A typical wedding dress from the 1890’s.
June is the month of weddings. Yet some choose to marry at other times of the year. I recently found a great story in the July 15, 1898 issue of The Greenville Messenger. At various times the Messenger was a weekly and sometimes a bi-weekly newspaper that focused on rural issues and reported more events from the county than just Greenville. The editor was somewhat verbose, maybe to fill up pages, but probably to make a story more entertaining.
This time he lifted a piece from the Lone Oak Banner, a common occurrence in the late 19th century. I will attempt to tell the story in today’s vernacular.
It seems that Oscar Rainwater a young man known not only as being industrious and of good character, but one who sometimes exhibited rather erratic habits. One day Oscar caught the train to Greenville with the intent of securing a marriage license to marry Miss Julia Blankenship. As soon as his mission was accomplished, he hopped back on the train for Lone Oak intending to propose as soon as he arrived there.
However just as he stepped onto the platform in Lone Oak he was greeted with the news that Lee Jones had beat him to draw; Jones and Miss Blankenship had eloped that very day. But Oscar was determined to marry. After thinking the matter over briefly, he wrote his former love an endearing letter reminding her she had once promised to link her fortunes with his forever. He inquired if she was still of the same notion.
When the former girl friend replied favorably, Oscar again boarded the train to Greenville with the previously acquired marriage license in hand. As soon as the County Clerk agreed to exchange the license, Oscar returned to Lone Oak where he was united in the bond of holy matrimony with Miss Lizzie Taylor.
No records remain of the first marriage license because the marriage never happened. However the marriage for O. L. Rainwater and Lizzie Taylor was duly noted. There is another marriage record for O. L. Rainwater and Annie McDaniel on October 23, 1904. Both marriages are recorded in the Hunt County Clerk’s Office, but neither was later picked up. If Oscar could make the trip to Greenville twice in a matter of days, why didn’t he get the legal marriage certificate? And what happened to Lizzie? I’m certain there is more to this story. If you know, please drop me a note at my e-mail address listed below.
The Greenville Messenger was not only published for the whole county, but wasn’t shy about telling the truth. I had the privilege of interviewing a man who worked as a printer there for many years. He told me that the editor believed in truth and was not afraid of libel suits. So I have developed the theory if you want to know what really happened anywhere in Hunt County between 1894 and about 1940, you go to the Greenville library and look at the old microfilmed copies of the Messenger. You won’t be disappointed.