The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-01-03
AySIARRYISG SQUIRE.
Quo Of the HepsipF States Famous Fe
Il tnres-Hns UaItpO q, 500 GouploF,

sonyille, 10 entering upon the four.
teepth year olhls service in the masis'
tracy, says o letter from Louisville to
theNew York Sun, In one respect,h e
isthemost remarkable citizen the town
can boast, The squire 10 not famous
for his judicial decisions, Eew lltigRnts
bring their claims before him for adj
Indication, but he marries more runa'
way lovers, probably, than any other
mpn.in America. He claims, and oilers
to proye'it by q well,kept set OF books,
that he has tied the nupttal knot Tor
$500 pairs since he became q Justice of
the peace, He Is known all over Ken-
tpcky and Indiana rs the Marrying
Squire, and busineSa has always
t6rived with him, The late Squire
BeasIey, Of Aberdeen, Ohio, used to
claim that he had married 2, 800 rpna-
way pairs, but he wasn't q circumstance
to thetJ eilersonville man,
\ Squire Keigwin Is 90 years old. Per.
sonally he Is not OF striking appear
apcc. He Ia not over five feet four
inches in height, and weighs possibly
$50 pounds. His hair and mustache
areaswhite as snow, and sc his man
nersare not high bred they are plea;
sanity insInuating. a rakish, al. silk
hat Is always perched to one side on
the Squirrels head, but his clothes are
not Of the latest fashion. He was born
in. Jeftersonyille, and began business
life as druggist. Then he kept a
small store. but when his few cuato.
mers abandoned him he aband oned the
city and took up life on q farm. While
living in the country he married twice,
and perhaps 1t was his own experience
that suggested to him his future course
OF action. From whatever source the
idea came II was an inspiration. He
was easily elected to Office and from the
time he becamea magistrate lie deter
mined to turnhis attention to marry
ing clippers! He succeeded wonder.
fully. Two out OF every three runa-
way pairs that take advantage OF the
lax matrimonial laws have had the
knot tied by the Squire.
When other magistrates saw what q
fine business Squire Keigwin was builds
ing up they tried to take IT away, but
without success. He hit upon the
happy expedient OF rewatding the
driver II 1.-THE clippers came to HMM
carriage, and the guide II some one
showed them the way. Atlrst, indeed,
thelittle squire used to- go down to the
ferries, spot tho 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 a becoming sense OF the
proprieties, that this was too undigni-
fled for a magistrate. Besides, 1t might
spoilfuture custom. He made friends
with every man upon the ferries, aud
was sure Of q good word from them
whenever inquiry was made or other
opportunity presented. me county
clerk was also high in his iayor, and
every newshoy or bootblack knew that
afavor to Squire Keigwin would be re-
paid. No wonder he prospered at his
strange calling. 81 !.
Experience soon taught the squire all
about theltricks OF the trade, AT Q
glance he can size up q pair and es-
innate the fec that he will receive.
This last considerations an imp rtart
ono, for IL determines what kind Of
ceremony he will employ One form y
severely simple and 90 brlet that hall
the timol the people do not know that
they afenarried until the sauiretells
them, He uses this ceremony upon
greenhorns and poyerty.atricken lovers.
lhS other Il lengthy and elaborate,
gafhisked with poetical quotations, and
scfiptural texts frequently interlarded
with scraps OF magiaterial moral king,
and concluded with sage bitslot advice
Sometimes he makes q mistake.
upon oneoccasion, said! the Squire,
"a nicely dressed couple came into my
office on inatrinony bent i was a
little short that day, and u set this down
as d $25 fee. The license was procured,
and i performed mylmost impressive
ceremony SPREAD myself, not forget:
ting to ring in q verse OF beautiful
poetry and TO plimetlt the BRIDE
upon her loveliness, 1t was "a perfect
gem Ia tho ceremony line, and swelle
| have done credit to Washington Irving
We'll, I got 80 cents Tor tho job.
wouldn't marry either Of those people
again for love or money
Marrying 10 not a lnattetol eentl'
netit with me, but business, and / afn
satisfied when I get a liberal fec. Note
day passes but i marry people from
Kentucky. They know tne In every
pectionoi the state, and when 4 marry
| a couple from one county they are
isute to recommend me TO their friends
and / got 10 tic another knot orltwo y
CONSEQUENCES. 1 treat eyerybot 5seliceli
| for that renson, no tmattor whether
got d big fec or little ono. Often ! 70
coiyo invitations TO visit people whom
| s1fhayo married, and last TlpnkegiyinI
dry there wetenorh than 9 ecore q
| lotlefS asking me to come and take din
Iinof, late at homo, though, thinking
some unfortunate COUPLE might neoI
my services. AZ / at1i Ia good he1ltl
now, / think | shall BIO Ia hiabuaines
1 when the twentieth century ta'r oundot
sout.~ X .lI4 ".
adbit6 Kioswin does not believe mai
4 fiage d failure, eyenthoughit the. tlatche
A bUfunaway ones. In fact, he claim
That these arc the lhappieSt ot alli Nc
causo they nto love atiairs, He dee
not object u Keeping tho yedd tlg
aecfAt, and Will lalNay do 40 " the IL
DO largo 0nbngh. Tho Indiana lAN
ihybra this, aa etheiAtln mini qsut 9
maristtAt0 10 not fequitpd 10 turn
inaffiahb cetGlhtate tiof record boior
inihety dayo have clApteds K
'lfifi ssi5 i' y Is vi
|Ilf ff Sc W. q