Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-07-29
AN OLD-TIME WEDDING.
bridal Party i'm San Francisco
County MO. Sevent y.Eisht Years
Ago,

The story of wedding IS years ago
of parties living in St. Francois county,
told at Pennington, Mo-, on the occa-
sion of the recent Fourth ofJuly celebra-
ton, seems to have been a decidedly
eauzy one, at least the wedding party
were clothed in very thin attire, owing
to band of admlring savages passing
that way. AS the orator, Senator Bush,
tells the story, it was in 1898, and the
oroom's name was Henry Pagget, the
bride Sallie Baker; they lived thirty miles
| from St. Genevieve, where lived the on
| ly priest III the country authorized to tie
| the knot. All the young gentlemen and
ladies of the neighborhood were invited
to 90 with the bridal party. and on the
day fixed the beauty and chivalry of
the neighborhood came and started
amid great enthusiasm for the scene of
bliss which, half way, was turned into
scene of dismay. A.wagon filled with
yenison, wild fowl, honey and maple
sugar for marriage supper, was provided
and also lot of furs thrown in for sale
at that market. All went merrily un-
til about Is miles from the settlement
they met a band of Indians who at once
took possession of the property and ap-
propriatlng the wagon with its contents
also took a fancy to the rich colors and
handsome apparel of the wedding party,
and according to this historian who
ouches the story as strictly true. "The
Indians took sfrom the members of the
party every article of attire, which their
backs bore, without distinction of sex.
These young maidens, no longer laugh
inc. now had to unmake their toilets
there in the open road, in the presence
OF their sterner companions, and surren-
der to the Usage chiefs their raiment to
the last shred, with one partial eXcep-
ton among the ladies. AS special
distinction to Miss Baker, on account of
f conspicuousness as bride on the occa-
sion, these red knights of the woods left
her neither garment, as special privi-
lege." Thus relieved of all their finery,
The party 10 miles from home and their
5 proposed destination were turned loose
and permitted to rejoice over their es-
cape with their lives, and the opportu-
nity to commence the world anew. They
: Withdrew into the forests, but not to
: separate, and there held a solemn coun-
Gil, and brave pioneers that they were
these ladies and gentlemen decided to
continue their journey foot and of
: course, in state of nature. They did so,
! arrived near Ste. Genevieve, Pagget left
!, the party in "skirt'' of timber, and
went into town where he procured cloth
ing from the people and returning to the
waiting bridal party. They speedily
dressed themselves and shortly there
after they made their formal entry into
the town, went to the church where the
! wedding at once took place, the priest
L officiating. The orator says: "Oi the
+ truth OF his history no room remains for
r. doubt had the story from the mouth
: OF Henry Pagget himself, heard him tell
S it twice in my lifetime. Pagget, who
j. was some hundred and nineteen years
e of age, at his decease, according to the
h record of his age at this very marriage.
which remains in the Catholic church ut
l. Ste Genevieve, was man OF vcracity and
n honesty above suspicion. l knew the old
= pioneer for some twenty years before his
G death The wedding was the leading
. incident, in the shape of romance, at
!. any rate, in the early history Of Big riv-
> er settlement the first colony in this
), county,"