Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-08-12
How Jacob Strawn Got a Wife.

Many of our residents will undoubtedly
remember Jacob Strawn, who lived in
Jacksonville, Illinois, about Is or 80 years
ago. Jacob died one Of the very wealthy
men in the State Of which he had been
resident. He was hog and cattle deaIer,
and has been known to have had in his pos
session as many as 30, 600 head of each at
one time. Well, Jacob lived to be thirty
years of age, and, up to that time, had nev-
or occasion to unite himselfto one ofEvea
fair daughters. He was a practical sort Of
a man, and never dreamed that such
thing as marriage was possible while per
son Was possessed of even moderate means
However, at that age lie was rich, and one
day tho conviction very naturally forced it.
self on bis mind that he should procure It
some one Of the opposite sex to enjoy HI"
riches with him.
Thirty years ago, in the section of country
in which Mr.. Strawn lived, girls were notas
plentiful a. they are at present In fact, 1t
may besaid they were "liko angels visits, =
few and far between" But those who did
reside nigh unto Jacksonville were as beatl-
tiful az the longest day in summer. is
lengthy. Now, bel known, Jacob WAS not
a patrician. Democracy was with him .
sacred principle, and notwithstanding the
| circumstance that Lac was immensely rich,
and that the greater number Of families re-
siding near him were poor, 80 far az his
feelings went, or even his actions, never
did he make manifestation of egotism or
self-pride. ,-
q. Outside of jacksonville, a couple of miles
perhaps, there lived quite respectable
family. The family employed n servant
girl. The maturity which the lapse Of IL
! years produces was apparent in her face
and form. Like the great majority OF conn
try girls, sho looked rs though she was
ever gazing upon roses, and those roses
were rejecting their beauty in her cheeks.
Graceful and neat in the extreme, and
possessing fair share Of intelligence, this
servant girl was, amatch for whomspever
might take her unto himself Jacob saw
this flower, and determined TO possess it.
TO transplant it into his own house to have
it to comfort and cheer, was the grand OBJ
ject to which lie directed his thoughts. He
loved without ever having spoken TO the
object of his day thoughts and night
dreams. Romance was something Of which
Jacob had probably never heard, and SO
making love with him was like buying u
| steer-a mere matter of business. One day
lie rode mp TO the door Of the residence Of
the fair maid, alighted from his horse, and
knocked with the butt end OF his whip
The lady Of the house answered the suln-
mons, and Immediately upon her making
her appearance, Jacob asked for the servant
girl.
The servant girl came. Said Jacob: Il
want a wife, and I've picked you out as The
most proper person for that position that I
can possibly find. I've never spoken 10
you before, but then that makes no differ
ence. LII give you one week to consider"
The girl blushed, and was dumbfoundel
Jacob mounted his horse and rode away
The girl inquired into Mr.. Strawn's char
acter and standing, and was adyised by,
those with whom she lived to acceptth
offer Of his hand. Punctuaiiy, a week after,
jacob rode up to the door, knocked again
with his whip, and asked: xxx :, 80, u,
'ls it no. or yes?" = ,
| Blushingly, and while tears traced each
other adown her rosy cheeks, the cir
answered, i'll low tone, but quite distinct +
". -, f-'"SS ,s.:aat ,'~zs ;er.sssl
Swell" says Jacob, ':lets see;: this is
Monday; we'll get married the day after to.
morrow, Wednesday. Here's some money
to buy n wedding outfit, !" and he threw her
a'purse containing thousand dollars. The
couple did get married on Wednesday, and
no happier pair, during their life time, was
to- be- met with in the State of Illinois.