderful article, however, with names that are near and dear to us, that I am choosing to share it now.  I hope it brings smiles to the faces of some, and I certainly hope that the wonderful lady in the title doesn't mind.

This article is from the August 1,1946 issue of the Huntington Herald-Press, page 6.

"Miss Anna Mae Beeks and Clyde L. Osborne United in Marriage"

"Miss Anna Mae Beeks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Beeks, Andrews, and Clyde L. Osborn, son of Fred Osborn, Attica, exchanged vows of the double-ring ceremony solemnized at the First Christian Church in Andrews at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon.  Greenery, white gladioli and phlox banked the altar, at which the Rev. R. M. McBride officiated at the ceremony.

Miss Mary Margaret Beeks attended her sister as maid of honor and Cleve Harshbarger acted as best man.  Ushers were Norman Beeks, the bride's brother, and David Boone.

Preceding the ceremony Mrs. George Kellam at the piano presented a program of bridal selections including "Oh Promise Me" (deHaven), "At Dawning".(Cadman), "Intermezzo" (Mascagini), "Indian Love Call" (Frimi), "I Love You Truly" (Bond), and "To a Wild Rose" (MacDowell), which was played softly during the ceremony. The traditional wedding marches were played.

Mr. Beeks gave in marriage his daughter who for the wedding was attired in a street length frock of pink taffeta fashioned with sweetheart neckline, short puffed sleeves and gathered bodice which joined a full skirt.  She wore a shoulder corsage of white glamellias and a single strand of pearls which was the bridegroom's gift.  A half hat of white straw trimmed by tiny pink rosebuds and a pink veil, and other accessories in white completed her ensemble.

The maid of honor work a silk dress of aqua blue styled with a v-neckline and cap sleeves.  Her accessories were in white and pink gladioli formed her corsage.  The single strand of pearls she wore was her sister's gift.

The bride's mother chose to wear a flowered jersey dress accented by white accessories and a corsage of tiny orchid pompom asters.

Immediately following the ceremony sixty guests assembled in the church basement for the reception.  A three-tiered wedding cake topped by a miniature bridal couple centered the table laid in white linen.  Assisting with the serving of the guests were the Misses Norma Jean Beeks, sister of the bride, Marilyn Stech and Donna Jean McBride.

A graduate of the Andrews high school with the class of 1944, the new Mrs. Osborn is now employed at the J.C. Penney company in Huntington.  Her husband was recently discharged from the navy after serving three years, and is an employee of the Caswell-Runyan company.  Following a short wedding trip the couple will reside in a newly furnished apartment in Andrews."

I've been reading newspapers of the time period for several months now, and can confidently state that people got married at all hours of the day and night, and all seven days of the week, so a Sunday afternoon wedding wasn't unusual.  It also wasn't unusual to get married in a street length gown (or even a suit) in a color other than white.  Customs have changed but we can feel the joy of that day, and we can honor the long and happy marriage of Clyde and Anna Mae.

I'd love to know, if someone can tell me, how long Clyde had known Cleve Harshbarger, and how they met. It was a surprise to us to find that Cleve and Mary Margaret had been in a wedding together, about 11 months before their own marriage.  If anyone knows more about this wedding, or has memories of this day, I'd love to hear them! 

Update July 28,2017:  I've heard from Anna Mae' and Clyde's son Gary, who assures me that his father Clyde's middle initial was "S" for Seward.  I copied the article correctly but apparently there was a typo in the article.