Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-07-23
Iowa Couple Enter Into An
Agreement to Live Together
Fifteen Years
LAY DOWN RULES FOR LIVING
Question Of Who Shall Build the Fires,
Bring the Wood and Carry Water
Settled and Put in Writing-Increase
in the Family is to Be Limited to
Three-Both Parties Wealthy.

mony, altho both are, comparatively
| speaking, rich. Twice each had been
married and twice divorced.
| When, therefore, seeking a consola-
ton prize, Harding asked Mrs. Engei-
| brecht to be his, extreme caution at
| tended her affirmative response.
Wed better lay down some rules to
go by" she said, and Harding agreed.
The result was the most remarkable
| nuptial contract ever drawn in Iowa,
and, perhaps, in the world. Veteran
lawyers say they have never seen any
thing quite like it.
1t arranges for almost every possible
contingency that may arise in the we'd
ded life of two people
The contract plainly sets forth who
shall build the fires, when the husband
may bring home guests to meals, when
the relatives of each shall visit them.
how the money is to be divided, how
often the wife may attend social func-
tons without being scowled at-and
even fixes a limit to the number of
possible future Hardings.
BY observing in minutest detail the
terms of this remarkable document,
Harding and his taird wife have al
ready enjoyed two months of life to-
gether without cloud appearing in
their matrimonial sky.
Tho Contract.
Text of the contract:
Know all men by .hese presents:
That we, by the terms OF this agree
ment made this Sd day of May, A ID.
1905. between Isaiah f. Harding of the
county of Dallas and state of Iowa,
party of the first part, and Isabella
Engelbrecht of the county of Polk and
state of Iowa, of the second part, do
hereby bind ourselves by this covenant
TO cary out entire and in detail the
terms of this solemn obligation. so that
we, as man and wife, may dwell to-
gether in peace and harmony so long
as this said covenant shall be in force
towit: From the said Sd day of May
A. d. 1906 until the Sd day of May, A.
ID. 1921, period of fifteen years
1t is hereby agreed and stipulated be-
tween said Isaiah +. Harding, party of
the first part, and said Isabella Engel-
brecht, party Of the second part, that
if, at the end of fifteen years aforesaid
described, we, or either of us, shall
have cause to believe that such union
is not for the best interests of either
of us. the said sarne union shall be
terminated by either party without
further Formally: providing that, If at
any time during this period above set
forth, either should wish to relinquish
the bonds of matrimony, such action
shall not be taken except with due
process of law.
We hereby agree that we shall
Jointly and severally settle upon the
children of each by former marriage
one-half of the estate of each, the said
one-half of the estate of the party of
the first part to be settled upon his
children and the said one-half of '',a
party of the second part upon her
cnilaren. Deeds and papers TO tn.s
effect shall be duly signed, transferred
and recorded upon the completion of
this covenant And this shall be re-
garded as applying to personal prop
erty as we'll as REAL
Household Regulations.
And we hereby bind ourselves to the
faithful performance of the following
stipulations, SO far as within us lies:
Isaiah F. Harding, party of the first
part, agrees that Isabella Engelbrecht.
party of the second part, shall, upon
her wedding to hin., the party of the
first part receive each week the sum
of SIS with which to defray the houses
hold expenses; but it is understood
that he, the party Of the first part,
Oh oil ,ic1, f,,n
1t is expressly understood from this
union shall come not more than three
children. Upon the birth of each, or
any child, the above amount of SIS
per week shall be increased SO per
week.
The party Of the second part shall
furnish domestic help, and to assist her
in this she shall be allowed the finan-
cial output of the poultry and one
COW from the farm herd. But if for any
reason it shall be found necessary to
dispense with domestic help, then it
shall be the duty Of the husband to
build the fires and prepare the morn
ing meals for six rnonths thruout the
winter, and for the wife to build the
fires and prepare the morning meals
for the remaining six months of the
year.
Neither party shall invite guests to
the house except with the express
permission of the other, and then not
oftener than twice per week; relatives
shall not be allowed to visit the fam
lily, except that relatives of the party
of the first part shall be permitted to
visit the home at any time within the
first two weeks of The month of May;
relatives of the party of the SECOND
part within the last two weeks of the
month of October. This shall not re
late in any way 20 the children OF
either of the parties of this cove
nant.
Must Go to Church.
If the parties to this covenant shall
remove to the city to live it is agrees
that in addition to the costs mention
ed above, party of the first part shall
pay ice and gas expenses Further
more, it shall be the privilege of the
party of the second part to attend two
social functions each week, one %
which, if the parties reside in the city.
shall be the theater: and this expense
shall be borne by the party of the frs
part.
Each Sunday the party of the frs
part shall escort and accompany tn
party of the second, part to church il
the morning and again in the evening
should she desire 1t.
Party OF the first part shall keep UP
- i HI ~