The Indianapolis journal., 1899-01-17
SQUIRE HAUsE's RECORD.
The Man Who Started a Rival Gretna
Green Office.


Green Office.
st. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Jeffersonville, Ind, is the ''marryingest"
town in the United States. It is the Gretna
Green for youthful lovers and eloping cou-
pies from Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and
from States even farther away. 1t is a mar
riage market just as st. Louis is a mule
market and Pittsburg a coal market For
twenty years men have flourished and be-
come rich from the proceeds of marriage
ceremonies hastily performed 'Squires were
aroused from sleep at midnight or later q
thousand times to unite in marriage couples
who had fed from home to escape parental
wrath or for other reasons. Others hied to
this Gretna Green for the sake of novelty
Many got married for the fun of it, only to
repent an hour or a day later Bigamy
was made possible, and many cases are
recorded through the laxness of Indiana
laws and the great facility with which
license to marry can be obtained.
But all this may be changed. The situ-
alton has become so serious, so notorious
that a strong effort is being made to have
the Indiana Legislature take up the mat
ter and enact more stringent laws concern
ing the issuance of marriage licenses.
the term marriage market as applied
rimony has become a traffic. 1t is a source
of great revenue to a considerable number
of persons. For years the market was 'cor-
nered' by Squire Ephraim Keigwin, who
died month ago, and who was known as
the Marrying Squire" For a quarter of a
century he was magistrate, and during
that time married no less than 1900 elopers.
He was the idol of all who desired assist
ance in matrimonial ways until, in an evil
moment, he encountered the opposition and
enmity of John Hause.
Hause, being a shifty and resourceful man,
and seeing an opportunity to make money
rapidly, secured an appointment as justice
of the peace. But this result was not at
tanned without desperate struggle. Keig-
win realized the danger he was in and
fought Hauses appointment to a finish
When Hause succeeded in obtaining it he
incurred the everlasting enmity of Justice
Keigwin.
At once a spirited fight for supremacy
commenced. Hause at once fitted up an
office on Front street, just at the head of
the walk leading up from the ferry that runs
to Louisville. The door was framed with
signs six feet long, announcing to the mar
rying public that the marital boon was
furnished within and that matrimonial
knots were tied with neatness and dispatch.
In addition to this runner" was en-
ployed. He haunted the ferries, depending
upon his judgment to pick out eloping
couples, offered them assistance in reach
ing the marriage license office and then
ploted them to Justice Hauses establish
ment.
From that time forward Kegwin's busi-
ness was doomed In addition to his per-
sonal activity in drumming up trade, he
had a soft voice and a good flow of lam
guage and could put the finishing touches
on a ceremony in a manner to please the
most fastidious bride. In the interior of
Kentucky where so many elopers came
from Justice Hause is a celebrity. His
photograph is on the wall of many a noun
tain cabin and is pointed out to visitors with
pride.
For ten months Justice Hause has been
afflicted so that he cannot walk But that
does not interfere with his business. He
reclines on a bed in his Office and marries
all corners in the same old way.
During the six years he has been in Office
Justice Hause has performed the marriage
ceremony for no less than five thousand
elopers He averages about one hundred
couples a month.
Squire B. T. Nixon, who was appointed
after the death of Squire Keigwin, recent
ly married forty couples in seven days.
The fees received by these officers vary
| greatly in character and value. Sometimes
! the fee is only a thank you or a God
bless you" Again 1t is a Barlow knife or
| check for $50
| licenses not only pays the salary Of the
goodly sum into the county treasury quar-
| terly.
! A suit Is now pending at Jeffersonville, in