The union Democrat., 1871-08-12
NUMBER Z.
Romantic Marriage.

Wilismsen-WilianSon-Ma In KnoxvnIe Julx
ia'h ISL by Rev D. G. Bradford. at the old Gardner
rhsnIsr Williamson Of Stcektor, California
ana MIS-. Aimeda Williamson Of Knoxville. Illinois,
A considerable interest has heen exc;,.a
IN our community from the supposed roman
tic elements of the foregoing marriage. We
have taken pains to obtain from reliable
source. an authentic history of the indiydu-
ais concerned. The following are the facts
The bride and bridegroom above were unit.
ed In marriage in early life in Warren, Herk-
inner county. New York, at the house of the
brides parents, Richard and Mary Gardner.
then citizens of that place. BY the same
ceremony sister, now Mrs. Timothy Mosh-
Ter, OF Galesburg, was married to Abel Gard
ner, who, though of the same name, was in
no way blood relation. Mr.. and Mrs.
Williamson, soon after that marriage. remoy-
ed from New York to the State of Michigan.
locating near what is now the city of Albion.
Michigan was then new, il being over thirty
years ago, and they experienced all the hard
ships of frontier life amid half-ciyilixed
whites and savages. Mrs. Williamson being
very young-only 20 years of age-naturally
modest, timld and retiring. brought up in
abundance, amid friends and acquaintances,
soon grew disconsolate at her fate, and sigh
ed with many tears for her old associates and
happier surroundings. So oppressed and
overwhelmed was she. that while fond of her
husband and her married life, she became
deeply anxious, which grew almost, if not
quite TO be passion, to see her beloved moth
er. 1t so happened that after being thus cir
cumstanced in Michigan for the space of
about two years, her parents removed from
Herkamer county, New York, to Knoxville.
Illinois. On their way they visited their
daughter, then in the wilds of what is now
the noble State of Michigan. No meeting of
parents and child could ever have been mora
affecting and joyous. The separation how
ever was at hand, ard in the conflict between
parental love and that Of her husband. the
former prevailed ; and taking her only child.
daughter, Mrs. Williamson accompanied
her parents to Knoxville, with whom she re-
sided until their decease. Her child. Merce-
liza, was reared and educated here, and died
in the blush of womanhood. The separation
though mutual, always exercised the mind
of Mrs. Williamson and for thirty wears.
though no good reason existed for parting
husband and wife, they walked widely diver
gent paths. Subsequent to their separation.
Mr.. Williamson married an estimable lady.
moved to California, became a citizen of
Stockton twenty years ago, where he still
owns property of considerable value. By his
second wife he had three or four children.
The second wife having died some years
since, and Mrs. Williamson being situated SO
as to greatly need a wife, visited his old
friends in New York and Michigan. and
made his way here to be reunited. from
choice and convictions and duty, with her
whom he had chosen in his youth. Tho
meeting was peculiar and romantic. Mrs.
on the day he called on her, did
not know her early spouse, so great had been
the work of time. Suffice it to say the past
was revived with its pleasant and painful
memories, the re-marriage agreed upon the
happy pair came to the old homested, were
in wedlock, standing in the parlor
where Mrs. Moshier, the brides Youngest
sister, married her present husband, and who
was in the beginning married by the same
ceremony with her sister. Last evening thew,
passed through this city on their way to their
home in California. May their declining
years be the happest of their lives, and may
they have cause to always bless the hour
they were reuaited.-Knorrile, H., ,Repub-
'icaa.