Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-07-31
THE CHRONICLE.
From the unpublished history 0 fths Western
Reserye-C0Hmunicated 10 the desuga Dem
crat.l
The FIrstWeddIas on the Re.
serve.
BY GEN. L. v. R

DA 0LNs o." 8AAA~
The first wedding on the Western
Reserve was in what was afterwards
called Mentor, in Geauga County. HaY-
ing no townships nor counties. they
designated localities by the name of
Settlements" This wedding was in what
was called the "Mdrsh S~ettLemenl,p in
1893. ItwaS west of Black Brook near
the lake shore.
In 1898, Col. Alexander Harper, Ma.
jor William Mcfarland and Ezra Greg
DRY, with their families, arrived at what
is since known as Harpersfield, Ashts-
bula County, from Delaware County,
New York. In Msjer AcFarland's
family was a fine young widow by the
name of Parthens MingGs, whom Major
Mcfarland, having no children sflhis
own, had adopted when q ehildS She
hsd been married to 3 man by the name
of Mingus, and had one child; but
Mingus died soon after the marriage
The widow then returned to the family
of her adopted father, and came on to
Harpersfield with them, in 1898.
There lived in HeWburgh, ak miles
from Cleveland, 9 eomefy bachelor by
the name Of James Hamilton, who had
purchased land, put up q cabin, but had
no helpmeet The arrival Of the new
settlers at Harpers6eld, though fifty
miles distant, wal a remarkable event,
and soon became known through the
whole region; and the young widow
stirred up the thoughts and heart of
James Hamilton. He xbjured Bache-
lordom, and resolved to be a man. 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 q housekeeper.
With nothing but the instinct Of bve and
marked trees TO guide him, he at last
reached the Harper settlement, and in
the young widow found the object of
his search.
In answer to the unspoken language
of his heart, her heart responded. in the
language of Ruth, Where thou goest
I will go; where thou stayest l will
stay; thy God shall be my God, and thy
people my people,"
Both parties willing, nothing was
wanting to crown their hopes and hap
piness but the solemnities Of q marriage
ceremony. But here Was the difficulty.
The Western Reserve was Rot-orsan-
lied into q county until the sanhss Of
1900, when the county Of Trunbnli,
embracing the whole Reserve. was or,
ganized By the egislstlre.A No iustf-
ces or other persons had been appoint
ed or authorized 70 solemnize marriages,
and the young WidoE; and her gay loV-
er were sin FIR But where shefe il
a will there is alwsyssGswsyIn- In the
Marsh settlement there was q man by
the name Of Moses Park, who had once
been q Baptist preacher, sad, though
he had abandoned his calling, and, in
fact abjured his Christian character, it
was accordingly agreed that, ON their
way to NeWburgh, they would call on
him, and legsliEe, as far as oircumstan-
ces would permit, their marriage con-
tract.
Accordingly, at early dawn on the
following day, they mounted their
horses, Hamilton taking the widows
child N his lap, and the widow, for
want of q side-saddle, riding on her
feather bed, and set out in search of
the quondam preacher. On arriving at
his cabin, and making their business
known, he at first declined again put
ting on the sscerdotal robes, as he had
not preached for several years, and had
totally abjured his former creed. On
reflection and urgent solicitation, he
finally consented to act the priest, and
with the usual ceremonies he pro.
nounced them husband and wife,
Money being out of the question, they
paid the priest in heartfelt thanks for
his services, and went OF their way re-
joicing.
The descendants of that marriage are
living in Newburgh, and by their re-
spectability prove the marriage legiti
mate.