Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-09-09
From the unpublished History Of The Western Res
THE FIRST WEDDING.
BIZ L. v. DiERCR.

The first wedding on the Reserve was
in what is called "the Marsh settlement"
was west Of Black Brook, near the Lake
shore in what is now Mentor, in Lake
County.
In 1893 Col. Alexander Harper, Ma
jor William Mcfarland, and Ezra Gre
CORY, with their families, arrived at
Harpers6eld, Ashtabula County, from
Delaware County, New York. In Ma
jor McFarland's family was a fine young
widow by the name Of Parthena Mingus
whom Major Mcfarland. having no
children Of his own, had adopted when
child. She had been married to a
man by the name of Mingus, and had
one child,-but Mingus died soon after
the marriage. The widow then return
ed to the family of her adopted father.
and came on 10 Harpersfield with them
in 1898.
There lived in Newburgh, six miles
from Cleveland, bachelor by the name
of James Hamilton, who had purchased
land and put up cabin, but had nc
"help meet" The arrival of the new
settlers at Harpersfeld, soon became
known through the whole region, and
the existence of the young idOw stirred
up the heart of James Hamilton. He
procured two horses, on one of which he
rode, and leading the other he started
through the trackless forest, fifty miles
in search of housekeeper. With
nothing but the instinct Of loVs and mark
ed trees 10 guide him, he at last reached
the Harpersfeld setllement-and in the
young willow found the object of his
search. Ia answer to the unspoken Lam
guage of his heart, her heart responded
in the language of Ruth-"Where thou
goest will go-where thou stayest ]
wall stay thy God shall be my God,
and thy people my people,"
Both parties willing. nothing was
wanting to crown their happiness but
the solemnities of ceremony. But here
was the difficulty. The Western Reserve
was not organized into County until
the summer Of 1900, when the County
Of Trumbull, embracing the whole Re-
serve. was organized by the Legislature.
No Justice or other persous had been
preVisusly appointed or authorized TO
solemnize marriages, and the young
widow and her gay lover "were in fix. I"
But "where there is a will there is al
ways a way" In the Marsh settlement
was man by the name of Moses Park,
who had once been Baptist preacher.
and it was concluded that he would ans.
wer. 1t was accordingly agreed that
Hamilton and his betrothed should call
on him on their way to Newburgh, and
legalize, as far as circumstances would
permit, their contract. Accordingly, at
early dawn on the following day they
mounted their horses-Hamilton taking
the widows child in his lap, and she ri
ding on her feather bed, which supplied
the place OF saddle-and set out in
search of the quondam preacher. On
arriving at his cabin and making their
business known, he at first declined again
putting on the sacredotal robes, as he
had not preached a sermon for many
years, and had totally abiured the Bap-
tist creed. On reflection and urgent So
licitation he finally, however, consented
to act the priest. and with the usual cer-
emonies, he pronounced them husband
and wife. Money being out of the ques-
ton. they paid the priest in heartfelt
thanks for his services, and went on
their way rejoicing.