Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, June 11, l903

Wedding bells rang out again in Decatur City, this week to announce another conquest of the hymenean Cupid. Jupiter Pluvius struggled hard to prevent Cupid from consumating the match but had to retire worsted.

The contracting parties were MR. VERNON J. ANDERSON, of Des Moines, son of MR. and MRS. W.W. ANDERSON, of New Market, Iowa, and MISS MARY TOWNSEND, eldest daughter of MR. and MRS. E.W. TOWNSEND, of Decatur City.

The groom was raised on a farm near Clarinda, Iowa, and lived with his parents until near of age when he set out to earn his own fortune. He farmed for a time and then in the fall of l902 he entered Iowa Business College at Des Moines and graduated a few months since and immediately secured a splendid position with Tone Bros., wholesale coffee and spice dealers, of Des Moines. It was while attending the I.B.C. that he met his future bride who was also a student of the same institution. MR. ANDERSON is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The bride is one of Decatur City's best respected and most accomplished young ladies. She has lived here most of her life and has won a host of admiring friends who join in wishing her a long and happy wedded life. She will be often in the thoughts not only of her parents, sisters and brothers but also of her many young life long friends here.

The wedding ceremony took place at the beautiful home of the bride's parents in Decatur City, Iowa, June 4, l903, at high noon, Rev. C.B. Scoggan, Pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, officiating. The bride and groom, accompanied by the bridesmaid, MISS SADIE TOWNSEND, sister of the bride, and the groomsman, MR. OLLIE WALKER, preceded by the officiating minister, marched into the parlor to the strains of a wedding march played by MISS ANDERSON, the latter all of New Market, Iowa, and a small select company of young folks of Decatur, friends of the bride and Mrs. Rev. Scoggan. A beautiful banquet worthy of the occasion was set for all the guests, to which all present did full justice.

The bride and groom were the recipients of several beautiful and costly presents, mute witnesses of affectionate loved ones and friends.

Immediately after dinner the happy couple departed to visit the groom's parents at New Market, Iowa. They took the train at Van Wert driving thither through Decatur County's mud, which initiated them into life's difficulties, thoughts of friends bidding them God speed with a plentiful shower of rice and miscellaneous old slippers and shoes. The new couple will begin housekeeping at once in Des Moines where the groom has a nest already fitted up.

--E.B.S.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
March l3, 2003