News: Bushnell-Hummer Wedding (1904)

BUSHNELL, HUMMER, KUESER, MULLIN, MCRAITH, BRADLEY, BOYLE, MAHER, SCHWINDHELM, CLOSE, SUEPPEL

Posted By: Melissa Mayhew Grandt (email)
Date: 5/16/2009 at 18:17:36

Iowa City Daily Press, Iowa City (Johnson Co.), Iowa, 5 October 1904.

OCTOBER IDYL IS HAPPY UNION
DR. W.F. BUSHNELL AND MISS SADIE A. HUMMER WED.
Great Number of Friends Witness Beautifully Solemn Ceremony in St. Mary's Church.

Hearts beat high, faces were illumined with radiant smiles of friendship and love-- and yet an atmosphere of impressive solemnity enveloped and pervaded all St. Mary's church this morning.

At 9 o'clock in that cathedral-like edifice, were spoken the fateful words that united for life Dr. William F. Bushnell of Freeport, Ill., and Miss Sadie Agatha Hummer.

Rev. Father A.J. Schulte performed the ceremony, assisted by Rev. Father Francis J. Ward. Nuptial high mass added to the beauty and heart-stirring impressiveness of the hour.

The bridesmaids were four in number-- Miss Annie Kueser, of Burlington; and Misses Frances Mullin, Nellie McRaith and Mamie Bradley, of Iowa City. The best man was Thomas Boyle of Cedar Rapids. The matron of honor was Mrs. J.E. Hummer, the bride's sister-in-law, and the ushers were Walter Bushnell of Cedar Rapids; Thomas Maher, Thiel Rider and Will Hummer of Iowa City. The servers were Masters Paul Hummer and Willie Schwindhelm.

The bride was arrayed in crepe de chine, with Princess Louise bertha and cuffs-- the handiwork of the bride, herself, attesting to the fact that certain beautiful and housewifely arts have not been forgotten in the hours that saw her attaining high education and broad culture. She wore, too, a long bridal veil, and carried a shower bouquet of white roses. The matron of honor carried white roses, likewise, and the bridesmaids bore pink roses.

The maids were attired in white Persian lawn, with lace and ruffles, and wore white chiffon hats, with long white plumes.

The matron of honor wore a costume of white silk, accordion pleated, with a lace yoke and cuffs, and a striking veil.

The bridal party entered the church in imposing fashion. The ushers led; then parted, permitting the bridesmaids to walk through the open ranks, following came the matron of honor, and then the bride, upon her father's arm. At the sanctuary, they were joined by the groom and the best man.

The bridal chorus was from "Rosemary"--a wonderful work-- and this was rendered by St. Mary's choir, as the party entered. Retiring, they listened to the immortal strains of Lohengrin. During the choral service, and the mass, Miss Anna Close lent valuable aid. She also joined with Messrs. George and Frances N. Sueppel, in superbly rendering the Ave Maria, at the offertory.

After the ceremony, the bridal party departed to the home of the bride's parents, and there, at 11:30 partook of a wedding breakfast of sumptuous type.

Guests from abroad, not above noted, were as follows:
Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Bushnell, R.W. Bushnell, Henrietta, Helen and James Bushnell, Cedar Rapids; Mrs. Gertrude Franz and daughter, Ethel, Cedar Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mikesh, Cedar Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Greulich, Marion; Miss Agnes Rider Chicago; and Mrs. Joseph Keuser and Mrs. Robert McCord, Burlington.

Dr. and Mrs. Bushnell will leave this afternoon at 3:57 o'clock for Chicago. They will be at home after Nov. 1, at 33 Park avenue, Freemont, Ill.

A legion of friends will dower the happy couple with most eloquent benedictions that minds can conceive and lips whisper feelingly. Miss Hummer has grown to a glorious young womanhood in Iowa City-- a veritable choice flower in the "rosebud garden of girls." She is the daughter of George Hummer-- one of the foremost members of the commercial world-- and wife, and is known to hundreds as a young woman of beauty, grace and culture. Almost an alumna of the university, she has achieved in scholarly attainments, and in the social world she has shone with a bright luster all her own. With heart and mind and soul enriched it is no source of wonder that she stands among the most-loved and most-to-be-missed of the bright social stars of the Athens.

Dr. Bushnell is a graduate of the college of medicine, S.U.I., and is earning a bright name and enviable fame among the successful alumni of that institution. He is a manly man, of the sterling sort, and is entitled to the happiness that has blessed his life.