Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-03-09
oALIFoRNIAEs TO BE Welded.
A Great Bankers Daughter to be Led to
the sltar-A California Journalist as
a Second Benedick.
special Correspondence Of the RECORD UNION

Especial Correspondence of the RECORD UNloSl
New York, February 26, 1881.
As wedlock is always subject in which
great many people are interested, l have
thought it well to inform you of brace of
approaching marriages that should partic-
ularly concern Californians, because the
bride that is to be in one of the instances,
and the bridegroom in the other, are
closely identified with the Golden State.
Tney are notable on account OF the promi-
nence of the parties involved, as well as
from the fact that in both cases there is
conspicuous difference of years. | believe
thai, although these weddings have been
contemplated for several months, the
knowledge of the circumstance has but
lust come TO the public, and possesses,
therefore, the chain of novelty, added to
the zest Of curiosity.
The first wedding-to be celebrated early
the coming months to be between Miss
Minnie Bronson, step-daughter of Rev. Dr.
Walbridge of Brooklyn, and James w.
Simonton, General Agent of the Associated
Press, of this city. She is described as
very pretty, being brown-eyed and brown
haired, graceful in figure, elegant in man.
ners and cultured in mind. She is--if a
woman's age may be conjectured- about 26
or 27 while her affianced husband is, l
understand, 5S. Notwithstanding the dis
parity of age they are represented as mutu-
ally and passionately devoted. She was,
hear one of the late Mrs. Simonton's close
friends, which has been an additional rea-
son for Simonton's second choice. He is
an old Californian, in the sense in which
the expression is employed with you; for,
though native of Columbia county, in the
Empire State, he went to California in
1850, with the intent to start Wing
journal there, having been urged to do
so by William II. Seward, Henry Clay,
Daniel Webster and other illustrious men,
bers of that party. Having arrived at San
Francisco, he was disappointed greatly to
learn that somebody had been before him.
The Courier, the first Wing newspaper ON
the Pacific coast, had been started, and he
was invited to take charge of it editorially.
He accepted but after four or five months
decided to return to this city, where he had
begun his profession at q as law re-
porter, and to resume a connection he had
already formed with the old Courier and
Enq,6rer. Raymond was then the work
ing editor of that sheet, and when he re-
tired in 1851, he set up the Times Simon.
ton accompanied him, and was for some
years its Washington correspondent as well
as shareholder in the company. In 1859
he went back to California, where he pur-
chased large interest in the EUening Bal
letia and in the Morning Cal, which in
Loa ak,n NH II kaa
the basis of his fortune. During the au-
tumn of 1866, he was called TO the General
Agency of the Associated Press as the sue
cessor of D. II. Craig, and has continued
to be an indefatigable worker in that posi-
ton ever since. 1t is whispered that he
intends to resign his place, and seek long
and much-needed rest on farm he owns
near San Francisco. But whether he will
really do so or not depends upon circum-
stances.
The second marriage in which citizens of
the modern Dorado are likely to be inter-
ested is the marriage of the only daughter
of D. o. Mills, of the Bank of California,
to Whitelaw Reid, of the New York T'ri.
bune. Reid has been reported to be on the
eve of marriage to various women for ten
years at least. Consequently many people
may be incredulous OF this last story but
there is no doubt of it. The arrangements
have all been made, l am told, though l
am not sure that the day has been posi-
lively fixed. May has been mentioned,
however, as the probable month. Miss
Mills is said to be about half of Reid's age,
given at A. There will be the usual scoff-
ing at this as mercenary marriage on his
part, because Mr.. Mills is credited
with owning wealth to the extent
OF from $50 600, 600 to $50 600, 000 but
Reid is sufficiently well off in this worlds
goods to prevent him from wedding from
mere monetary motives Their intimate
friends aver that they are very fond of
one another, and that she will be an excel.
lent companion for him, as her mind is far
more mature than her years would indicate.
She is described as very interesting and
accomplished young lady.
Reid Is a native Of Ohio-having been
born at Xenia of Scotch C0venanter
father-and began journalism as soon as he
had got through college, which was at II.
He distinguished himself on the Cincinnati
Gazette as war and Washington corre-
spondent, having written some of the best
battle accounts furnished during the REBEL
ion. He still holds his pecuniary interest
In the Gazette. 1t ia twelve years since he
went upon the Tribune at Horace Greeley's
request, soon succeeding him as its chief.
He controls fifty shares OF the one
hundred into which the Association is
divided. He has published two excellent
works-''After the War;" and "0hio in
the War which have been widely read
and sold largely. Whitelaw Reid will
doubtless be warmly welcomed by his
many friends into the great army of Ameri-