Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-06-26
BE REMINISCENCES.

I A''''' ''N'i i'iAAiiE litlt lOI lllt DlSt
few weeks, is one of Alma's pioneer
women, and recounts many pleasing
"reminiscences Of the days of the early
sixties. She was then Mrs. G.. W. .Jen-
ningS. Her husband came here in 1886.
and settled on what is now known as
the Taylor farm, four miles south of
Alma, where he lived for about four
years, and then moved into the village
and purchased the old saw and griSt
mil, standing near the present ID. l.. q
n. depot For several years he lum-
bered very extensively, and in 1864 built
a saw and planning mill ON the south
SIDE OF the river, near where Lumon
Gees residence now stands He run
the saw and planning mill about five
years and then changed it into sash.
| door and blind factory, and operated if
| until his death, which occurred in 1882.
Very soon after coming to this township
Mr.. Jennings was elected justice Of the
| peace, and also chosen TO this office after
moving into the village. Alma became a
vertable "Gretna Green" for lovers who
were anxious to be joined in wcdlock. |
and who Gin very many cases wanted
to evade the vigilance Of stern fathers
and mothers. Mrs. Barnes relates
many amusing weddings, at which she
(and few ncighbOrs who CHANGED TO
be present. We're the only witnesses
She tells of one. the contracting parti6s
to which are both living not very many
miles from Alma. They came to Mr..
Jennings house about midnight and
reused the justice from his slumbers.
ana made known their wants. They
entered the sitting room and bashfully
seated themselves on opposite sides of
the room. Both appeared to bc exceed-J
lngly nervous, as though dreading to see
some one enter the room and carry one
or both Of them away. The would-be
bride was apparently the more excited. q
and as the fellow made no move toward c
having the knot tied. she arose from her I
seat, crossed the room to where he was :
sitting, took him by the arm and led him Z
N front OF the justice, with the stern r
command to "go ahead and be quick f.
'bout It, In another minute thcv ~
we're husband and wife, and departed. ~
he bride smiling benignantly on her
husband ,
\ man by the name of Priest came "
ere from Ohio and built house near =
he cemetery. He had IA daughter.
erfect Amazon III size, being more than r.
N feet tail, and finely proportoned
here was little fellow named Wick. p,
'lre, who was in the employ of Black r.
aWk Holiday This large woman and
tile man fell madly in love with each te
iher, and one Sunday evening came TO r,
usticc Jennings house to be married NJ
i ferrlngton, and the woman who is
oW ms wife were there spending the at,
iy with Justice and Mrs. jennings de-
ld were the witnesses to this marriage So,
he bride wore pink calico gown. NJ,
men from Its scant proportions was dor
ldently not intended for a wedding
eSs, pink sun bonnet and had
pair of black wooden mit..
rs. The groom's trousers and vest 10
ere borrowed from Mr.. Holiday. and 10
ted the wearcr with lots of room to La
are On his head he had a brown pro
t, from the crown of which dangled q ent
ight red tassle. The ipstica tool, +ho gre
low out doors TO talk with him. prob peo
ly TO deliver the pre- nuptial lecture. llt'
hlle they We're absent, Mrs. Jennings am
rSuaded the SOon-to-be bride TO remove aho
sun bonnet and mittens but lust Kho
-ore the bridal party stood up TO hear ana
lnounced the words which made the /
VAN one flesh, " the bride put them eau
and wore them drripe, tbo oo,.o,,,,,,,,- div,
e groom had to be asked TO take off eau
nat, and was so frightened that he eau
lld hardly tell his name or age. All heh
5 accomplished in due time however. the
lgratulations and kisses exchanged. tam
l the newly welded couple departed. deta
ssfully happy and unconscious of the entl
usement afforded the witnesses by sucl
II strange appearance VIM
lrs Barnes saws that in 1890 +horo tenn
but one frame dwelling house in stat
place. This was built by Mrs dey'
;hel kress, and is the house now Fer' !
upled by DIR. COwles on State street. Ter
Pollasky's general store stood about gam
ere ms handsome home now stands. ihte
rgett d Hulburt had just completed the
were moving into tbair ,o,,, - have
the site where now stands !. w. than
me implement store. There was a lor
ION IN almost every building in town. If
on occasions when the lumbermen 500
loggers came down the river and serio
up here for few days, this portion DoW'
la Cratic, ,,.,, P'- 'i'' are
-. "'''' iii''eeu' hoWhng to pa
'0i iIoss' risk