WEDDING ACCOUNT: OLIVE SPENCER

(GRANDDAUGHTER OF JOHN AND MARTHA (WILKINSON) LUPTON

AND AMOS J. FORD, SON OF WILLIAM AND ELIZABETH (COMBELLICK) FORD

Note: I stumbled upon this completely by accident when I was searching through a microfilm of “The Galena Gazette” searching for the obituary of John Lupton, Sr. This wedding plus reception, which occurred Thursday, December 27, 1883, took place at the residence of John Lupton, Sr. He died only four days later, on December 31, 1883, at the age of 78. The wedding account was rather detailed, and described not only the gifts, but named the person/persons associated with each gift. Of all the documents I have collected over the years, this is my favorite. (Olive Spencer – nicknamed “Ollie,” was the daughter of Simeon and Mary (Lupton) Spencer, and the granddaughter of John and Martha (Wilkinson) Lupton.

WEDDING AT COUNCIL HILL
FORD – SPENCER

At the residence of Mr. John Lupton, one of the oldest settlers in the county, about 100 invited guests witnessed the marriage of Amos Ford of East Fork, (just south of Council Hill) and Ollie Spencer, granddaughter of Mr. Lupton, last Thursday evening, December 27 (1883) at 7:00, Rev. James Lowrey officiating.

The room was handsomely decorated with white roses, illuminated with wax candles, under the supervision of Miss Elizabeth Cawthorne of Galena. A beautiful chain of evergreens extended across the room, some little distance from which was suspended “the lucky horseshoe” under which the promising couple were stationed when they were pronounced man and wife.

The bride looked exceedingly handsome in her suit of wine – colored silk with a long, trailing white silk veil. Her bridesmaids, Misses Mattie Spence (sister), Etta Lupton (cousin) and Nettie Ford (sister of the groom) were dressed in white silk, with tasty trimmings. The groom and his attendants, Messers Wallace Ford, Albert Combellick and James Spencer were in customary black with white vests and kids. (Note: James Spencer, who was a cousin, and the son of William and Julia Lupton Spencer, married Nettie Ford in 1887.)

Immediately after the many congratulations had been showered upon Mr. and Mrs. Ford, the happy throng repaired to the dining room where the tables were groaning under their heavy loads of choice eatables, prepared by the mother of the bride which were heartily discussed by all present. Mr. and Mrs. Ford will spend a portion of the honeymoon in the far west. The evening’s entertainment consisting of pleasant, amusing games, was frequently enlivened with music by the Council Hill Brass Band, one of the best musical organizations of its age in the west. TUBA CAN’T BE BEAT. (!)

The following is a partial list of articles presented to the bride. Mr. and Mrs. (William) Ford, parents of the groom, large family Bible; Etta Lupton, fancy vases; (daughter of William Lupton) Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oatey, silver pickle castor; James Spencer, silver butter dish; (son of William and Julia Lupton Spencer.) John Spencer, fairy queen clock; (son of Simeon and Mary Lupton Spencer) Mr. and Mrs. Charles Reed, fruit dish; Miss May Parkins, vases; F. Atkinson, flower vases; Mr. and Mrs. H. Adams, silver napkin ring; Martha Lupton, silver bottle dish; R.R. Wright, set of goblets; Anna C. Reed, set of vases; J.E. Kelby, clerk in Fiddick’s store, Galena, shopping bag; Mr. and Mrs. William Ford, table cloth and towels; Walter Ford, majolica water pitcher; W.L James, Sheffield, Iowa, work basket; Mr. and Mrs. R. Atkinson, Sheffield, Iowa, handsome album; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Reynolds, Mineral Point, Wisconsin, fancy bedspread; (parents of Elizabeth Reynolds Lupton, deceased first wife of Samuel Lupton) Mr. and Mrs. (Samuel) Lupton (uncle), Marshalltown, Iowa, hand – painted tidy; Martha Lupton (daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Reynolds Lupton), hand – painted lambrequin; Alfred and Martha Hicks, set of silver spoons; Estella Davis, gilt vases; S. Ford, picture holder; F. and P. Trevarthen, gold – lined salt “cellar;” (? ) Mr. John Lupton, bedspread; (son of William Lupton) Frank Ford, shopping bag; E. and M. Ford, Sheffield, Iowa, satin tidy; Rev. J. Lowry and wife, breakfast castor; E. Cawthorne, French plate hand glass; Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Pierce, picture frames; Emma Ford, set of towels; Mr. J. Williams, album; Jesse Ford, hat rack; Mr. and Mrs. George Redfearn, set of silver spoons; Clara Bastian, pickle dish; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas German, Denver, Colorado, set of silver spoons; (Mrs. German was the former Mary Sophia Spencer, daughter of William and Julia Lupton Spencer.) Mr. and Mrs. Schafmeyer, ornamental perfume bottle; Mr. and Mrs. J. Atkinson, silver napkin ring; Lt. Combellick, large album; W. Tamblyn, napkin ring; Al. Avery, silver spoons; C. Williams, toilet mat; Esther Combellick, Iowa Falls, Iowa, maroon lamber satin bedspread; Mrs. Powell, table cloth and napkins; Grandpa Lupton, very handsome picture frame; Mat (Martha) Spencer, (sister) fancy parlor lamp; Groom, silver pickle dish; Mr. and Mrs. George Redfearn, Jr., silver batter knife; S. Frazier, fruit dish; L. Williams, tea spoon; Mr. and Mrs. J. Bastian, cups and saucers; Mrs. R. Ford, set of china; Alban ford, tea tray; Hattie Hocking, napkin ring.

That Mr. and Mrs. Ford will live to wear out all of the above articles is the wish of “Old Snooper!”