The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-06-06
FIRST KNOT BROKEN
COURT ASKED TO SET ASIDE WICH-
ITA'S FIRST MARRIAGE
Hannah Ward Asks to be Divorced From
her Husband, John Ward-Were Mar
ried in Wichita in 1868 Before Sedg-
wick County was Organized--Got the
License in Butler County--The House in
Which They Were Married Stood East
of the Packing Household Settlers are
Sorry the Suit Was Commenced.

Sorry the Suit Was Commenced.
Hanna Ward yesterday filed in the
district court suit for divorce from
her husband, John Ward.
Some of the old settlers talked in
groups around the court house and a
reporter for the Eagle wondered what
they could be in an ordinary divorce
case TO interest them.
When the flies were obtained il was
plain TO be seen why the old settlers
We're interested in the case. In the
body of her petition Mrs. Ward set up
that she and the defendant were mar
ried in Wichita, Dec. 6, 1868.
The old settlers said that Mr.. and
Mrs. Ward were the first couple ever
married in Wichita and they did not
want TO have the primitive history of
the city spoiled by a divorce.
One old settler said that he did not
want John and Anna Ward divorced
for fear that superstitious people
would think there was some fatality
attending people who were married in
wichita because the first couple mar
rled in the town hOd been divorced
People IN all ages have been SUPER
stitiOuS in regard to supposed infiu-
ences surrounding home life. They re-
fuse to concede that the home life de-
pends for happiness on the good COM
mon sense of the parties to the mar
riage contract and young men and
women Will continue to consult the tea
grounds, the four leafed clover and the
GYPSY fortune teller in vain attempt
10 foresee the sunshine and shadow
that VIII surround their future married
life.
1t will be hard for Wichita when
aNrafl. -,
their spiritual eyes to look into the
future shall make up their minds that
hckle god of love preSides over the
deStinieS of those whose marriages are
celebrated in the city at the junction of
the two rivers which the Indians for
ages believed was a charmed spot of
earth where cyclones and diSa sters
could not come and therefore they de-
creed that Anna could not have her
divorce.
Judge Reed may take a different
view Of it, but the old settlers mind is
made up and while he does not take a
deep interest in divorce cases generally
he has made up his mind that the hap
piness of these two people who were
the first to be Joined in holy wedlock
In winsOme Wichita is something which
concerns the honor of the city itself
a reporter for the Eagle called at
the Ward home yesterday at $50 North
Wichita in search of information con-
corning the first couple married in
Wichita.
The home is a comfortable cottag ge
surrounded by a picket fence that en-
closes five or six lots. a row Of maple
trees spread a cool shade over the side
walk in front The house was sur
rounded by fruit trees in the branches
of which the birds were singing their
cheering songs and two little girls ap-
oil IL
ing under the branches of an apple
tree.
The merry laugh Of the two little
girls rang out on the clear air and so
far as outside appearances indica ted
there was nothing but sunshine and
happiness in or about the Ward home
a rap on the front door was answer
ed by the larger of the two little girls
telling her mother who was evidently
in the back yard, that a gentleman
was a the front door. = good looking
we'll preserved woman came through
the house and stood in front of the
wire screen and waited for the report
er to speak.
rs this Mrs. Ward?'
Yes sir" said the woman, pleas
sntly.
4 see you have filed a suit for di-
yorce in which you state that you was
married in Wichita in 1868 The Ea agla
a
those early days, and about your mar
riage."
Yes sir. We We're ma rried here in
1865 on the 9Th day of December"
There We're no county records here
then. Where did you get a license?'
We 2oJ our license at FL Dorado in
Butler county and Judge Thomas who
Ter county came over here and mar
ried us"
In what part of the city were you
married."
This question caused Mrs. Ward TO
smile. and she said: There was no
city here"
My father. DR. Lewellen. had n
ranch or trading post on Chisholm
creek just east Of where the packing
houses now stand. He had a house
with four rooms and we were married
there There were no houses down in
this part of the city then. MIR. Durfee
had ranch on the Little rive just
above the Woodman place and he was
our nearest neighbor.
WAS not Uncle Bill Greifenstein
here them"
II guess he had been here. but I had
never seen him at that time. | do not
think he lived hero then. All the coun-
try round was covered with prairie
grass and there was only an occasional
ranch"
Have you lived here ever since you
we're married."
Yes. ever since
rs your husband at home. Mrs.
Ward@"
YES sir. he is here in the house" she
said. but Mr.. Ward did not come 10 the
door
When the reporter bid Mrs. Ward
good day and thanked her for her
kindness he EXPRESSED the hone that she
and her husband would make up and
live happily again.
The tears twinkled on her eyelashes
and dropped on her cheeks AT this suG-
gesticn. but the good woman made no
reply.