Through the years, various towns became popular for "runaway" couples to go to
marry. These places were usually out of state, where the marriage laws might be
different from those in Kentucky. In pre-1900, some couples from Caldwell
County, Kentucky went to Clarksville, Montgomery County, Tennessee to "tie the knot."
The following marriage notices were abstracted from various area newspapers.
Married - At
the Southern Hotel on Wed. morning, 9th inst., by Rev. A.D. Sears, Mr. J.C.
Pace and Miss S.C. Ballard, all of Caldwell County, Ky. Also at the Southern Hotel on Wed., morning,
the 9th inst., by Rev. A.D. Sears, Mr. J.L. Ballard and Miss J.L. Blakley, both
of Caldwell County. [Clarksville Weekly
Chronicle, Sat., 12 Oct 1878, p. 3]
Squire Caldwell
was called to the Northington House this morning to marry an eloping couple
from near Blue Spring Church, in Caldwell County, Kentucky. The Squire
performed the ceremony with all the dignity of a Reverend, and made James l.
Merrick and Miss Emma Merrick man and wife, they being attended by Miss Julia
Sanders and C.L. Armstrong. [Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, Wed., 12 Dec
1888, p. 4]
W.J. East
and Miss Bettie Towery, of Caldwell County, Ky were united in marriage at the
Northington Hotel by Esq. Z. Smith. This was a runaway couple, who selected
this place to have their vows consummated. [The
Nashville Tennessean, Sat., 10 Oct 1891, p. 4]
Mr. Fred
Heppel Jr. and Miss Birch Cummins, of Caldwell County, Ky, were married in the
parlor of the Arlington Hotel this morning, Z. Smith, Esq. officiating. The
party was accompanied by the young lady's brother. [Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle Weekly, Fri., 12 Feb 1892, p. 5]
J.R.
Chandler and Miss M.A. Farmer, accompanied by two young friends, eloped from their homes in Caldwell County, Ky to
this city [Clarksville] on horseback. They were married in one of the corridors
of the courthouse today by Squire Z. Smith. They will return by the overland
route and when they reach their destination will have ridden about 100 miles
horseback in order to outwit their parents, as they were both under age
required by the laws of Kentucky to marry. [Cincinnati
Enquirer, Sun., 31 May 1896, p. 25]
Albert Pugh
and Miss Maud Johnson eloped from Caldwell County, Ky and were married in this
city [Clarksville] this morning at 7:30 o'clock. They drove in a hack overland all night to
outwit their parents. [Nashville
Tennessean, Thur., 8 Oct 1896, p. 3]
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