Bridges - Edwards
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 7 April 1899
Uncle Charley Edwards, who a few months ago created a stir by marrying and then divorcing one of the notorious Null girls, has come to the front again. Last Thursday at Indianapolis he was married to one of the dashing Bridges girls, late of South Walnut Street. The Indianapolis Sentinel says of the fashionable function:
“Yesterday afternoon a well dressed and good looking old man, with hair and beard as white as snow, accompanied by a stylishly gowned young woman, applied for a marriage license at the county clerk’s office. The impression naturally prevailed among the employees of the office that it was father and daughter. It soon transpired that they were prospective bride and groom.
The man gave his name as Charles Edwards and said he was sixty years of age, and was a grocery man at Crawfordsville and had been married twice before. The young woman gave the name of Mary D. Bridges. She said she would be twenty four years old her next birthday, that she was the daughter of John W. and Julia Bridges and that her home was also at Crawfordsville.
As soon as the license was issued Mr. Edwards sent for a justice of the peace. Justice Lockman responded promptly to a telephone call and the ceremony was as completely performed as though solemnized before an altar to the slow music of the wedding march. Mr. Edwards, as well as Mrs. Edwards, at the conclusion of the ceremony, became non communicative.
“We live at Crawfordsville,” he said. “We know each other well enough to be entirely satisfied with each other. I guess I am old enough to know my own mind and she is old enough to do as she sees fit in a manner of this kind. That’s all there is of it.”
While the old gentleman said this much, his bride, who was listening, became impatient and telling him to ‘keep quiet’ led him out of the building.”
The Journal in commenting on the ridiculous affair, says: “He was very anxious that no notice of the wedding appear in the newspapers for at least a week. “You see, there is some slight objection to this match,” he remarked, “but it’s not on her side. I have grown up children and I’d a little rather nothing be said about this for a few days.” The young wife impatiently listened to her husband’s explanation and at length she decided that he had talked enough. She suggested that there was no further reason why they should tarry longer in the county building, and Edwards, with a fond glance at the new bride, obediently followed her.”