A Day to Remember

No one today can recall the special occasion that  happened in our family on Wednesday, January 10th 1906 because it was more than one hundred and ten years ago and none of us were alive to witness the joyous event.  On that day, Florence Mabel Reams and Amos Randall Grinnell were married in a ceremony at the residence of the bride's brother and sister-in-law, Martin and Lola Reams at 175 West Street in Battle Creek, Michigan.  I have assumed for years that this was probably a simple affair with a few family members gathered to join in on the event, but I might have been wrong with new evidence shedding some light on the events of the evening.  Both the Battle Creek Daily Journal and The Morning Inquirer carried detailed accounts of this solemn event on the following day.

Mabel Reams and Amos Grinnell, 

The ceremony started at 8 pm, so it must have been dark and there was probably snow on the ground which would have been typical of a Michigan January.  Rev. William S. Potter, the popular preacher from the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek officiated at the wedding with 40 friends and relatives in attendance. Miss Reams is described as wearing

"a very becoming white gown, with lace trimmings, and carried pink carnations." 

While this description is confirmed by the photographs that have been passed down in the family, the actual color was not known due to the sepia tone images captured by J. Howard Baker, a well-known portrait photographer of Battle Creek.

Lottie Grinnell the sister of the groom was the maid of honor and Earl Reams, the nephew of the bride was the grooms attendant.  Earl was the oldest son of Martin and Lola Reams, who were the hosts for the ceremony.  Although Earl was Mabel's nephew, they were only a year apart in age.

Wedding Invitation

We learn from the newspaper accounts that there was indeed music at the festivities.  Pearl Reams, the daughter of Martin and Lola, played the piano for the guests and ushered the bride and groom in with the sounds of the wedding march.  Ms. Fern Rogers (later Mrs. Jeffs) sang the popular song "Oh Promise Me," which must have been a special treat for those gathered.

This song was written in 1887, music by Reginald De Koven and lyrics by Clement Scott, and was a popular performance at wedding ceremonies for decades.  Its lyrics are:

Oh, promise me that someday you and I

Will take our love together to some sky

Where we can be alone and faith renew,

And find the hollows where those flowers grew,

Those first sweet violets of early spring,

Which come in whispers, thrill us both, and sing

Of love unspeakable that is to be;

Oh, promise me! Oh, promise me!

Oh, promise me that you will take my hand,

The most unworthy in this lonely land,

And let me sit beside you in your eyes,

Seeing the vision of our paradise,

Hearing God's message while the organ rolls

Its mighty music to our very souls,

No love less perfect than a life with thee;

Oh, promise me! Oh, promise me!

(Click here to listen to Jan Peerce perform the song in 1947 on YouTube. A more modern version was made popular in the 1950s by the Platters.)

Marriage Certificate

Today, our impressions are often colored by the fact that we have only black and white or sepia toned images to help us look into the past.  Therefore, it was delightful to read in the articles that the house was decorated with greenery and the dining room was deck-out in white and pink.  Not surprising when you think about today's weddings with all the trappings and themes, but perhaps to us knowing that their surroundings were filled with such happy hues of color places helps confirm that this was a very joyous occasion.

Although I have many treasured documents related to my grandparents wedding, the discovery of the newspaper articles breaths some reality into these pages of family history.  Amos and Mabel had seven children, twenty-one grandchildren, and at least forty great-grandchildren who celebrate their memory.

Martin Reams Residence, 174 West St. Battle Creek (c1940),
now demolished (pic from Willard Library of Battle Creek.