History of Stark County Illinois

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

county, was the celebrant. In l832 Nero W. Mounts married the Widow Martindale. Squire Benjamin Smith officiating. “In February, 1834,” says Mrs. Shallenburger, “there was a wedding at the house of James Holgate, of which we can still learn something. This was between a gentleman by the name of McClure and a sister of Mrs. Holgate, Miss Marsh. The guests were Mr. and Mrs. Sylvanus Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Greenleaf Smith, Mr. and Mrs. John Dodge, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Seeley and Jesse Heath. Whether Squire Smith or some wandering preacher performed the ceremony, Mr. Holgate did not inform us, but said he had, in 1834, but a cabin sixteen feet square, and well filled with the usual comforts of pioneer life. They took the door from its hinges to add to the table, and as the weather was mild for the season, the men stood outside while the feast was spread. Then “bee gums” were brought in and puncheons laid on them for seats, and they had an excellent dinner, no scarcity of anything but room. The repast over, the men had again to retire to the 'sky parlor' until the table could be cleared and the door restored to its place, when they all managed to get inside and had a gay time. But the toilets must be left to the imagination of the reader.” The first marriage license in this county was issued by the first clerk, over forty years ago. We give the form of the license and certificate in full: STATE OF ILLINOIS, STARK COUNTY, ss.-- I, Oliver Whitaker, Clerk of the County Commissioners Court of the County of Stark, do hereby authorize any regular minister of the Gospel, Judge or Justice of the Peace, to unite in marriage William Charles and Esther Stoddard; and the minister, Judge or Justice of the Peace who may unite the above named parties shall make a certificate of the same and return it to me within thirty days, as the law directs. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and private seal (there being no official seal provided) at Osceola, this 16th day of April, A. D. 1839. OLIVER WHITAKER Clerk. STATE OF ILLINOIS, STARK COUNTY. I hereby certify that, on the 18th day of April, A. D. 1839, I joined the holy state of matrimony, Mr. William Charles and Miss Esther Stoddard, according to the usual custom and law of the State of Illinois. Given under my hand and seal this 18th day of April, A. D. 1839. LUTHER DRISCOLL, Minister of the Gospel. The record of marriage certificates entered in this county from this time to the close of 1866 is as follows:
1839.

April 18.	Wm. Charles and Esther Stoddard, by Luther Driscoll, M. G.
“ 18.	Lewis Perry and Clarrissa M. Elliot, by Jonathan Miner, M. G.
May 10.	Egbert Ellsworth and Sarah Parrish, by J. W. Agard, J. P.
“ 30.	Robert Colwell and Maria McClenahan, by Jonathan Miner, M G.
July 8.	Abel Stevens and Rosanna Davis, by W. F. Vail, M. G.
Aug. 15.	Jacob Simmerman and Malinda Sheets, by Jonathan Hodgson, J. P.
Oct. 16.	Luther Driscoll and Lydia Parrish, by Luther Driscoll, M. G.
“ 20.	Joseph Slocum and Eliza McKellogg, by Silas Richards, J. P.
Nov. 21.	Wm. F. Thomas and Mary Butler, by John W. Agard, J. P.