Iowa Old Press
Ottumwa Tri-Weekly Courier
Tuesday, April 23, 1901
HAPPILY WEDDED.
Result of a Matrimonial Bureau’s Work.
[From Friday’s Daily.]
After many trials and tribulations Miles Hough, a prosperous farmer of Blakesburg, and Miss M. McIntyre of Toronto, Canada, were united in marriage in the county clerk’s office at 5 o’clock yesterday evening. There is a romance connected with the marriage of this pair that was not apparent on the surface. Yesterday was the first time the couple had ever met. All their courting had been done through the mails.
Their acquaintance had been made, it is said, through the medium of an advertising bureau, although the latter was, indignantly denied by the happy groom. It appears this was not the first time Mr. Hough has been in Ottumwa to meet his prospective bride. All arrangements were completed for a meeting and a wedding here about a month ago, but something happened to the bride to be. She failed to appear on the prescribed date. Mr. Hough was here, and after waiting for some time, he returned to his Blakesburg farm, and the correspondence was taken up again.
Matters were successfully arranged this time, and yesterday morning the gentleman arrived in Ottumwa and registered at the Ballingall Hotel. Presently a buxom, rosy-cheeked maid, blushingly approached the hotel desk, and after glancing over the Register, nervously transcribed her name thereon. Mr. Hough was sent for and a council of war was held.
This resulted in a visit to the Court house after a license, but the prospective groom was unsuccessful in his efforts. He could not find anyone to identify the bride. Finally after desperate efforts had been made, all in vain, he returned to the hotel and brought Miss McIntyre to the Clerk’s office.
Upon her appearance and after a full explanation of the case, the legal document was forthcoming and the next thing on the program was a minister.
Deputy Clerk Wing put the telephone in working order and after a hurried use of the wires, in which various ministers and other officials were appealed to in vain, he finally caught Justice Campbell, and prevailed upon the honorable gentleman to hurry to his office. Upon his arrival, and after calling upon various court officials and county employes to witness the ceremony and see that everything went off all right, the marriage was proceeded with and in a few select words Justice Campbell pronounced them man and wife. The happy couple went to Blakesburg on the Milwaukee passenger this morning, where they will make their future home. The groom is a prosperous farmer living near that city.
BLAKESBURG.
Blakesburg, April 23—Miles Hough has returned to his home near Blakesburg bringing with him his bride, secured in Toronto, Canada, Miss M. McIntire, of which the Courier has already made a note. Some smart aleck on another newspaper write-up, attempted to slur the parties to this happy union, as greenies from the backwoods. The scribe should inform himself further before he takes up his pen. Mr. Hough is one of our very prosperous and one of our most honorable and worthy citizens. Upright, honest, a young man of excellent habits, and respected by all who know him. Mr. Hough owns a good farm with good buildings; he has plenty of means and will provide a good home, well supplied, for his wife, and she will be treated like lady.
[transcribed by L.Z., Nov 2019]