The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-23
OVER Fifty YEARS AGO
ELI WILLIAMS AND CORNELIA
CURRY FIRST COUPLE TO
WE'D IN ST. PAUL
MARRIED BY J. B. WAKEFIELD
Interesting Incidents I'm the Early
History of Ramsey County Dis
trict COurt-Weddfngs Per-
formed by Mgr Ravoux.

Il will probably be Of interest to know
that the fifth marriage license ever taken
out in Ramsey county was issued Dec.
g. 1849, to James Macpen and Lucinda
MilIett They were married the same
day, and were one of the first five
coupies married in this county to spend
Christmas here. The license was issued
by Ira Kingsley, one of the first JUS
tees of the peace, land they were also
| married by him. The marriage Incense
| records for that year are still preserved
in the office of the clerk of courts, and
gotten up in nearly the same style as
they are today. ~
One thing is very noticeable, and that
is that most of thezpeople who took out
marriage licenses half century ago
were from St. Anthony Falls now known
as Minneapolis. &
The first marriage license was taken
out by Eli Williams and Cornelia Curry
Nov. s, 1S49, and was issued by Justice
of the Peace John B.. Wakefield, who
also performed the marriage ceremony.
The next was issued to Beanski
Stanesloas and Mary Ellen Brown on
Nov. 10, 1S49, by Justice Wakefield. They,
however, took occasion to have the mar
rage ceremony performed by minister,
and We're married by Chauncey Hobert,
who was the first Methodist minister or
missionary in this part of the country
The third old settler to take out a IL
cense was William Quinn, supposed to
be the well known half-breed interpreter
who was married to Miss Angelica JEFF
fries by Mgr. Ravoux, who was then
known as Father Ravoux. The marriage
took place Nov. 20, 1849, in the presence
of several old settlers. Mgr Ravoux is
| still living, and makes his headquarters
at the Cathedral. He is eighty-f1ve years
old, and is staying at st. Jo-
| seph's hospital. A peculiar feat
IRE Of The records is the
way in which Mgr. Ravoux made his re-
turns to the clerk of courts, as in almost
every case he would give the names of
two or more prominent people who at
tended the wedding and always ended up
by saying, land many Others" The IL
cense for Quinn was issued by Justice OF
| the Peace Samuel H. Dent Mr.. Quinn is
still alive and living at 52S Orleans street.
! The next lucky man to secure a permit
| to get married was Julius GirouX, who
married Miss Henrietta Delaunet, Nov.
| 26, 1849. This marriage license was Is
| sued by Wakefield and the marriage GER
! emory performed by Mgr. Ravoux.
A great many people know old James
K: Hgmphry, who is still living at 655
clerk of the district court in Ramsey
county, and as such had the pleasure of
| issuing the Seventh marriage license ever
issued in the county, Dec. 81, 1S49, to Eli
Pettijohn and Lucy Prescott. They were
married by Rev 2. p. Neill, the first
Episcopal missionary IN this part of the
Western country, JAM, 1850.
Mr.. Pettijohn is said to be the same
man who invented 'Pettijohns Break
fast Food, which has. become famous.
Justice Wakefield issued a license to
| Christopher Davis, from Coon Creek and
! Cloe Stone, of ST. anthony Falls, Dec. &c,
! 1S49, just one day after, Christmas They
were married by Justice Kingsley, Dec
| 80, of the same year
Next in line comes the name of Hilaire
Bagarjon, who took out. license to mar
ry Angelina Martin, Dec 81. 1S49 They
were also married by Mgr. Ravoux, Jan
! z. 1850. Among the witnesses at this we'd
| ding was Joseph Robert, of the well
| jan s, 1850, James Humphrey received
another fee for issuing license to An
thony F'indley to marry Angelica Rob-
ert, also a member of that old family.
They were married by Mgr. Ravoux, Jan.
| 8, 1850.
Most of the old settlers who were mar
ried in Ramsey county during the early
'5Gs are now dead, and of them nothing
| remains but a memory and their chill