Put a ring on it...

March 4 - Do you have marriage records for your grandparents or great-grandparents? Write a post about where they were married and when. Any family stories about the wedding day? Post a photo too if you have one.

Marriage certificate of Edward and Marie Marxer

They were married on 24 Feb. 1936 at St. Ann's Cathedral in Great Falls MT. It was a small family wedding. The bride's maid was Louise Marxer, Edward's sister, and the best man was Mike Reddish. The wedding day was cold and the snow deep. The bride's bouquet of roses was frostbitten in the cold. The wedding party headed out to the ranch in the early afternoon. The car made it as far as Eden than needed to be towed by a team of horses the rest of the way. When they arrived at the house the whole community was there to greet the new bride. They played games, told round stories and tall tales and sang songs. Later they rolled the carpet up and pushed the furniture out of the way for an impromptu dance in the living room. They partied until the wee hours of the morning.

This story was told by Edward and Marie in the county history "A Century In The Foothills 1876-1976"

page 319

Marriage certificate of Joseph and Katherine Marxer

Joseph and Katherine Marxer

Joseph and Katerine Marxer were married in St. Paul MN in 1884. They lived there for a couple of years before coming west to homestead near Great Falls MT. Joseph was a stone mason and helped to build many structures in and around Great Falls. He built the home that he and Katherine would raise their family in with his own two hands. They eventually went into farming, but when Joseph had to go to town for work or supplies, he'd walk the 10+ miles in order to save on livery fees for the horses. When he returned home, he'd carry all the food and supplies for his family on his back. Joseph and Katherine had 15 children over the years.

Marriage certificate of Carl and Ellen Borgreen

Ellen "Nell" (Johnstone) Borgreen

Carl Borgreen

Carl and Ellen Borgreen were married on 29 Jun 1935 in Great Falls MT. There is some speculation that they met when Ellen was serving as a nurse to Carl's mother. According to an article in the Great Falls Tribune, they were married at 9:00 am at St. Ann's Cathedral. Gertrude Johnstone and Chester Hillstrand served as attendants. Ellen wore a floor length gown of Alice blue lace with a white turban and short veil. She carried Ophelia roses and gypsophilia."Mr. and Mrs. Borgreen left at noon on a motor trip to AZ and CA and will return to Great Falls about July 20."

Marriage certificate of August "Gust" and Johanna "Jennie" (Felt) Borgreen

Gust and Jennie Borgreen in later years

Gust Borgreen left Sweden and came to the U. S. in 1883 and made his way west to WY. In July of 1891, Jennie Felt arrived in Rock Springs WY and by Dec. of that year the two were married. Based on documentation, I speculate that a relative of Jennie, named Andrew Felt, came to WY in 1890 and sent for her the next year. Many questions surround these people. Was Andrew her brother or related some other way? Did Andrew already know Gust or did they meet in WY? Did Jennie know that she would be married just 6 months after arriving in the U.S? I told you we weren't done with Jennie Felt yet.