ANd PRESENT LIST
While researching my Missouri Blackwell Family line I discovered a newspaper article detailing the wedding of Lavinia ‘Anna’ Blackwell and Johnson Bailey of Missouri. They were married on September 30, 1896 and I fell head over heals in love with the newspaper article details. Their wedding announcement, in the Jefferson Democrat Newspaper, was so abundant I relished in the finer specifics.
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Not only did this article give me names, dates, and information it also painted the prettiest picture of an ancestors Rural American wedding in WONDERFUL description.
This article made me feel like I was there. These are my favorite kind of sources! In October of 1896 the newspaper printed their wedding announcement with a long comprehensive column. Included was a list of presents the couple received and the names of the people who gifted them to the couple! This was a cherry on top of the sweetest wedding article I have found in my research.
The Newspaper article reads:
“BAILEY-BLACKWELL.- Married,
at 11:30 a.m., September 30, 1896, Mr. Johnson Bailey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bailey, of Danby, to Miss Anna Blackwell, daughter or Mr. and Mrs. A. Blackwell, of Blackwell, Mo. The invited guests began to arrive at 10 a.m., and by the appointed hour the bride and groom appeared, preceded by Mr. Forest Bailey and Miss Fannie Welch, and Mr. W.E. Blackwell and Miss Zollie Bailey, the groomsmen and bridesmaids. They at once stepped on the long porch in front of the Brides home, where the ceremony was preformed in a very impressive manner by Rev. James P. Cape, of the Baptist church. The bride was neatly attired in the dress of white brilliantine trimmed in lace and ribbon and wore white kid slipper and gloves. The bridesmaids wore dresses of white albatross trimmed in lace and ribbon. The groom and groomsman were neatly attired in regulation suits.
After the ceremony was over and congratulations had been extended the doors to the dining room were thrown open and the bridal party led the way to the table where the nuptial feast was bountifully spread. To undertake to describe the great variety of the most delicious edibles with which the table was laden is out of the question; but must say that all present went away well pleased, after having such a good time. Following is a
list of presents,
Fannie Welch, picture throw. Eva and Ida Cole, lace bed set. Maggie Blackwell, Lamp. Charles and Eph. Blackwell, water set. Mrs. T.A. Moon, preserve bowl. Sterling Bailey, curtain poles. William Welch, lamp. Ella and Forest Bailey, towels. Jennie and Zollie Bailey, lace curtains. David Moon, set of goblets. Clara Turley, wash stand set Rosa and Clara Weigmann, berry set. Thomas Higginbotham and wife, set of silver knives and forks Minnie Brekenridge, set of goblets Thomas Madden, sugar spoon and butter knife. Iola Cole, head rest. Effie Smith, sugar spoon and butter knife. Ellie and Rich Engledow, clock. Wm. Perkins, pitcher and toothpick holder. Dock Stephens, set of wine glasses. John M. Williams, vases. Fannie Madden, cake and paring knife Mrs. C. Epperly, towel and napkins. R.B. Williams and wife, table linen. Mrs. T. Welch, broom. W.E. Blackwell, chenille rug. Thos. Holdman and wife, pillow shams. Susie Madden, cake stand. Haddie Engledow, lamp. Steve Cole and wife, set of chairs. Fred Cole, lamp. W. J. Lahn, molasses pitcher. John Blackwell, molasses pitcher. H. Blackwell, carving set. Mrs. A. Moon, towels. Mage Cole, napkins. Mrs. W. J. Lahn, preserve dish. Neta Cole, water set. James Madden, cedar bucket. Mrs. A. Engledow, turkey. T.A. Moon, fruit bowl.
The happy couple went to their home which the groom already prepared, the following day. May joy, peace and happiness go with them, is the wish of many.
A Guest.”
I am thrilled to have discovered this article and I had the best time researching what some of these presents looked like in the late 1800’s. A few examples are below:
What a wonderful, lighthearted, and happy find while doing research. As a family genealogist it’s easy to focus on the important sources like birth, marriage and death records. This newspaper article is just as important with dates, names and information!
Many of the names of the gift givers are intermarried into my Blackwell line, cousins and close friends that have come up in labeled pictures!
Do you have a wedding article like this? Please share!
How did I discover this Blackwell family line? Find out here! We also have been renovating the Missouri Blackwell Cemetery Plot for years now and these are the 7 Initial Steps to help with cemetery restoration. Its been quite the adventure.
JEN WITH PIONEER FLUNKIES
I’m a girl who fell into genealogy looking for one lost branch of my family tree. I found so much more than that! I’d love to connect with and learn from other family historians. Get to know me better by clicking the link below:
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