Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-10-14
GETTING THE SHOES.

Many incidents are related of tn,
late Judge Harrison, the pioneer o
Michigan, who died lately, at the nd
vanccd age of 103. OF his early low,
and wedding, the following story is re
lated ii-a .aftalr. 5000
There are few instances of his early
life that we are able TO obtain. Ht
was a steady, hard-working lad, ener
getic and thorough, He received but
little education, three months in the
common school forming about all his
educational curriculum. He learned
to read and write, however, and took
quite as much interest in books as those
around him. Like most boys, he early
fell In love, the object of his adoring
passion being Martha Stillwcll the
daughter of a farmer living near his
father. The attachment was recipro-
Gated, and the young couple sxchanged
words Of love and eternal fidelity. He
was nearly nineteen and she was three
years his junior. BAIL, whose love
gave him confidence, boldly asked con-
sent Of Martha's parents to. their mar
riage. Her father liked his frank and
kindly ways and favored the match,
but dame Stillwell had higher aspira-
tons for her daughter She wished
her TO wed the possessor Of broad acres,
and not penniless young man. Be-
sides, how could she spare her daugh-
ter yet? No, she would not give her
consent. Grieved were the lovers at
this decision, but by no means obedi-
cnt to the behest Of the stern mother.
In clandestinc interviews they renewed
theirpledgcs of affection, and, encourag-
ed by Martha's father, planned an elope-
mcnt. Indeed, we suspect Mr.. Still
well was the chief conspirator, and
most efficient aid did he render. The
day was set, but the suspicious mother
kept close watch on her daughter
How TO arrange her wedding outfit
without the mothers knowledge, puz-
zlcd the three conspiIators, The sim
pie trousseau was mostly made by
stealth, in Martha's own room at night,
she received some little assistance from
a sister also in the secret, but she hap
pened to be entirely out of shoes, for it
was March, and young ladies then were
not ashamed TO be seen in then bare
feet while in the house, and very crude
brogans when the weather made COW
ering for the feet necessary. But the
etiquette Of Greencastlc, in 1900, did not
permit bride to appear shoeless and
slipperless at her wedding Ready
made shoes were unknown in the town,
and the needed articles must be made
to measure. Several plans failed, and
her father was compelled to move eau
tiously, in view of the fact that Dame
Stillwell was somewhat suspicious
The matter was delayed for a favora-
bic opportunity until the day before
the wedding, whom, further procrasti-
nation being out Of the question, the
father invented q ruse TO accomplish
the object, In the afternoon Of the
last day OF grace, he came into the
weaving room, where mother and
daughters were at work at the loom,
and shortly began 70 joke Martha on
the size Of her feet Picking up q
shingle Carefully placed within reach
beforehand for the purpose), be drew
diagram of measurement of her pedal
extremities, the dimensions of which
he laughed immoderately about with
his wife, to the apparent great discom-
torture of his daughter, and then care
lessly threw the shinglc out Of the
window. Fifteen minutes after that
shingle was in shoemaker Wilkins
shop, and that worthy cobbler worked
half the night to finish the pumps in
which the runaway bride was to stand
at her wedding on the morrow. The
next day at dinner-time Martha slipped
away, and with her father for a wit
ness, she and BAIL were made one by
the village justice. The outwitted
mother was of course indignant at first,
but soon rclcnted, and thus March IL,
1909, was begun the matrimonial jour.
ney of BAIL Harrison and Martha
Stillwell, and for nearly seventy years
did the two live together as man and
wife, until June z, 1867, the union was
broken by her death. Fa1