The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-12-04

Is marriage faliuroF Wen, not n
ways-not II you have two wives.
In these diyorce-ridden days a man
Is counted lucky II he lives out long
lifetime happily with one woman. but
Abso.Om Woolf-it is part OF the story
that he lives in Utah-has spent more
than nifty years as the husband OF
two women. with never a cloud on the
domestic horizon. lie married them
both on the same day. In fact. he had
what you might call double wedding.
and the happy brides had only one
thought-to make their beloved bride
groom happy. Mr.. MoOlf declares that
they succeeded in the superlatiye de-
gree. and last year. when the trio cele-
hrated their golden wedding. each Of
the aged wives declared that she never
had felt single pang OF jealousy dur
Ing the half century Of nuptial bliss.
The Woolfs live at Hyde Park. Utah.
and up 10 the time Of their golden
wedding the world had not discovered
their unparalleled romance. Even in
the Mormon Church. 10 which they
belong. IL Is said no such occasion ever
has occurred before. and the happy
trio received congratulations with
something OF wonderment They are
not society folks and are not used to
the notice OF the world.
II We had known that our matri-
mOnial career was going 10 arouse
such a commotiOn I don't believe we'd
have had any golden wedding" said
Mr. Noolf. Were just common folks.
and don't want people making a fuss
over US just because we've lived to-
gether fifty years If We hadn't in
tended TO be happy We wouldn't have
married. would We ! can't see that
We've done any more than our duty.
for it's the duty OF married folks 10
get along IN peace and harmony"
True enough. Mr.. WOOlf. And they
all mean 10 do their duty and 10 live
happy ever after-when they're mar
ried. But they do not all possess
your secret.
The marriage of Mr.. Woolf. which
occurred April 10. 1857. in the Nor
mon Endowment house in Salt Lake
City. WAS the result OF an unusual TO-
nance Of the pioneer days. The young
women We're Lucy Ann Hambleton and
Harriet Wood. and each maiden had
just passed her sixteenth year. Miss
Hambleton was an Indiana girl. while
Miss Wood came from the prairies OF
Illinois They were both beauties and
still retain the charm that comes 10
those who grow old happily
Absolom WOolf. called Apply" by
his wives and friends. was born in
Pelham. Westchester county. y. Y, in
1892 He was one OF the original
converts 10 MOrmOnism and was with
that sturdy band OF pioneers who
made the plunge into the desert in
lS41. two years before the gOld-seekers
Jared across the continent TO CalifOr-
MIA The two young girls who after
ward became his brides were in the
same party.
Il was the custom in those days for
people 70 marry early. and Mr.. WoOh
began keeping company" with Miss
Wood before she was fifteen. They
lived az Nephi 100 miles south OF
salt Lake City. Even al that early
day Salt Lake City was the Mecca Of
the MOrmons. who made semi-annual
pilgrimages there to attend the con-
ferences Of the church Upon one such
pilgrimage Miss Wood remained in
the central city with friends. and thus
the two lovers were separated.
There were no mails ia Utah al that
day. but gossip seems 10 have tray
eled with as much speed as at the
present dav While WOolf did not
hear from his sweetheart directly. he
heard in a round about way that she
was being wooed with much fervor
hy a young man Of the city. Later
he heard from what seemed 10 BE- a
reliable source that Miss Wood was
married.
Although ne was much grieyed by
the news. Mr. Woolf determined TO
show the young woman that there
was just as good fish in the sea as the
one he had failed TO land. He found
that Miss Hambleton was ready to
comfort him. and before he knew 1t
he found out that pity was akin 10
love They became engaged. and he
thought he had put the faithless girl
out II his heart altogether.
Just before the date set for the
wedding Miss Wood returned from
Salt Lake City. and Mr.. WoOlf found
ont when II appeared 10 be too late
that Dame Rumor was a preyaricator
Miss Wood had not married. Not only
that. but she had not even a lover in
Salt Lake City. and her heart still
chung with fond tenderness to the
young man IN Nephi who as she be
lieyed. was waiting faithfully for her
return.
This was an embarrassing position
for the young man as well as for the
girls But al that time polygamy was
an open tenet OF the Mormon Church
and il offered a way out. II was not
even then the custom to have double
weddings" however. the faithful fol-
lowers 81 Brigham Young making IL
a practice 10 take their honeymoon
on the installment plan.
Mr.. Woolf waited a while TO see II
the dilemma would not settle itself.
But time showed that the two girls
really loved him. and be could not