The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-09-17
the Unpublished History Of the W. Reserve
The First Wedding.
BY L. V. BTERCE.

The first wedding OH 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 1898, Gel. Alexander Harper. Major
William Mcfarland, and Ezra Gregory, with
their families, arrived at Harpersfield, Ash
tabula county, frcm Delaware county, New
York. In Major McFarlard's family was
fine young widow by the neme of Parthena
Mingus whom Major McFcrland, 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 chld,-
but Mingus died soon after the marriage
The widow then returned to the family Of
her adopted father, and came on to Harpers.
field with them in l79S.
There lived in Newbur1h, six miles from
Cleveland, a bachelor by the name of james
Hamilton, who had purchased land and put
up cabin, but had no "help-meet." The
arrival of the new settlers at Harpcrsfeld
soon became known through the whole re.
gion, and the existence Of the young widow
stirred up the LcGrt of james Hamlton.-
He procured tw horses, on one of which ht
rode and leading the other he started through
the truckess forest, fifty miles, in search o
house keeper. With nothing but the in
stiact Of love ard married trees to guide hin
he at last reached the IIarpersfied settle
, ment-and in the young widow found tn
! object of his search. In answer to the III
spoken language of his heart, her heart re
sponded in the language Of Ruth--"Wher
thou goest l will go-where ,hon etayest
Will stay-thy God shall be my Gcd, and ii
people my people"
Both parties willing, nothing was wnntir
to crown their happiness but the solemnti'
of ceremony. But here was the difficult
The Western Reserve was not organized i
to a county until the summer Of 1900, wht
the county of Trumbull, embracing Il
whole Re 3erve, was organized by the Legi
lature. No Justice Or other persons h'
; been previously appointed or authorized
solemn ze marriages, and the young wide
and her gay lover were "in fix" E
- "wharc there is a will there is always way
. In the Marsh settlement was a man by I
name of Moses Park, who had once been
Baptist preacher, and it was concluded Il
fhe would answer. Itwas accordingly agrt
that Hamilton and his betrothed should C
.. Oh him on their way TO Newburgh, and
:, galzp, as far as circumstances would
;: nit, their contract. Accordingly at ca
= dawn on the following day, they noun
-. their horses-Hamilton taking the widow
child in his lap, and she riding on the feat
er bed, which supplied the place of sad
and set out i'll search of the quond
preacher. On arriving at his cabin and
! king their business known, he at first
- cl;ned again putting on the sacredotal rob
>. as he had not preached sermon gor m
:. years, and had totally abjured the Bap
= creed. On reflection and urgent solcitat
-. he finally, however, consented to act
. priest, and with the usual ceremonies.
pronounced them husband and wife.
ney being out of the question, they paid
:, priest in heartfelt thauks for his servi
and went on their way rejoicing.