The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-09
THE 'SQUIRES.
JenersOnvilIe's Quartet of Matrimon
ial Magistrates.

Louisville Commercial
While the quartet of matrimonial magis-
trates in Jeffersonville are not averse 10
notoriety, that being one of the essentials
to their success. yet they are not at all
DESTROYS of securing that class of advertis-
ing furnished them by the press of this and
surrounding States recently in a manner
not complimentary to them.
Much interest has always been manifest
ed in the personality of these marrying
magistrates" but little concerning them is
known except that they can perform mar
riages with neatness and dispatch. Justice
Hause on Monday was for the first time in
two years able to take a ride around the
city. He has been suffering from v~aricose
veins, and has been confined to his bed.
This did not interfere with his marriage
business, however. as he continued to tie
the nuptial knot while perched up in bed.
His life has been a varied one. He was at
one time a drummer, later was in the en-
ploy of the government, was for several
years a reporter on a Louisville paper, and
has, in fact, been engaged In almost every
line of business imaginable. He prides him.
self on the fact that his birthday comes on
the same date as that of Queen Victoria,
and he never fails to celebrate the event
in proper style. AS to his age, he confesses
to thirty-ive, although he is known to
have lived in Jeffersonville at least forty
five years.
Justice l.. F. Warder is a man of very
dignified bearing. and impresses every one
as a gentleman and a scholar. For sixteen
years he served as mayor of Jefersonville
and had a state reputation as a politician.
He was often mentioned in connection with
the Democratic nomination for Congress in
the Third district. He was for some time
assistant ~doorkeeper of the United States
Senate, the late Senator Voorhees, having
q u-or0a nHoor ff1> >.r
ing the mayors office he retired to his
farm near the city, where he prospered and
regained his health. Moving again to JEFF
fe~rsonville, he was elected justice of the
peace, and is a Democratic candidate for
reelection. Justice Warder is a man past
sixty and widely known.
Justice b. 7. Nixon succeeded to the
mantle of the late Squire Ephraim Keig-
win, the original marrying squire, whose
fame was not confined to the limits of this
or surrounding States. During his life
time Squire Keigwin made happy or un-
happy, as the results proved. more thar
10000 persons. At his death Justice Nixon
was appointed to succeed him. Nixon is
the father-in-law of Keigwin's only son
and the business is thus practically kept
In the family. His business is that of a
matchmaker. and he still sticks TO his
trade. His store is but a short distance
from his marriage parlors, and he can be
secured at a moments notice. Justice
Nixon is probably sixty years old, but
does not look IT. He does an excellen,
business in the matrimonial line and has
the handsomest marriage parlors in the
city. He marries a large number of per.
sons who make engagements with him in
advance
Justice James B. Prewitt is the only Re-
publican of the four. He is a cripple and
an old soldier. He does. according to mis-
own statement, "a nice quiet business
He has no runners out n depends or
his own efforts. Many clippers prefer tina,
he should perform the marriage ceremony
for them. As a rule the magistrates are
not on the best of terms. although the hos
tilities never reach an open breach. The
runners engage in a fight occasionally
but this is soon smoothed over.