On this day . . . They were wed

Imagine a Christmas wedding 123 years ago today. 

My grandparents lived it. I recently acquire a copy of their marriage license, which wasn't recorded until a few days later in January of 1899.  Grandpa wasn't 21 years old so, his father had to witness for him. Grandma was 20.

They were married in a town called Blackmer, in Miller County, Missouri. The town is now all but gone. It was located a few miles south of the Osage River and situated close to Bear Creek, a tributary of the Osage. (I now live on the Osage River, far down stream.)  

The town once had a general store, post office, blacksmith shop, church, school, and a mill in the nearby vicinity. The post office was in operation from 1891-1912. 

The nearest towns to the Blackmer community were Brumly to the south and Ulman to the southeast.  Tuscumbia, the county seat, was located about 10 miles to the northeast. The little hamlet of Blackmer went out of existence in the early 20th century.

Here is an early picture of Grandma and Grandpa, of course well after their wedding day.

 
Perhaps this picture was taken on their 45 wedding anniversary, as he died before their 50th.

This was the last house they lived in Jefferson City, Mo. 

Happy 123rd wedding anniversary and Merry Christmas to my grandparents in heaven.