Shaffer - Macklin Marriage

SHAFFER, MACKLIN

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 10/13/2003 at 08:50:00

RATHER ROMANTIC WEDDING

The Young Couple are Happily
Surprised to Find Objections to
Their Union Removed.

SHAFFER – MACKLIN

The Hotel Manning in Keosauqua was the scene of a quiet yet very pretty wedding last Thursday noon. The contracting parties were Mr. George Lewis Shaffer and Miss Laura Macklin of Bonaparte. They were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Aus Macklin, Mr. Macklin being the guardian and a brother of the bride.

The ceremony was performed in the parlors of the hotel, Rev. C.E. Perkins officiating. The ring ceremony was used. The bride wore a neat traveling suit of blue which was very becoming, and as she stood beside the man of her choice and took the vows of wifehood, she did it with a grave, trustful simplicity that seemed for the moment to add several years to her age.

To the groom the affair seemed too good to be true. He was attired in an elegant black suit and the happiest smile he ever wore. The wedding took place at high noon, and the wedding diner was eaten immediately following. Those who witnessed the ceremony were Mr. and Mrs. Aus Macklin and Mr. and Mrs. McCrary, proprietors of the hotel.

The history of this love affair has been rather romantic, and his culminated like they always do in good novels. The story is something like this: Mr. Shaffer had planned to start for Colorado early in October, and he wanted to make Mrs. Macklin his bride and take her with him. Knowing that the young lady was only sixteen and that was little likelihood of her guardian consenting to her marriage for several years at least, Mr. Shaffer planned to take his bride-elect away by stealth, going west to the coast, see the country, and return when the unfailing forgiveness and welcome were forthcoming. The girls relatives, all unsuspecting, made other plans for Laura about the time she and Mr. Shaffer wanted to start. This of course threw Mr. Shaffer in the deepest gloom, and he refused to be comforted. A hint of the runaway marriage was carried to Miss Macklin’s guardian, then the strange actions of the young couple were explained. Mr. Macklin went to Shaffer, accused him of trying to take his sister away, said he had considered her a mere child, but HE WOULD GIVE HIS CONSENT TO THE MARRIGE.

Mr. Shaffer was surprised, rejoiced, exultant. He went to work like a whirlwind repairing and furnishing his residence on Main street, making preparations for a wedding trip. In fact doing everything that would hasten the day of the wedding. In one week’s time everything was in readiness – the wedding day had arrived.

Mrs. Shaffer is a daughter of Sarah and William Macklin, both of whom are deceased. Her friends as yet think of her as a little girl of school age – they cannot realize she has blossomed into young womanhood and has taken upon herself the responsibilities of a wife.

Mr. Shaffer is a son of George Lewis Shaffer from whom G.L. Shaffer Jr. inherited twenty-two thousand dollars. He has lived in Bonaparte for a number of years and is a general favorite, especially among the young men. He has a rare gift of singing which is a source of pleasure to all who hear him.

Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer went from Keosauqua to Chicago, spent a few days there, but have now returned and are at home in their beautifully furnished house on Main street.

Source: Entler Scrapbooks, vol. 4, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA

[handwritten on articles is “Oct 9 = 02”]