The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-03-18
THE MARRYING SQUIRE.
ONE OF THE HoosiER STATES
FAMOUS FEATURES.
He Has United $500 Couples Some
Experiences After Being Thir-
teen Years In Business rs
. Magistrate.

magistracy, says letter from Louis
Vile to the New York Sun. In one
respect he Is the most remarkable
citizen the town can boast. The
squire Is not famous for his judicial
decisions. Few litigants bring their
claims before him for adjudication,
but he marries more runaway lovers,
probably, than any other man in
America. He claims, and offers to
prove 1t by well-kept set Of books,
that he has tied the nuptial knot for
$500 pairs since he became a justice
Of the peace. He is known all over
Kentucky and Indiana as the Marry
/ ing Squire" and business has always
thrived with him.
He was born at Jacksonville. and
began business life as "a druggist.
Then he kept small store, but when
his few customers abandoned him he
abandoned the city and took up life
on farm. While living in the coun-
try he married twice, and perhaps it
was his own experience that suggested
to him his future course of action.
From whatever course the idea came
1t was an inspiration. He was easily
elected to Office, and from the time
he became a magistrate he determined
to turn his attention to marrying
clippers. He succeeded wonderfully.
Two out of every three runaway pairs
that take advantage of the lax Indiana
matrimonial laws have had the knot
tied by the squire.
When other magistrates saw what
a fine business Squire Keigwin was
building up they tried to take it away,
but without success. He hit upon
the happy expedient of rewarding the
driver il the clippers came to him in a
carriage, and the guide If some one
showed them the way. At first, in
deed. the little squire used to go
down to the ferries, spot the lovers
as they came up the wharf, and offer
them his services before they had
fairly made up their minds how to
find the way. He did not keep this
up long, however, for he argued, with
becoming sense of the proprieties,
that this was too undignified for a
magistrate. Besides, it might spoil
future custom. He made friends
with every man upon the ferries, and
was sure OF good word from them
whenever inquiry was made or other
opportunity presented. The county
clerk was also high in his favor, and
every newsboy or bootblack knew
that favor to Squire Keigwin would
be repaid. No wonder he prospered
at his strange calling.
Experience soon taught the squire
all about the tricks of the trade. At
a glance he can "size up pair and
estimate the fee that he will receive.
This last consideration is an impor-
tant one, for it determines what kind
of ceremony he will employ. One
form is severely simple and so brief
that half the time the people do not
know that they are married until the
squire tells them. He uses this cere-
mony upon greenhorns and poverty
stricken lovers. The other is lengthy
and elaborate, garnished with poeti-
cal quotations and scriptural texts,
frequently interlarded with scraps OF
magisterial moralizing and concluded
with sage bits of advice. Sometimes
he makes mistake.
upon one occasion" said the
Squire, ga nicely dressed couple came
into my office on matrimony bent. /
was little short that day and / set
1t down as a $25 fee. The license was
procured, and / performed my most
impressive ceremony spread my
self. not forgetting to ring in a verse
of beautiful poetry and to compliment
the bride upon her loveliness. 1t
was perfect gem in the ceremony
line, and would have done credit to
Washington Irving. Well, got fifty
cents for the job. wouldn't marry
either of those people again for love
or money.
Marrying is not a matter OF senti-
ment with me, but business, and /
am satisfied when | get liberal fee.
Not day passes but marry people
from Kentucky. They know me in
every section of the state, and when
| / marry couple from one county
they are sure to recommend me to
their friends, and get to tie another
knot or two in consequence. treat
everybody nicely for that reason, nc
matter whether i get a big fee or q
little one. Often receive invitation.
to visit people whom have married
and last Thanksgiving day there were
more than score of letters asking
me to come and take dinner. l att
at home, though, thinking some un
fortunate couple might need IN,
services. AS l am in good healtl
now, think shall be in this bust
ness when the twentieth century i
rounded out"
Squire Keigwin does not believ
marriage a failure, even though tn
matches be runaway ones. In fact
he claims that these are the happies
of all, because they are love affairs
, He does not object to keeping tn
weddings secret, and will always
so II the fee is large enough. Tn