Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-07-27
ROMANCE OUTDoNE.
A Marriage that Beats Any thing In
the Novels.

From the Knoxville Qll.) Republican,
Williamson-Williamson-Married, in
Knoxville, July Is, 1871, by Rev. d. G.
Bradford at the old Gardner Homestead,
Mr.. Philander Williamson, of Stockton,
Cal, and Mrs. Almena Williamson, OF
Knoxville, Ill.
AS considerable interest has been ex-
cited in our community from the sup
posed romantic elements Of the foregoing
marriage, we have taken pains to obtain
from reliable source an authentic history
of the individuals concerned. The fol-
lowing are the facts:
The bride and bridegroom above were
united in marriage in early life in War
ren, Herkimer county, New York, at the
house of the brides parents, Mr.. Rich
ard and Mrs. Mary Gardner, then citizens
of that place. By the same ceremony
sister, now AIRS. Timothy Moshier, of
Galesburg, was married to Mr.. Abel
Gardner, who, though of the same
name, was in no way blood relation.
Mr. and Mrs. Williamson, soon after that
marriage removed from New York to
the State of Michigan, locating near
what is now the city of Albion. Michi-
gan was then new, it being over thirty
years ago, and they experienced all the
hardships of frontier life, amid half civ
ilized whites and savages. Mrs. Will
Gamson being very young-only about
twenty years of age-naturally modest,
timid and retiring, brought up in abun-
dance, amid friends and many acquain-
tances soon grew disconsolate at her
fate, and sighed 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
mother.
1t so happened that after being thus
circumstanced in Michigan for the space
of about two years, her parents removed
from Herkimer 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 Michi-
gan. No meeting of parents and child
could ever have been more affecting and
Joyous. The separation, however, was
parental love and that of her husband,
the former prevailed, and taking her
only child, daughter, Mrs. W. accom-
panied her parents to Knoxville, with
whom she resided until their decease.
Her child, Mercelia, was reared and ed
ucated here, and died in the blush
of womanhood The separation, though
mutual, always exercised the mind of Mrs.
W., and for thirty years, though no good
reason existed for parting husband and
wife, they walked widely divergent paths.
Subsequent to their separation, Mr.. W.
married an estimable lady, moved to
California, became citizen of Stock
ton, twenty years ago, where he now
owns property. Of considerable value.
By his second wife he had three or four
children. The second wife having died
some years since, and Mr.. W. being situ-
ated so as to greatly need wife, visited
his old friends in New York and Michi-
gan, and made his way here to be re-
united, from choice and convictions of
duty, with her whom he had chosen in
his youth. The meeting was pecu-
liar and romantic. Mrs. Williamson,
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 painfal memories, the remarriage
agreed upon, the happy pair came to
the old homestead, were reunited in
wedding, 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 they passed through this city on
their way to their home in California
May their declining years be the hap
piest of their lives, and may they have
cause to always bless the hour they were
rnnnifnd