Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, April l6, l903

'A Popular Leon School Teacher Weds Her Soldier Lover in San Francisco.'

There was great surprise in this city a few weeks ago when MISS ESTHER JACKSON, a popular teacher at the South School Building, suddenly tendered her resignation without assigning any reason, but it is all explained now as she was married last Saturday evening to E.R. PATCH, a soldier in the l3th U.S. Cavalry, who was at one time a resident of this city, and was well known by most of our citizens as SAM PATCH, the traveling salesman of Somner-Richardson Co., of St. Joe, and for a time was engaged in the restaurant business in a building where The Reporter Office now stands. MISS JACKSON left here two weeks ago in company with her mother, stating they were going to Excelsior Springs, Mo., to visit for several weeks. She has many warm friends in Leon who extend their heartiest congratulations. The following account of the romance is taken from the St. Joe Daily Press of last Saturday.

A pretty romance extending over a period of three years will have its culmination in San Francisco at 5 o'clock this evening when MISS ESTHER JACKSON and EDWARD R. PATCH will be made man and wife in a little Baptist Parsonage.

EDWARD PATCH is the son of MR. and MRS. J.V.D. PATCH, of St. Joseph. The latter is the well known artist. MISS ESTHER JACKSON, until two weeks ago, presided over one of the primary departments of the Leon, Iowa Public Schools.

EDWARD PATCH traveled for the Somner-Richardson Factory of the National Biscuit Company for several years. In Leon he met MISS JACKSON, who was a pretty young school teacher. Admiration ripened into love and their engagement soon followed.

In December, two years ago, young PATCH caught the war fever and enlisted in the Thirteenth Cavalry in this city. He was sent at once to the Philippines and a few months later became seriously ill. An operation was performed and not receiving proper attention, PATCH was permanently disabled.

Ten days ago PATCH was sent back to America on the transport Sherman. MISS JACKSON at once resigned her position in the Leon schools on some pretext or other and made arrangements to go to her lover.

No one in Leon was told of her intention. It was given out that the young woman and her mother would spend several weeks in Escelsior Springs, Mo.

The two women went to Excelsior Springs. MISS JACKSON came to St. Joseph and spent Monday, Tuesday and part of Wednesday with MR. and MRS. J.V.D. PATCH at l0l6 Felix Street.

At noon Wednesday MISS JACKSON started alone on her long journey to the Pacific Coast. She will reach her destination at 4:30 o'clock this evening. EDWARD PATCH and Miss Lena White will meet her with a carriage and proceed to the parsonage.

MISS JACKSON is a member of the Baptist Church and insisted on being married by a minister of that denomination. The wedding will be a very quiet one. Miss white will be the only witness. She is a cousin of Artist PATCH and a teacher in the California State University.

EDWARD PATCH will have served out his enlistment next December. He could get a discharge for disability but prefers not to do so. Apartments have been engaged near the Presidio so the young wife may remain near her husband until he severs his connection with the Army.

MISS JACKSON is about 22 years old and her husband about 26. The father of the young teacher is dead, but her brother is a prominent lawyer of Leon.

Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, April 23, l903

Leon friends have received cards announcing the marriage of MR. EDWARD R. PATCH and MISS ESTHER JACKSON at San Francisco, California, on Saturday, April 11th. The young couple are at home at 2905 Baker Street.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
February 25, 2003