The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-10-01
GROOM TOTTERS
TO MEET BRIDE
Aged Couple, Separated More
Than Forty Years, Kiss
and Forget Ancient Feud
MARRY. A SECOND TIME
Unique Romance in Belated
Wedding of the Gentrys,
Divorced for Many Years
Oakland Office San Francisco Call.

Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
1915 Broadway, Sept. 80.
Separated in 1852 when Civil War
issues rent. more than one home. and
divorced ten years after the war, John
and Martha Gentry were remarked to-
day, both being so old and feeble that
it was with difficulty they carried out
the forms required by law. Justice of
the Peace Geary performed the cere-
mony. Mrs. Gentry signed the County
Clerks roll for her husband. His hand
shook so that he could not write his
name.
II ought to stand at your right while
We. do this, Martha" said the old man,
bent With his weight of three score
and ten years, as he and his aged bride
stood before the Justice.
Yes. JOHN" responded the beaming
old lady, Il guess you haven't for
gotten how it is done. You've been
married before, you know
Romance to delight the souls of the
sentimental and bring a bit of mist to
the eyes of all lovers, youthful or aged,
is found in the history of this old
couple They met by accident on a
ferTyboat several months ago not hav-
ing seen each other for more than a
quarter of a century. Then and there
they agreed to kiss and make up. Mr..
Gentry lived in this city with a mar
Vied daughter, Mrs. Catherine Carpen-
ter. and. Mrs. Gentry had a home Of
her own at 1122 Twenty third avenue.
Recently the married daughter moved
her chattels to a boarding house. thus
depriving the aged man Of his home.
The former wife of Mr.. Gentry took
him in at that time. and after few
weeks, in which the old people agreed
to forget the animosities of the past
and again begin life .as husband and
wife; the County Clerks office was
sought and a marriage license pro-
cured.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gentry were married
on October 12,' 1854. They had been
playmates in childhood in Kentucky,
but when the girl came TO California
with. her family in. 1919 tfentry thought
a childhood romance was at an end.
in few years, however, she returned
and at the age OF IL was married to
her present husband. Eight years they
lived together, children were born and
a happy home was the outcome of the
match, but when the Civil War came
husband and wife were ranged on op-
posite sides of the conflict
Her sympathies were. with the North,
his with the South. and in fit of tenn
per following a discussion of the
slavery issue Gentry left home and
went TO the war, joining the Confed-
crate forces. He did not return, even
when the war had closed. Mrs Gen
try, believing that he had been killed
or had deserted her, obtained a divorce
in 1874 She came to California with
her children, one of whom married a
Ms. CARPENTER. The other is an en-
gineer employed by the Standard Oil
Company in San Francisco. and living
at SIP Sixth street in this city.
Mr. Gentry. too came to California
He says. he built the first house con-
structed in the Yosemite. He resided
with his daughter here. His former
wife was in the same city, but they
did not come together again until their
accidental meeting on the ferryboat.
I'VE are Christians now" said the
aged lady to-day, 'and we thought 1t
fit that the past be buried and that we
live together again as husband and
wife 1t is better that way"