Cray – Elwood Marriage 1914

CRAY, ELWOOD

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 12/27/2020 at 14:28:06

Source: Cresco Plain Dealer Jan. 8, 1915 P-5 C-1, 2

Double Wedding at Lime Springs.
The privilege seldom comes to a small community of attending so great and beautiful a wedding as occurred at the Methodist Episcopal church in Lime Springs, Dec. 30, at 3 p. m. Mr. and Mrs. Fred K. Elwood gave two of their accomplished daughters to become the wives of two of the well known sons of the village. Before the expectant hour arrived eight ushers, Hon. Lee Elwood and Dale Elwood of Elma, Bert Thomas, Willie Kerr, Charles Anderson, Nell Miller, Augustus Prescott and Perce Thomson of Cresco, under the direction of Thomas Jones, had seated the large auditorium to its fullest capacity with invited guests whose presence spoke most eloquently of the high esteem in which the families directly concerned are held in the community. During the time of waiting Miss Mae McElroy of Milford, Iowa, entertained the company with many pleasing piano numbers, and also played the wedding marches.
Just at the arrival of the wedding party Miss Cora Krog of Northwood, Iowa sang very sweetly, "I love You Truly,” and then as the strains of the Wedding March from Lohengrin were played, the inner doors of the vestibule opened and the two columns moved forward down the two aisles led by the ushers Perce Thomson and Lee Elwood.
In one column was Miss Harriet S. on the arm of her father, preceded by Miss Goldie Dowd of Elma and Miss Nan Worster of Algona, Iowa, as bridesmaids, Elizabeth Batson, ring bearer and Marguerite Plummer and Louise Watson flowergirls.
In another column Miss Frances D. was attended by her uncle Frank Elwood of Elma. Before her were the bridesmaids, Miss Veril Kniel of Elgin, Iowa, and Miss Mabel Elwood, sister of the bride, little Berenice Horton ringbearer and the Rower girls, Mildred and Mabel Streeper of Onslow, Iowa.
Simultaneously with this grand march the grooms, each with his beat man, came from the two doors of the pastor’s study with the officiating clergyman; Mr. Even O. Williams with Mr. Ward Elwood of Elma as best man, Mr. Joseph Cray, with his brother, Mr. Winfield Cray, as best man. They came to the altar and waited as the two columns came forward.
While the wedding party waited in most impressive silence Miss Lucile Chryst of LaPorte City, Ia., sang beautifully “O, Promise Me." The full marriage service of the Methodist Episcopal church was used, being read by Rev. Thos. Gallagher of Eldora, Iowa, a long time friend of the Elwood family. The Rev. N. A. Mershon, district superintendent of the Decorah district, offered a brief prayer at the close of the ceremony.
The Mendelsohn wedding march was played at the processional following the ceremony, and the reception with congratulations was given in the rear of the Sunday school room, a place neatly fitted and decorated apart from the multitude.
After the congratulations the wedding party repaired to the spacious dining room of the church where invited guests to the number of 250 were beautifully served to a three course banquet, fifteen happy maidens very creditably serving the large company. Mrs. Horace Henderson, caterer, of Cresco, assisted by her niece, Miss Cleota Thompson, ably carried through the large service.
The bridal gowns were of white duchess satin draped with pearl trimmed chiffon and shadow lace. They wore bridal veils of tulle and carried floral muffs of sweet peas, lilies of the valley and pink roses. The beautiful dresses of the bridesmaids were a combination of pink crepe de chine and chiffon. They wore lace caps and carried large bouquets of pink roses. The four little flower girls wore pretty dresses of white silk and carried tall floral baskets. A pleasing feature of the picture was the two wee ring bearers in their dainty white frocks, each carrying a large long stemmed pink rose, the heart of which was to hold the wedding ring.
Space would forbid the mentioning of each gift and giver, but more than 300 individual gifts came to cheer the hearts of the already happy brides.
These four young people who participated in this beautiful wedding are well known. The host of their friends giving by their presence mute testimony of the high esteem in which they are held. Mrs. Evan Williams is an alumnae of the State University and for two sessions of the legislature was enrolling clerk in the senate and came to her wedding hour from the principalship of the high school at Burt, Iowa. Mrs. Joseph Cray was a student in Cornell college, taught in the Alt. Vernon public schools and closed up her work in the schools at Cresco, Iowa, at this holiday time,
Mr. Evan O. Williams is now a student in college at Springfield, Mass.; preparing himself for a professorship of athletics which course he finishes this coming June.
Mr. Joseph Cray was a student of Upper Iowa university and is now in the responsible position of cashier in the Exchange State Bank of Lime Springs.
The wedding couples left on the evening train for Chicago where in the last of the old and the first of the new year they spent the days together. Saturday, Jan. 2, Mr. and Mrs. Williams left for Springfield, Mass., while Mr. and Mrs. Cray returned Monday morning to Lime Springs to make their future home where they will be at home to their friends after the 20 inst., occupying the house on North street recently occupied by Mr. Sheets.
Besides the persons mentioned in the above account there were present for the occasion: Mr. and Airs. Reed Watson and family of Cedar Rapids, Mrs. B. W. Streeper and three children and Mr. and Mrs. Herbison Orr of Onslow, Iowa; from Lima, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Elwood and sons, Mrs. Tidgewell and two daughters and Miss Alice Church, Florence Bretnall of Lament, Iowa, Mrs. Gallagher accompanied her husband from Eldora, Iowa, Miss Kate Morris of Minneapolis, John Roberts of Cotter, Iowa, Mrs. Thomas Jones of Sidney, Neb., Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jones of Madison, Wis., Geo. Champlin and wife and Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood of Cresco, the Wells brothers of Le Roy, Minn., Dr. and Mrs. Clark and Dr. and Mrs. Freemire of Chester, Miss Alma Bra{?}rud and Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Cray of Chester, John Stockman of Cresco, Harrison Davis of Billings, Mont., and Chester Barker of Fayette, Iowa.