BADGER, Oliver p. - Putnam

The evening of Oct 11th was a gala day with the young people of this vicinity.  (Orange Blossoms) Elder OP Badger at your city, who, by the way is the universal favorite among the young folks as a marriagist, preached to a very great concourse of people, old and young, in our church at 11 a.m. and 6  p.m. after which precisely at 15 minutes to 7 o’clock, eight very finely dressed young people, four ladies and four gentlemen, were seen pushing their way up the densely crowded aisles. The ladies were all so fine looking, that words of comparison would be invidious. The bridesmaids were dressed in pure white, while the brides wore the popular stone-colored silks, with head-dresses of small white flowers. The Elder greeted them with a polite bow, and proceeded to station them to the best advantage, after which he introduced the ceremonies of this very interesting occasion with a few well timed  remarks and a beautiful prayer. He then turned to Mr. Willis Stevens and Miss Emma C. Grantham and consummated the marriage rite in a most impressive manner; he then turned to Mr. Jerry Miller and Miss Cora A. Utterback, and they were soon made one, after which the benediction was pronounced; and while the bridal parties moved with measured step to the doors, the vast audience sat and gazed in mute silence. Soon the happy pairs and their many friends were whirling away to the residence of Elder Thomas Stevens, ¼ of a mile distant, where a sumptuous repast of good things was waiting for them. Truly, “All went merry as a marriage bell,” until a late hour and here I took leave of the happy throng and hied me to my house for repose.  Exit – Fort Red, Ind Oct 12, 1881.  – note: the article says he married four couples but only two are mentioned so not sure !

had won considerable local prestige as an expounder of the Gospel, which he continued to preach the remaining years of his life.

Elder Badger was married on November 19, 1838. to Martha Ann Yeates, which union resulted in the birth of five children, named as follows: Ann Eliza married A. L. Goodbar, of Montgomery County, Indiana; Carrie married Hon. D. E. Williamson, late of Greencastle; Queen married Otho Allen, also of Greencastle, and died August 1, 1884; Mr. Allen died December 31, 1885; David E., a well known druggist of Greencastle and H. Clay Badger, who died August 13, 1901. Martha Ann (Yeates) Badger died March 1. 1900.

Elder Badger was interested in political matters for many years. He was a member of the constitutional convention in 1850. and the following year he was defeated for the state senate. After that he devoted practically his entire time to the ministry, belonging to the church popularly known as the Christian church, in which he won more than a local reputation, standing high in the circles of the same throughout the state, most of his public labors having been confined to Indiana, yet he was often called to other localities for short periods. In April, 1874. he preached at Winterset, Iowa, for a little more than a year. though still retaining his residence in Putnam County. He also preached in his regular work in Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, and filled pulpits in Philadelphia. Chicago and other places, always delighting his audiences with an earnestness and an eloquence that bespoke a man of genuine ability and sincerity. Towards the close of his life he moved to Greencastle, and, in a beautiful cottage home, in the suburbs of this city. surrounded by his books, he quietly passed the serene evening of his years. dying on June 7, 1891. Mr. Badger was one of the first three students of Asbury (now DePauw) University.