Mr. George Atwell, formerly of Massachusetts, and Mrs.
Windsor, formerly of Parkersburg, W. Va., were united in marriage at
the home of the bride, on Virginia avenue, Saturday, September 18,
the Rev. Northrop, officiating.
Mr. Atwell, who is 75 years of age, saw active service in
the 17th Massachusetts regiment, and in Company E, 23rd
Massachusetts Infantry.
The newly married couple are contemplating an extensive
honeymoon trip through the northern states, and will visit the
bride's home in West Virginia.
One of the finest weddings that has transpired in St.
Cloud occurred Wednesday, April 18th, at the home of the groom,
Comrade Barager, at 2 p. m. The bride, Mrs Sarah Haney, has a large
host of friends here. She is the sister of James F. Bullard, one of
the noted comrades of our community; prominent as a former commander
of our Mitchell Post, and an ex-commander of the Department of
Florida G. A. R.
Comrade Barager is one of our good citizens who came in the
early days of St. Cloud, and whose faith in his home town helped to
develop it into the "Wonder City," as proven by his well appointed
home with its well kept and productive grounds.
At the appointed hour the couple entered to the time of a
wedding march and took their stand beneath crossed flags - twins of
Old Glory. The service was what is termed the "ring" wedding, a
beautiful ring, the gift of the groom, being used in the ceremony,
which was performed by Rev. W. Frank Kenney.
Many fine presents were displayed, and these, with the
numerous friends present, testified to the loving approval of all
who witnessed the minister demonstrate the old example in addition
of one and one make one. Blessings and congratulations followed;
then music, while delicious refreshments were well served and
heartily appreciated.
Photos of united ones and their guests were taken, the party
grouping on the lawn; pleasant talks and stories; then about 4 p. m.
the big crowd dispersed after heart-felt good wishes bestowed upon
the newlyweds.
The happy couple had as guests: Rev. Kenney and wife, James
Bullard and wife, Mayor Levi Shambow and wife, J. I. Cummings and
wife, Wm. Francher and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Hart and her daughter
Emma, W. Wise and wife, W. R. Lawrence and wife, C. V. Kenney and
wife, J. K. Houston and wife, W. C. Russell and wife, Mrs. W. J.
Carter, S. M. Hunt and wife, A. A. Griswold and wife, Charles M.
White and wife, A. Sebring and wife, Mrs. H. DeGerald, D. H. Hill
and Burt Baxter and wife.
The wedding tour will be a long one, as it will be at the
residence of the Baragers, where they will be at home to their many
friends.
(info is from Civil War Database, wives obits, census, city
directory, courthouse marriage record. Margaret & Mary are buried in
Mt. Peace.)
BOWER - RICHARDS
ST. CLOUD TRIBUNE, October 21, 1911, front pg.
ST. CLOUD'S FIRST MILITARY WEDDING
Post and Drum Corps Attend Marriage of Comrade Bower and Miss
Richards
One of the most unique affairs of interest to St. Cloud society
in a long time occurred Tuesday morning, October 17, at 10 o'clock
in the marriage of Mr. L. Q. Bower of this city, and Miss Hannah
Richards, of Rio Grande, Ohio. The wedding ceremony was witnessed by
about a hundred relatives and friends. It was a very cosmopolitan
gathering, nearly every State in the Union being represented.
The bride was very becomingly gowned in a traveling suit
of
champange [sic]-colored cloth, with white satin waist and white kid
gloves, and carried a shower bouquet of white roses and asparagus
fern. The groom wore the conventional black.
They were attended by Mr. and Mrs. Dickey Bower, bride and
groom of last week, Mrs. Bower wearing her wedding dress of white
silk.
This being the first military wedding in St. Cloud, the
members of the G. A. R. post were out in full force, and to the
stirring strains of music by the Drum Corps, the bridal party
marched between files of veterans drawn up in lines on the porch.
Each one gave the military salute as they passed.
They were met at the porch by Mr. and Mrs. Ralls and
conducted to their places in the arch between the rooms, where they
were united in marriage by the Rev. Frank Kenney, of the Christian
Church, assisted by Rev. J. B. Westcott, of the Methodist Church,
part of the ring service being used. After hearty congratulations,
refreshments of ice cream, cake and fruit were served by Mrs.
McGill, Mrs. Hyre and daughter, Miss Neva Large, and Mrs. Hendrix,
assisted by members of the choir. The whole was under the
supervision of Mrs. Charles Hughes. During the serving of the
refreshments the Union choir sang sweetly several selections. The
house was profusely decorated with flowers of every kind and color.
The wedding gifts were handsome and numerous, attesting the great
respect for the groom, who is well and favorably known here, being
one of the pioneers of St. Cloud. The bride, who is a stranger to
most of the people, having but recently come to our city, is a
life-long friend of some of our best families and was the guest of
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hughes of Massachusetts Avenue at the time of
the marriage. The bridal party threw all conventionality to the wind
and marched with most of the company to the station, escorted by the
Drum Corps, where amid a shower of rice they took the morning train
for a short wedding trip.
Mr. and Mrs. Bower will be at home to their friends after
October 25 at their pretty new bungalow on Massachusetts Avenue.
Before leaving for the train the popular artist, Mr. Pike, made a
picture of the whole company grouped on the porch.
DEMMON - JOHNSTON
Source: St. Cloud Tribune, 13 Apr 1916
Wedding Bells
Editor Tribune:-
Another comrade has gone - into matrimony.
Mr. O. J. Demmon, of 321 Minnesota avenue, and
Mrs. Sadie Johnston, were joined in holy wedlock at the home of the
grrom, by Rev. J. B. Wescott, on the 8th ultimo, the bride coming
from Missouri. They were both old acquaintances while living at
Lusk, Wyoming, where Comrade Demmon was one of the old pioneers,
having helped to form the territory of Wyoming.
O. J. Demmon was in the service in Company I?,
15th Illinois Volunteer infantry, and of Company H., 8th Illinois
Volunteer Cavalry, serving over three years, and one of the pioneers
of St. Cloud.
The Tribune congratulates this worthy couple and
wishes them much happiness.
GORDON - DIXON
Source: St Cloud Tribune, 5 Oct 1916
VET 94 TAKES ON FIFTH BRIDE WHOS IS 78
General Charles A. Gordon, ninety-four years old
on September 29th, married his fifth wife, Mrs. Margaret E. Dixon,
seventy-eight, says a Colorado Spring special to the press. All his
wives have been widows. His only child, a son seventy-eight years
old, attended today's wedding. The son is father of fifteen
children, all of whom are married.
General Gordon's first marriage was in London in
1837. He saw service in the Punjab war in India and in the Sepoy
rebellion. He attained the rank of Captain for service under General
Colin Campbell, being in the famous relief of Lucknow when the
starving garrison was cheered by the Scottish bagpipers playing "The
Campbells Are Coming."
General Gordon came to the United States in time
to enlist in a New York regiment in the Civil war. Now he is
caretaker at a street car barn and is hale and hearty.
This recalls a comrade who lived in St. Cloud
some years ago who had served in all the wars above mentioned. The
fighting record of the St. Cloud veteran was unknown locally,
however, until after his death.
Transcriber's Note: Does anyone know which St. Cloud
veteran is referred to within this article?
HOPPIE
Source: St. Cloud Tribune, 22 Mar 1917
MARRIED FIFTY YEARS
Comrade Ernest Hoppie, a veteran of the Civil
war, came here from Germany sixty years ago and made his home in
Foster, Ohio, subsequently moving to St. Cloud, Florida. The
celebration of their golden wedding took place at the Runnymede
Hotel, just east of St. Cloud, their entire family of eighteen
coming from the West to be present at the celebration. Comrade
Hoppie, notwithstanding his age, is a man of fine Physique. They
have they Hearty congratulations of their scores of friends.
LAMB - ROSS
Source: St Cloud Tribune, 3 Feb 1916
Peter Lamb and Wife Have Golden Wedding
The following, taken from the Washington Star of
January 30th tells of the golden wedding to be celebrated by Mr. and
Mrs. Peter Lamb, two of St. Cloud's most beloved people. The golden
wedding was celebrated in the presence of forty people, headed by
our drum corps, of which Mr. Lamb is a member, and many were the
congratulations this couple received from their numerous friends
from abroad and for many more years of contented and happy life.
The article from the Star follows:
"Mr. and Mrs. Peter Lamb, formerly of this city, will celebrate
Tuesday their golden wedding anniversary at their home in St. Cloud,
Fla. Of their seven living children two are residents of Washington,
Mrs. Fayette Johnson, 1310 Sheperd street, and Mrs. C. B. Haas, 933
G street northwest.
Mr. Lamb was born at Rusaville, Ohio, March 31,
1843. At the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted in Co. K, 17th
Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was three years and four months in
active service.
"February 1, 1866, he married Miss Kibbiah Ross,
who was then but seventeen years old, at her home at Ridge Farm,
Ill. Following a residence of six years in Illinois, Mr. and Mrs.
Lamb moved to Texas, where they resided ten years. Then followed
nine years spent in Ohio, and twenty years in this city. For the
past five years they have lived during the winter at St. Cloud,
where they are prominent in G. A. R. and Woman's Relief Corps work.
Much of their time in the summer is spent in Washington."
ENOS SPAHR
Source: ST. CLOUD TRIBUNE, June 24, 1915
SEVENTY YEARS OLD AND STILL YOUNG
St. Cloud, Fla., June 21, 1915,
S. J. Triplett,
Editor Tribune
Dear Sir: - This picture represents me as I
looked on the seventieth anniversary of my birthday, the 24th day of
April, 1915. Was born in Duncanmon [sic], Perry county,
Pennsylvania, and received a common school education. Enlisted in
Capt. E. R. Newhard's company, mostly from Allentown, Lehigh county,
Penn. We were assigned to Col. Jacob M. Campbell's 54th Regiment and
lettered Company K after our fight on February 1st, at Little
Cacapon, Val, on October 4th, 1862, with Gen. Imboden's command of
Confederates. We were captured and taken to Libbey prison, where we
remained until November 30th, 1862. For putting up a stiff fight at
Little Cacapon we were lettered Company B, and took the right of the
regiment at the second battle at New Market, Shenandoah Valley, May
15, 1864. Next at Kernstown, Piedmont, Lynchburg, Charlestown,
Opequan Creek, Fisher's Mill, Snicker's Gap, Winchester, Fort Gregg,
and last but not least, High Ridge, on the Appomattox river, where
we were again forced to surrender and remained prisoners until
General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General U. S. Grant.
I am one of the boys who drew four days' United
States rations and then dividing the same amongst the Confederates
while a prisoner with them. We got from them two tablespoonfuls of
cornmeal and a slice of bacon about as thick as your finger and as
broad as three fingers. That was between the 6th and 9th of April,
1865. We were sent to camp parole, when I got transportation to
Harrisburg, Dauphin county, Penn., and was discharged May 5th, 1865,
after thirty-nine months of hard service.
Respectfully
Enos Spahr,
Cos. K and B 54th Reg. Pa. Vol. Inf.
(Transcriber's note - when type was set prior to
printing of the newspaper article, a couple of lines were set wrong
and the article did not read properly. I have taken the liberty of
placing these lines in the correct place for clearer reading.)
2 May 1918
Flag Raising and Reminiscenes of "Sixties" at Empson Home
At the home of Mr. W. H. Empson, corner of Jersey avenue and
Eleventh street, a large number of persons were present for the flag
raising exercises held last Monday, that date being the anniversary
of the liberation of Mr. Empson from the Andersonville prison.
Exercises opened with a prayer by Rev. J. B. Wescott, and the
flag was raised while the drum corps played an anthem. This was
followed by a pleasant talk descriptive of the flag by Rev. Wescott
and a history of the origin of the Star Spangled Bannyer by Francis
Scott Key, of Baltimore.
A reading by A. W. Dougherty of that splendid poem by Rodman
Drake "The American Flag," was enjoyed by the large number present.
A number of patriotic airs were played by the drum corps.
Comrade Empson then gave a short history of his service in the
Union army. He was a member of Company A, 124th Ohio Infantry, and
was captured at Chickamauga (River of Death,) Ga. When he enlisted
he weighed 125 pounds and when captured 145 pounds. He was sent to
Scott prison, Richmond, in November, and to Danville, Va in the
winter of 1863-64, and in the spring of 1864 was sent to
Andersonville, Ga., when he only 100 pounds, He was put in a
hospital in October, 1864, badly crippled, one leg being drawn up
and it was five months before he could put his foot to the ground.
He left the hospital on Dec. 20, 1864 and was placed in the stockade
at Andersonville where he was confined until April 17th 1865 when he
was sent to points of exchange. Means of communication being broken
between Johnston's army and Macon, Brigadier Gen. W. W. Nelson, of
the Union forces made a raid from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., and
tore up the railroad. He was then sidetracked on the 18th of April
1865 at Macon, Georgia, where he remained one day and was returned
to Andersonville. The prisoners were kept on the train but rations
were issued and they were then taken 60 miles to Albany, Ga., where
they remained for three days. They were then marched 64 miles to
Thomasville, Ga., where they took cars for Jacksonville, Fla.
Twenty-four miles from Jacksonville they were taken from the train
on account of the tracks being torn up between the opposing forces.
This was on the 28th of April, 1865. A train manned by Union
soldiers came out from Jacksonville to take them to the Union lines
at that place. Mr. Empson then weighed only 65 pounds. Rations of
salt pork and bread were issued to the returning prisoners who had
been without food so long that they ate ravenously and a number died
that night. They remained three days at Jacksonville and went by
boat to Annapolis, Md. Mr. Empson was discharged June 20th, 1865 and
reached his home in Western New York July 4th, 1865, weighing only
65 pounds.
This interesting bit of history was enjoyed by all those present.
Among those present were: E. M. Holden who was master of ceremonies;
Comrade Stebbins, 82 years old; C. L. DePew, James Goff, J. T.
Burbank, W. A. Stewart, J. N. Wright, J. N. Burch, A. W. Dougherty,
Mr. Brown, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Vreeland, Rev. J. B. Westcott, Mr.
Stuart, M. D. Kansas, Rev. Stewart, of the Presbyterian church; Mrs.
M. W. Veeder, Mrs. Annie Ansbaugh, Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Fred Quimby,
Mrs. Stebbins, Mrs. Lamb, Mrs. Depew.
The ladies served coffee and sandwitches and all accorded the day
well spent.
Transcribed and donated by Anza Bast, a member of the
Genealogy Club of Osceola County, 2006
