Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-07-28
A wedding in Old Kentucky

lucky wedding was an affair in which
the whole community joined. The GER
emony took place just before noon, at
which hour dinner was served as nup-
tid feast. On the morning of the we'd
ding day. party Of young men and
maidens gathered to escort the groom
from bis fathers house to the BRIDES
dwelling. The forest path was narrow
there were no roads then--and so they
rode 10 double file, young man and a
maiden side by side. Their horses were
caparisoned with old saddles or old
blankets, and guided by old brides or
halters.
The men we're dressed in their best
moccasins, leather breeches and leg
gings, and in famous Kentucky hunting
shirt. This was usually made Of linsey
or coarse linen, and sometimes ola
dressed deer skin. In the breast was
pocket for holding food, tow for whipping
the rife, and other articles. A belt,
tied behind, confined the SHIRT 10 the
body, and held the bullet pouch, tho
tomahawk and the knife IN leather
sheath.
As picturesqe in their array were inc
ladies, in linsey petticoats, linen gowns,
coarse shoes, knit stockings and buck
skin gloves. Ifone belonged to an old
Virginia family, she displayed a rufic,
a buckle, two or three metal bottoms,
and ring-the relics ofold umes,ha
ed down as heir-looms.
Sometimes the march through the
woods was disturbed by jocular neigh
bors. Forming an ambuscade, they
would Gre their guns, fox the pleasure
of seeing the horses spring and the
chiyalric young men trying to save tho
shriehng maidens from falling.
In those days whiskey was the bcv-
erage, and, when the party arrived alta
mile from the BRIDES cabin, there was
a race for bottle Of that liquor. Two
young men. selected as champion riders,
would be started with an Indian yell.
The worse the road the better the race.
Over logs, through brush and muddy
holloys, across streams, they would
dash. The winner Of the prize dlstrib-
uted it among the company.
The conclusion Of the marriage cere'
| mony was the signal for dinner. 1t was
a substantial feast Of beef. pork, fowls,
venison, bear meat. potatoes, cabbage
and other vegetables. After dinner
dancing began which was kept up TIL
| late in the night. If seats were scarce
every young man not engaged IN the
dance was expected TO offer bis lap as
seat to one Of the girls. The offer was
sure to be accepted.
The next thing after the wedding was
to settle the young couple. On a
piece ofland given by one ofthc parents
the party assembled to erect CABIN.
The choppers folled the trees and cat
| them in proper lengths. a carpenter
selected tree suitable for making clap
boards for the roof, while others hewtd
out puncheons for the floor.
Getting out the timber was one days
work. The raising in which all the
Ineighbors joined, occupied the next,
and the third day the cabin was iurnlsh-
ed. This was simple job. The car-
lpenter smoothed of the floor, made a
clapboard door, table, some three
legged stools, beadstead, two or three
lshelyes-and the cabin. after the warm
| iug,' was ready for the bride and groom.
Shelves were made by driving wood"
| en- pins IN the logs and having on
them narrow boards. A split slab with
lauger holes, in which four legs were ih'
lserted, formed the table.
| The beadstead illustrated tho art OF
making the best use OF the materials en-
hand. Two forked sticks, fastened to
| the floor and beam. supported poles,
which were held in place by being In
serted in the crack of log walls. On
these boards were placed to form the
bottom of the bed.
A few pegs around the walls Tor VIC
mans things, and two small bucks
horns iu a joist for the rife, completed
the house. Then came the warming
which was dance and a feast. The
following day the young compile estab-
! tabllshed their home In new cabin.
! In these plain log-cabins were reared
some OF the great men Of kentucky-el-
oquent lawyers, able statesmen and re-
l.o-,aJ soidiorz