Reese, Maude - Leonard Sargent
Source: Indianapolis Star, 13 Aug
1903 p 10
True to his love, Leonard G. Sargent
of Indianapolis married Miss Maude May Reese of Crawfordsville at Greencastle
yesterday morning at 11 o’clock. The marriage ceremony was performed by the
Rev. JD Hartsock at his residence. Mr. Sargent overcame the finally difficulty
in the way of his matrimonial ambition by walking from Limedale to Greencastle
to be married. Delayed at Limedale in waiting for his prospective
father-in-law, John Reese, the couple missed the train to Greencastle, and,
confronted by the fact that there were no livery rigs for hire in town, no
farmers anxious to haul a load into Greencastle, and forced to either walk or
wait for an evening train, Sargent heroically started over the gravel road to
Greencastle, with his trusting fiancée plodding faithfully at his side. After
the arrival in Greencastle, Mr. Sargent found that his intended wife’s father
had misunderstood his matrimonial itinerary and got the dates mixed. For some
reason or another Mr. Reese left his home in Cloverdale Tuesday and went to
Greencastle to be present at the wedding.
In Greencastle he received no tidings of the marriage party, and he went
back home. The father of the bride was possessed of foresight enough to provide
smooth sailing for the couple when they did arrive. He went to the county
clerk’s office and made affidavit that his daughter, 24 years old, was of legal
age to marry and eminently qualified to be Mrs. Sargent. He then returned home
and was absent from the ceremony. When
Sargent and his bride applied in the clerk for the marriage license it was
given them without hesitation. The affidavit made by her father expedited the
transaction and soon Sargent, who said he was 24 year sold and Miss Reese were
legally qualified to appear before the Rev. Mr. Hartsock for the wedding. After
the ceremony it is supposed that Mr. and Mrs. Reese (sic) went to the bride’s
home in Crawfordsville as they did not return to Indianapolis. Inquiry at
Sargent’s home, 331 North Alabama last night brought no information as to when
the young man would return to Indianapolis with his bride. He is connected with
his father in business and will make his home in Indianapolis after returning
from the wedding trip. The marriage at Greencastle yesterday was conducted with
the greatest secrecy. The clerk at
Greencastle was requested to keep the issue of the license quiet and he tried
to do so. Although it has been known in Indianapolis for several days that
Sargent had forgotten his fiancée of a few weeks ago, Miss Dolly Douglass of
St. Louis, after she had “disappeared” from her home to avoid a marriage with
him, both he and Miss Reese denied that they contemplated marriage. Sargent was
emphatic in his denial and Tuesday night Miss Reese caused a Star reporter to
be informed that she was not going to marry Sargent yesterday and that she had
not received a visit from him Tuesday night. - transcribed by kbz