[Saturday, October] 12th — Pa, Mary & I went to Chilli. Got our license & Oct 13th, 1901, Mary & I were married by Bro. Wood at Utica Baptist Church just after service, just before benediction had fallen. Then we drove over to Mary’s (Drove Old Buck) ate dinner there. Came back home. At supper at 5 P.M. Frank, Jen, Maude, Sophia & Randall were here. Then we went to Church after supper.
A young friend in the 1990’s said that it was common in his church for there to be a surprise wedding after the usual service, and all of the church-goers were invited to stay if they wanted to see the wedding. While it seems admirably practical and no-fuss, another reason for this approach is that the people getting married are in a ceremony that is open to their fellow church members, and all are welcome to not just attend, but witness the joining of two fellow church members into a spiritual union. It isn’t about the two people having their invitation-only dream wedding. It’s about the larger spiritual community.
It looks like the light blue silk that daughter Jessie mentions is just for the yoke, not the whole dress. Not all wedding dresses were white back then, and a nice, new dress would be all the better if one could wear it more than once. That Gibson Girl updo was done by a real beautician, and Mary was pretty proud of that.
Here is the section of Jessie’s writing that covers her parents’ courtship and wedding:
… Farther on was another house (not big house). The Fraziers rented this from my Grand-dad. The Fraziers were [Mom’s] Parents. They paid rent from crops they raised.
Not far from house was a creek & Mom went there fishing. …One day when she was fishing, my Father… came up, so they got acquainted. He asked her if she wanted to go to Utica Baptist Church on Sun. He was the Superintendent – so she did.
If the weather was o.k. they would go Wed. to bible study – held in different homes. His folks had a pony horse named Babe & a nice buggy with a top. (No cars until 1900’s). If it was rainy or cold there were sides to snap onto buggy. They had talked of marriage.
Later, Mom worked in Chillicothe for a lady living near the business college & this lady did sewing. Mom saved her money & bought some sky-blue silk & lace for a front yoke & collar that went clear up on neck with staves to hold it up. Then she had medium blue ribbon ruffled around yoke & had her hair done high. She had thick black hair.
When they went to Sunday School they never said anything to anyone about marriage – only to the Minister. (I did know the Ministers name, she told me but I forgot). After Church the Minister asked if anyone wanted to stay for a wedding. That was Oct. 13, 1901. Dad was 21 years old.
Then Mom moved from her folks home over to the big Bench house. She worked & helped with everything.
