Valentines

Antique valentine in my possession

In honor of Valentine's Day, here are a few stories about some of the couples I have researched.

According to James Mortimer Perry, he met his future wife, Georgia Anna Licher, when he and some friends spent an afternoon in 1918 at McCullough Park in Muncie, Indiana.  Georgia was there having a picnic with some of her friends.  Jim and Georgia got to talking and Jim walked her home.  They began dating - mostly going to the movies or on picnics - and were married 24 November 1920.  They were married 57 years and had ten children together.

Georgia and Jim Perry about 1919

Georgia & Jim's wedding photo, Nov. 1920

Georgia and Jim Perry about 1970

Jim Perry's parents were James Madison Perry and Alice Myrtle Rodgers.   Though I don't have a story about how they met, they were an interesting couple.  When they married (both for the first time), Myrtle was 20 and James was 49, three years OLDER than Myrtle's father, John William Rodgers.  Myrtle's second husband, Doc Clifton, was 15 years older than she was.

Venus Perry, Alice Myrtle (Rodgers) Perry, James Mortimer Perry and James Madison Perry (seated)

I haven't done a post yet about William Robert Braden and his wife, Vera Voynne Healey.  Vera and Bill met when Vera's family moved to Frankfort, Indiana, where her father, George, edited The Crescent News newspaper.  Vera and Bill eloped to Louisville, Kentucky, to marry on 24 February 1923.  Vera later wrote this anecdote:  "I was to meet my 'husband to be' at the railroad station at 8:00 A.M. one Saturday morning to 'elope.'  At 8:30 the phone wakened me.  I had overslept."

Vera (Healey) and William R. Braden

Albert Licher and Anna Gertrude Fricke were both from German Catholic families living in Covington, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio (just across the Ohio River).

Albert Licher, Anna (Fricke) Licher, and Anna's father, John Fricke

Anna told one of her granddaughters that she and Albert corresponded before they were married.  Anna's mother died when Anna was 17.  Anna then took care of the family and raised the other children.  When Anna and Albert were married, they moved in with her father, John Fricke, so she could continue to take care of her siblings.  The photo above was taken shortly after they married and includes Anna's father, John.

The families of John and Mary (Stevens) Braden and Joseph and Elizabeth (Mains) Vandevanter were neighbors in the mid-1800s in the Waterford area of Loudoun Co., Virginia.   Four of the Braden children married four of the Vandevanter children:
      Mary Eleanor Braden married Gabriel Vandevanter on 12 November 1833.
      Rodney Caesar Braden married Eliza Ann Vandevanter on 10 February 1835.
      Caroline Stevens Braden married Isaac Vandevanter on 10 September 1839.
      Cecelia Elizabeth Braden married Washington Vandevanter on 11 April 1842.

Nancy (Jenners) and Peter S. Jennings met in Lafayette, Indiana and were married at the home of Nancy's brother, David Jenners, in Lafayette on 30 December 1834.  They were only married about 10 years and had four children, one of which died as a child.  On 23 April 1835, Nancy wrote the following letter to her friend, Elizabeth (Braden) Hixon, describing her life as a newly-wed:

"LaFayette  April 23  1835

My much beloved friend

You cannot imagine how delighted I was to receive your kind letter, one year having elapsed since the reception of your last, which was April 1834.  I was afraid I was entirely forgotten by my dearest friend in the Old Virginia the thought of which would have been truly painful to me.  Mr. Jennings returned to Dayton from Philadelphia in March.  I will not try to describe my feelings during his absence & on his return.  If you have been separated from Mr. Hixon six weeks, and your [sic] living among strangers you know something of my many unhappy moments.  We left Dayton the 16th of March and arrived at Mr. Braden's the 22nd after a very tedious journey.  I suffered considerable with the sick head ache   We then came to town & resided at brother David's 4 weeks before we commenced housekeeping.  One week I have been in my own house, and a happier one I never knew.  It is far preferable to boarding in either hotel [?] or private house for I have tried both.  I hope you may soon commence, for I know you will be pleased with it. [unreadable] family is small [page 2] I do all my work (except washing), have a good house, as well as many of the [several unreadable words] comforts of life.  & besides I have one of the best husbands who is willing to assist me about everything particularly milking ([unreadable] he is but [?] a Yankee) as it is said they are good at pailing [? two unreadable words]   Your brothers are well,  Add was in and spent a week this month,  we expect him tomorrow,  Burr has an occasional chill though is quite well, Mary is poorly.  The children grow quick.  Mary has learned Hector until he can spell in five letters.  Bob is a [unreadable].  Mother's [?] health is very poor.  She was at the point of death during my absence.  We expect her in shortly to expire this summer.  Mary is also coming in to spend a month so she can get a housekeeper.  I sent your letter to A. to read.  He often talks of going to Texas this summer.  If so Saurine will accompany him.  William is still living out the life of an Old Bachelor, often talks of marrying but takes it out in walking [?].  [unreadable] thinks strongly of going to Virginia if an opportunity offers.  Saurine & Alva are working at the millwright [?]  A's health is not good.  Our town is in a very prosperous condition, intends to have a mail [?] and rail road both as soon as they can be made.  [unreadable] wants to have one running for some time which makes the place quite lively. the spring has been backward, which looks odd [page 3] I've made some garden but nothing grows in consequence of the Cold, we are so far north.  John Bradfield's wife died today, thus it seems our little colony from Va are dropping off one by one.  She was perfectly sensible to the last, was willing to die although she has left 4 [?] little children one only two months old, Annie & the old lady enjoys tolerable health, now what a charge is left on her hands.  Well now dear Elizabeth, how do you like the married life & would you be willing to be again Miss Braden?  Write soon and tell me all about this & how you like house keeping.  Mr. Reynolds sent us a set of China and a bottle of Champagne wine the day we married.  We have had various presents which we found very [unreadable]  Mr. J is doing quite well in his business.  he is a member of the Presbyterian Church & I believe enjoys religion in consequence of which he is ever cheerful.  he is very [unreadable] (being only a few days [unreadable])   he is not here but I know wishes to be remembered to you, and thanks you for expressing the wish that he should call and see you.  Perhaps some future day he will.  I believe I have told you all that can interest you.  in Conclusion present my best respects to your F.H.  tell him to be kind to [unreadable].  My respects to Mr. Rust's family, also SEMP & all inquiring friends   be not slow in answering this but remember me as ever your affectionate friend                                 Ann D. Jennings"

Ann died of "putrid sore throat" in Lafayette in March 1844, leaving her widowed husband, Peter, with three small children.  One was a 4 month old baby.  A few months later, in August 1844, Peter was still grieving his loss when he wrote to his brother-in-law, Burr Braden:

"Lafayette  August 23, 1844

Dear Burr

I don't want you to congratulate me upon my success in Electioneering for "I couldn't come it" as I suppose you already know. - but I must return the compliment and say great luck to yr. young son.  And you may send the Echo Back to David with a doubly full tone, for report says that Maria is delivered of a fine Boy a few hours ago.  Sally officiates and has not yet come home.  The particulars I cannot mention.

Well!  I have concluded that Political matters are unprofitable things for me and so I leave the field.  And have gone to selling goods for Mssrs. Bennett Townsend Co. for the sake of making a living.
Sally has been looking for you in for some time but when we heard of yr. addition to the family all was accounted for.  I hope Mary is doing well.  And that her life may be spared for I shudder at the thought of seeing any of you left as am I, without the help, advice, and care of a beloved wife.  Your imagination of such an event does not back half way to the reality, as you will find if ever you experience it.

I am in many respects favorably situated to be left alone yet I feel the loss it seems to me more and more every day.  And my anxiety to see my best beloved is so overpowering at times that a dissolution from the body is the most pleasant reflection I enjoy.   My love to Mary and children.

                    Yr. Bro. 
                            P.S. Jennings"

Antique valentine in my possession

The record for most married person in my database must go to Dr. Ralph C. Tilley, who was married 6 times over the course of 34 years and died at the age of 55 years.

And then there is longevity:

My parents have now been married 65 years.
My husband's parents were married 46 years.
As I mentioned above, James M. and Georgia (Licher) Perry were married 57 years.
Pearl and Gertrude (Stauble) Cross were married 58 years.
Calvin and Louisa (Becktell) Cross were married 48 years.
Bill and Vera (Healey) Braden were married 52 years.
George and Stella (Hough) Healey were married 52 years.
Sylvester and Rosa (Hall) Healey were married 54 years.
Albert and Anna (Fricke) Licher were married 47 years.
William M. and Laura (Watt) Braden were married 42 years.

Happy Valentine's Day!