Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Counties of Warren, BENTON, Jasper and Newton, Indiana; historical and biographical. by Ed. A. Mossman pub. F. A. Battey & Co., Chicago, 1883 [218-219] EARLY MARRIAGES During the first ten years after the county was created, from 1840 to 1850, there were fifty-four couples married in this county, as follows: Amos White, Sr., and Mary Earheart, August 2, 1840; Jonathan Baugh and Ruth Ann Nolan, October 1, 1840; Marmaduke Jennings and Elizabeth Robertson, October 1, 1840; Samuel Robertson and Sabina Alexander, February 25, 1841; Charles Robertson and Eliza Ann Mitchell, February 25, 1841; John Hilton and Margaret Garland, June 20, 1841; James E. Robertson and Jane Alexander, February 1, 1842; Benjamin Franlin Coffenberry and Bethsheba Oiler, January 31, 1842; Thomas Lewis and Elizabeth McConnell, March 21, 1842; William R. Johnson and Margaret Finch, June 2, 1842; James T. Parker and Rachael N. Justus, August 25, 1842; Eli Mendenhall and Sarah Williams, October 8, 1842; Archibald Morrison and Lawson Groom, March 21, 1843; Henry Van Horn and Louisa Rose, December 14, 1843; John Myers and Sarah Noles, September 5, 1844; John Whittaker and Sarah Smith, September 15, 1844; Joseph Thompson and Elizabeth McConnell, February 26, 1845; Abraham Metsker and Elizabeth Odell, August 27, 1845; James Henry Terwilliger and Mary Griffin, September 19, 1845; John Kelly and Sarah Ann Wood, September 29, 1845; William Wray and Sarah Jane Carson, ____, 1845; Cyrus Stanley and Amanda Beard, February 5, 1846; Thomas Geofrey and Lucinda McCurtain, April 2, 1846; William B. McConnell and Frances Jane Howard, April 7, 1846; John McDade and Esther Martin, April 16, 1846; Thomas Carter and Martha Jolly, June 27, 1846; Elijah Bunnell and Martha Robertson, August 27, 1846; Addison Williams and Catharine Martin, September 10, 1846; Samuel McIlvain and Margaret Lane McConnell, November 5, 1846; James Wylie and Mary Davis, May 27, 1847; John A. Finney and Amanda D. Lane, July 1, 1847; George Shambaugh and Louisa Shoemaker, January 6, 1848; Charles Wattles and Leah Littler, February 6, 1848; John Brown and Sarah Wilson, March 16, 1848; Zebulon M. Wray and Mary Ann Earhart, March 26, 1848; Rinaldo Sutton and Vivena Crayton, February 10, 1848; James A. McConnell and Sarah McIlvain, March 2, 1848; John Gray and Hannah Lewis, April 20, 1848; Hugh McConnell and Margaret M. Johnston, April 20, 1848; John L. McConnell and Elizabeth B. Johnston, August 3, 1848; William Wilkinson and Nancy D. Johnston, August 10, 1848; John M. Cochran and Mary Magdalen Johnston, September 24, 1848; Moses Wilson and Armintha Martin, August 17, 1848; Isaac Templeton and Maria Jennings, January 2, 1849; George W. Freeman and Abigail McIlvain, February 22, 1849; Thomas Smith and Margaret Martin, March 8, 1849; Henry C. Morgan and Mary Elizabeth Liptrap, April 5, 1849; William Courtney and Nancy Ann Robertson, October 3, 1849; Enoch Fenton and Julia Ann Crawford, October 10, 1849; John Hawkins and Margaret Rebecca Sheetz, November 1, 1849; Elijah Denton and Mary Ann Miller, December 6, 1849; Elbert A. Scovill and Mary Ann Thomas, May 12, 1850; Isaac W. Lewis and Lucy McConnell, May 30, 1850; Joseph M. Ferguson and Mary Jane McConnell, June 2, 1850. It will readily be seen by an inspection of the foregoing, that the year 1848 witnessed the culmination of the matrimonial fever for the period of time mentioned, the number of "victims" during that memorable year reaching the then unprecedented number of twelve couples, or twenty-four persons. As the year 1848 was a leap-year, many might hastily conclude that in this fact lay the explanation of this unusual activity in the matrimonial market. Such will readily discover, however, by applying the infallible mathematical test, that the year 1844 was also a leap-year, and as there were but two matrimonial knots tied in the county during that year (as low a number as was reached in any year during the period), they will discover that their theory is wholly untenable. No solution of the matter will be here attempted, but the subject will be given over to those who have time and inclination for such pastime. It will further be seen that of those fifty-four mar- riages, three occurred in 1840 (a fractional year), three in 1841, six in 1842, eight in 1849 and three in 1850, which latter was also fractional, there being but sufficient of it embraced to make out the period of ten years from August 2, 1840. As tending to show the preferences which people have for one month over another, or for certain months over certain others, for the consummation of this great event, which is the bloom or blight of the happiness of all who enter the state matrimonial, it may be interesting to note that three of those matrimonial splices were made in the month of January, eight in February, six in March, six in April, three in May, five in June, one in July, seven in August, six in September, five in October, two in November and two in December. It will thus be seen that of all the twelve months in the year, February, though the shortest of them all, is the most popular month for organizing new families, and that July, though as long as the longest, is the most unpopular one for that purpose. The reason why this is so, if it really be necessary that any should be given, probably consists in the fact that whilst people have less time in February than in July (from two to three days less) they have more leisure. There may be other reasons that contribute more or less to the unpopu- larity of July as a month for marrying, but this is probably the principal one. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access the more of our information about Benton County, IN, by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/in/benton/ ===========================================================================