Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-09
Cupid Worked Overtime Last Year
in wapello County.
S5S COUPLES SUCCUNIB TO HIS WILES
Clerk Garrioit and Deputy Wing Have
Become so Expert They Can Always
Tell a Would-be Benedict When
He steps Inside the Office.

Three hundred and fifty-eight mar
riage licenses were issued last year in
Wapello county, a majority of the APP
& plicants for which are residents of the
city of Ottumwa. December leads the
list with forty-nine and generally the
largest number is issued during that
month in all years. The smallest num-
Der. issued was during the month of
August, when but twenty couples were
made happy. In Wapello county the
number of licenses issued for the past
eight years will average one for each
day in the year. To person of spec
ulative turn of mind these figures
would suggest endless mathematical
problems. Each applicant is required
to deposit with the clerk for the use
and benefit of the county the sum of
$1.35 for the privilege of entering the
married state, consequently .$472.30 was
contributed by these people toward the
running expenses of the municipality
during 1890. Surprising each couple
paid the minister or justice of the
peace an average of So as the fee for
Aperforming the ceremony. This item
would enrich that part of the popula-
( tion to the extent of $1,074. If each
couple spent 5000 in furnishing their
home, ST., 800 would be distributed
among the merchants. Suppose--but
never mind, that is enough.
Many amusing things occur at the
counter in the clerks office. The clerk
and his deputy can unerringly discern
purpose of procuring a pair" of Ii
wants known. 1t is somewhat sur
prising to an applicant for the clerk to
get the marriage record, open it and
softly inquire Hwhat is the name
please?" The would-be Benedict in a
majority of the cases will give an em-
barrassed start and humble the name
& he is known by. The question will be
asked the second time by thetclerk be-
cause no man can understand what the
applicant says owing to his embarrass-
ment. What is the lady's name,
please?" inquiries the clerk. Sadie"
says the applicant. SsOh, yes, Sadie.
Um, Sadie, who?" inquiries the official
smoothly if he is feeling well. AT last
the license is procured together with a
string of questions to be answered
when the minister or justice ties the
knot. 1t frequently happens that eth
ger the groom or the bride is not of
age, and perhaps both of them have
not attained the years of discretion.
Papa is brought along and when the
clerk inquiries the age of the applicant
I learns that it is below that required
by law. Papa says it is all right with
him but the clerk says it won't go.
Mama's consent must be obtained,
much TO the discontinue of the pros
pectiye groom. If couples under age,
who intend to travel the thorny road
of nlatrimony. will remember this sug-
gestion it will save them lot of
trouble. Cases have been known where
it is earnestly desired that the clerk
marry the couple. He always replies
that he would be pleased to receive the
fee, but he is afraid the ceremony will
not be exactly legal. A perusal of the
list given below will give some infor-
nation not heretofore known. One of
the papers was returned, the presump-
ing.
Figures for the Year.
The following is the records by
months for the year 1899:
January.
3Albert Wise, Emma Huddleston;
Chas. f. COLLISION, Violet NJ. Ferree;
~. 0. Logan, Jessie May Carter.
Phillip Bridgman, Clara Hellnick;
3 r. g. Rees, Keb, Sarah A. Jones; Frank
Corrigan, Annie Fay; Robert Griffiths,
Keb, Elizabeth A. Tenant; Arthur
Holsey, Daisy Chodat; Alva Christy,
Denver. Col, Clara Stader.
7-Phillep Alderman, Alexandria,
Kate r. Cobler.