Page 147 - History of Rockingham Co
P. 147
A HISTORY OF
ceremony was rather long, including a prayer, in which all knelt When
they arose the minister sang a few lines:
Bless, Lord, this newly-married pair.
And make the match a blessing prove.
Uncle Abe's was the first infair I attended. All rode on horseback.
When they came near the house they galloped the horses, and all alighted
in a huddle. The friends came to meet them, and ushered them into the
house, where the bride and her attendant dressed for dinner. The bride
wore a blue alpaca dress, a black silk apron, and a fancy silk handker-
—chief. Her bonnet was a white lawn over a whole pasteboard or half a
one, I should have said. Of course, we all thought it was beautiful and
tasteful. The table was set with pies, puff cakes, pickles, and different
kinds of preserves, with chicken, turkey, and ham on a side table. After
eating plenty of meat and chicken, the plates were removed, and pie and
cakes were served.
After dinner all went into a room prepared to have them spend their
Wetime in playing the oldtime apple-butter plays. children looked on
with delight. Bridal presents were unknown.
I attended several infairs just like the one I have described. In
earlier days, while on the road to the groom's home, two young men were
sent for two bottles of wine to treat the bride and groom before they
arrived at the house. When Aunt Mary Neff was married to William
Pence they prepared to send out two bottles of wine—had the bottles
trimmed, and looked for the men to come. Old Mr. Pence was an old-
fashioned man, and wanted to treat his nevv^ daughter-in-lav/. Your
mother and I were in that bridal procession. Times changed somewhat
before your mother and I were married. My bridal presents were a home-
woven wash line, a home-made linen towel, and a wash-bowl with pitcher.
Since then there have been many changes, as you know. 8
In the four-cornered fight for the Presidencj^ in 1860 the
Rockingham Register supported Douglas. In the issue of
August 3, 1860, the editor disapproves the talk of revolution
and declares for the preservation of the Union, yet expresses
fear of "black republican fanaticism" and flays the aboli-
tionists. At the same time the division of the Democratic
party is deplored. On election day the vote in Rockingham
stood as follows: 676 for Breckenridge, 888 for Bell, and 1354
for Douglas. If Lincoln got any votes in the county, the
Register did not report them; yet it was only 78 years since
£. From a letter written September 4, 1911.
—128-
ceremony was rather long, including a prayer, in which all knelt When
they arose the minister sang a few lines:
Bless, Lord, this newly-married pair.
And make the match a blessing prove.
Uncle Abe's was the first infair I attended. All rode on horseback.
When they came near the house they galloped the horses, and all alighted
in a huddle. The friends came to meet them, and ushered them into the
house, where the bride and her attendant dressed for dinner. The bride
wore a blue alpaca dress, a black silk apron, and a fancy silk handker-
—chief. Her bonnet was a white lawn over a whole pasteboard or half a
one, I should have said. Of course, we all thought it was beautiful and
tasteful. The table was set with pies, puff cakes, pickles, and different
kinds of preserves, with chicken, turkey, and ham on a side table. After
eating plenty of meat and chicken, the plates were removed, and pie and
cakes were served.
After dinner all went into a room prepared to have them spend their
Wetime in playing the oldtime apple-butter plays. children looked on
with delight. Bridal presents were unknown.
I attended several infairs just like the one I have described. In
earlier days, while on the road to the groom's home, two young men were
sent for two bottles of wine to treat the bride and groom before they
arrived at the house. When Aunt Mary Neff was married to William
Pence they prepared to send out two bottles of wine—had the bottles
trimmed, and looked for the men to come. Old Mr. Pence was an old-
fashioned man, and wanted to treat his nevv^ daughter-in-lav/. Your
mother and I were in that bridal procession. Times changed somewhat
before your mother and I were married. My bridal presents were a home-
woven wash line, a home-made linen towel, and a wash-bowl with pitcher.
Since then there have been many changes, as you know. 8
In the four-cornered fight for the Presidencj^ in 1860 the
Rockingham Register supported Douglas. In the issue of
August 3, 1860, the editor disapproves the talk of revolution
and declares for the preservation of the Union, yet expresses
fear of "black republican fanaticism" and flays the aboli-
tionists. At the same time the division of the Democratic
party is deplored. On election day the vote in Rockingham
stood as follows: 676 for Breckenridge, 888 for Bell, and 1354
for Douglas. If Lincoln got any votes in the county, the
Register did not report them; yet it was only 78 years since
£. From a letter written September 4, 1911.
—128-
