Monday, August 27, 2012

A Political Marriage

As we gear up for a national election, the following article from the 23 October 1896 issue of the Henderson Daily Gleaner seems appropriate.

"There comes a story from amidst the hills of Webster County, telling not only of romance, but of the true and genuine patriotism of an honest and simple minded woman. The scene is near Jones Stand, one of the oldest trading points in that section of the country. About a year ago Thomas Williams, a sturdy farmer, met with the sad misfortune of losing his kind and loving wife, leaving to him the care of ten young children. The brambles of care grew thick around the good farmer's household, and in justice to his loving ones he thought the best thing to be done was to try and persuade some kind woman to share his fortune and be a mother to them.

"Williams was an ardent Republican, but had always borne the good will and friendship of his Democratic neighbors. In the immediate vicinity there lived Mrs. Walker, a widow lady of irreproachable character and noted for her thrift and energy. It was towards her humble home that the unhappy farmer turned his eyes for comfort and solace. He paid her one visit and then another until they became very frequent.

"Time wore on and a month more past [sic], in the meantime politics going to a fever heat in that section bringing out an earnest expression from both Democrats and Republicans. Only last week in the midst of this great campaign and political excitement Williams gathered up his courage to ask the widow for heart and hand. With the spirit of a patriot and heart full of love, she told him she loved and respected him, but he was a Republican in politics and she could not marry him. It was an unkind cut, and almost a death blow, but like a warrior, Williams rose up and exclaimed, "If that is all, I am a Democrat from now on!"

They were married Sunday and she with her four children now make a happy family of 16 in number and now the hills of old Webster are echoing with the strong voice of Tom Williams for Wm. Jennings Bryan for President."

The 1900 Webster County census shows Thomas and Sarah E. Williams living in Dixon with 11 children, some with the surname of Williams and some with the surname of Walker.

Copyright on text and photographs
by Brenda Joyce Jerome, CG
Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog

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