| Other County Histories | Civil War | 1886 | 1913 Vol. 2 | 1916 | Depression | | |||
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Past and Present of Livingston County Volume 1. History by Major A. J. Roof. 1913 |
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Page 233
From the oldest records of the county and from other sources we learn that the first marriages in point of elegance and display were less attractive than at the present day. These weddings, however, were appropriate to the times. The groom with his Sunday suit, which included a coat and trousers of Kentucky jeans, a cotton shirt and shoes of home-tanned leather, and often a coon-skin cap, constituted his wedding garments. The toilet of the fair bride in some instances was a little more elaborate but usually consisted of home made goods. Happy marriages in pioneer days did not consist of any elaborate display of silks, satins and costly gems. The people for many miles around were always invited to these pioneer weddings. All sorts of merrymaking and a dance at night, with a grand wedding feast which included venison, roast wild turkey, honey, maple syrup and sugar, corn pone, pie and cake and usually a few gallons of Kentucky or Missouri whiskey. Marriages in those early days were more fortunate than those of modern times. Divorces and separations were almost unknown.
Shortly after the organization of Livingston county the first marriage that took place (so the records show) was that of Thomas Maupin and Elizabeth Austin. The ceremony was performed by James D. Penny, a justice of the peace who resided in Shoal Creek township, and the date of the wedding was February 5, 1837. Then on the 12th day of February of the same year Jacob Work and Lena Tinney were united in marriage, County judge Reuben McCoskrie saying the words that made them husband and wife. February 19, Wm. Maybury and Mary Wilkinson were married, Esquire John Newland, of Medicine Creek township, officiating. Other marriages in the county, in 1837, were the following:
March 9, James Coffreth and Serena Winegan were married by Jas. A. Davis, justice of the peace.
March 30, Matthew Gibbs and Susan Williams were married by Jas. A. Davis, justice of the peace.
May 6, Milton L. Moore and Louisa D. Perry were married by Rev. Lorenzo Waugh of the M. E. church.
May 16, Samuel J. Beard and Eliza Fletcher were married by Jesse Newland, justice of the peace of Medicine Creek township.
May 20, Jefferson Bryan and Jane Bird were married by Reuben McCoskrie, county judge.
June 29, Rice Wood and Matilda Gee were married by Isam Wood, justice of the peace.
July 10, Thomas Wilkerson and Mary Moore were married by Nathan H. Gregory, justice of the peace.
August 27, Joseph Todd and Susan Harrison were married by Reuben McCoskrie, county judge.
September 26, John Ryan and Susan Botts were married by N. H. Gregory, justice of the peace.
October 22, Zachariah Blair and Keziah Ogle were married by Reuben McCoskrie, county judge.
November 13, John Simpson and Martha Venable were married by Jas. A. Davis, justice of the peace.
November 16, John Walker and Matilda Gann were married by Jas. A. Davis, justice of the peace.
November 26, Jewett Nevis and Sarah A. Perry were married by W. P. Thompson, justice of the peace.