The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1888-08-09

When Fort Washington WIS e~tabli -hc,l
at Cincinnati Harrison was stationed
there. Duty called the gallant capiHia Ia
North Bend. aud he became a guest at
the Symmes residence. II wa. not long
until he -uecumbed To the black ewes Of
Miss Anna She was at the time twenty
years Of age, small, graceful, intelligent
and by general agreement beautiful. He
was twenty-five years of age. with a rep
utation well established a a gallant sold
Ter The two were mutually pleased with
each other and an engagement followed,
which could hardly fail to be satisfactory
to the lather. The Judge, in fact con
Sented to the marriage; but. hearing
some slanderous reports Of the captain he
afterwards Withdrew his consent. The
/ lovers We're in nowse dauntcd. They re-
SOLVED to proceed with their engagement.
November -, 1885 the day appointed for
| the wedding, arrived. Judge Symmes,
thinking the affair of declining To be
present, rode to Cincinnati, leaving the
| coast clear.
In the presence of the young lady :
stcp-mother and many guests the cerr-
mony was performed by Dr. Stephen
Wood, justice Of the peace
Undoubtedly the father Of the bride
was "a person of great importance at that
time. Tie was high dignitarv OF the
United States government and proprietor
Of tract of land ducal in proportions
The lady was beautiful, young, chramiug
of Eastern education and manners. The
bridegroom on his side had fought his
way to a captaincy, which was n much
more influential argument in that day
than this, especially in social circles.
With these point in mind, it would not be
strange if a reader, giving rein to his
fancy, should picture the wedding as of
exceeding splcudor of circumstance. 1t
was the very reverse. To arrive at the
facts the time and the conditions of the
people of the region must be considered
The West was in its denSest wildness.
There were 10 Injuries To be comfort
able WAS to he rich. There was no arts
tocraey. Store goods We're scarce and at
prices out OF reach Weeks of travel
were required 10 get to and from the
mills. For summer wear the settlers de-
pended in great part upon the fibre Of
thistle, a certain species of which, grow
Ing spontaneously i'm the woods fell
down and rottcd in the winter, and was
gathered in the spring and cleaned and
woven by the women. Indeed, the pro-
liabilities are that the company assembled
to witness the marriage of Captain Ilar-
ri~on and Miss Anna Symmes would as
tonish polite circles of to-day. They ar
rived on horseback, each man carving a
rifle, powder horn aud a pouch lined
with patching and bullets. Travelling by
narrow paths cut through thickets of
blackberry aud alder bushes and under
growth of every variety, every step taken
might be into an ambush of Indians
They moved in the mood and ready for
instant combat. A wife, coming with
her husband, rode behind him When
they dismountcd at the door, as it was
winter, ten to one he wore bucXSkin for
coat and breaches aud Coonskin cap,
while She was gay with plaided liuscy-
wOolSCy of her own weaving, cutting and
sewing. Her head was protected form
the wind by cotton handkerchief.
Coarse shoes supplied the place of slip
pers. The wedding cake WAS of New
England doughnutS On the sdchaard
there were jugs of cider very hard at
that, and whiskcy none the worse of its
home brewing, and they were there to he
drank. The dancing, with which the fete
was most likely rounded off in the even
ing, was to fiddle in the hand of col |
orcd artist who knew tie plantation jigA |
as a hooking bird knew his whistle. The |
pigeon wing with which the best dancer
celebrated the "balance all was cut with
feet yellow with moccasinS. Such was
in probability the general ensemble of the
wedding
The bride may have had an outfit OF
better material. SO recently from the
East, she may have had Il veil, a silk frock
and French slippers. The bridegroom,
of COURSE, wore his captains uniform,
differing with bullet buttons Of burnish- |
ed brass, and high boots becoming an aide
in favor with his chief, the redOubtablc
Anthony Wayne, whom the Indians were
accustomed to describe as "the warrior |
who never slept" Taken altogether, the
wedding celebrated at Judge Symmes
house that November day, l795, cannot
be cited in proof of charge of ari~to-
cratic pretension on the part Of the high
contracting parties.
Some time afterwards Judge Synmes
met his son-in-law. The occasion was a
given by General Wilkinson
to General Wayne.
We'll, sir" the judge said in bad
humor, 81 understand you have married
Anna"
Yes, sir" Harrison answered.
"llow do you expect To support her
"'y my sword and my own righl arm
was the reply.
The Judge was pleased, became recon
cilcd, and in true romantic form happily
concluded the affair by giving the couple
lis blessing Frp18 0lraHc SHIRT II Gea.
Le,r T-oHace's Lur of 6euerai BtjG7min
HIrriSOn