52 Ancestors: Wedding Bells - When Love Nearly Missed Its Chance
Sometimes the most charming stories in our family history come from the unexpected hurdles our ancestors faced on their way to "I do." This week's theme of "wedding bells" brings me to a delightful tale of bureaucratic obstacles, young love, and a sympathetic clerk who saved the day for my great-great-grandparents. A Saturday Surprise On Saturday, May 7, 1893, David Isaiah Rollett had everything planned perfectly. He would visit the recorder's office in St. Joseph, Missouri, obtain his marriage license, and wed his beloved Rosa W. Clark the following day. What could go wrong? Everything, as it turned out. When David appeared at the recorder's office that Saturday afternoon, eager to make his upcoming nuptials official, he was met with disappointing news: the license was refused. Rosa was underage, and her father's consent was required. The catch? Her father was in St. George and couldn't possibly arrive before the office closed for the week...