The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-04-18
THE MARRYING SQUIRE.
= magistrate For Thirteen Years and
Has MErried $500 Couples.

HAs MEr-ied $500 Couples.
Squire Ephriam Keiswin Of Jeffer
sonville, is entering upon the four
teenth year Of his service in the
maglstracy. 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,
out he marries more runaway lovers.
probably. than any other man in
America. He claims. and offers to
prove it by q 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 ali 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 il
was his own experience that suggested
to him his future course of action.
rom whatever course the idea came
1t "'ss sn inspiration. He was easily
elect. to Office, and from the time
he becaL- - magistrate he determined
to turn IA. attention to marrying
clippers. He. cceeded wonderfully.
Two out of every .hree runaway pairs
that take advantage of the lax Indiana
matrimonial laws have had the knot
tied by the squire.
When other magistrates saw what
q hne business Squire Keigwin was
building up they tried to take it away.
but without success. He hit upon
the happy expedient Of revarding the
driver if the clippers came to him in q
carriage, and the guide if some ono
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 bootbIack 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
. glance he can .'size up" a 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 il 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 a mistake.
Upon one OCCASION" said the
Squire, "a nicely dressed couple came |
into my Office on mstrimony bent. I
was little short that day and | set
it down as $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 loneliness. 1t
was perfect gem in the ceremony
line, and would have done credit to |
Washington Irving. Well. got fifty |
cents for the job. I 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 / /
an satisfied when l get liberal fee.
Not . day passes but marry people
from Kentucky. They know me in
every section of the staSe, 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
every body nicely for that reason. no
matter whether ! get . big fee or q
little ono. Often I receive invitation
to visit people whom I have married.
and last Thanksgiving day there were
moro than . score of letters asking
me to come and take dinner. I ate
& homo, though, thinking some I'M
fortunate couple might need my
services. As I am in good health
now, think shall DO in this bust
ness whom the twentieth century is
rounded out"