Wedding Wednesday - The Smith's, Brown's & Garland's of Danville, Illinois

There's nothing I find more sad than to see actual family history documents lost.  And today's items are truly lost.  I'm sure they have ties to Michigan, but I'm also sure someone out there must be missing these.  The papers have roots in Danville, Illinois, but somehow ended up in Pontiac, Michigan.  I'm hoping someone will read this and help me find the family that these belong to. 

I have three (3) pages, they have been laminated - although not by me.  These were found by a good friend of ours.  They were found in the home they bought.  As they were cleaning a very high shelf, these papers came fluttering down.  If you click on the images they will open in a new window. 

 The above image is a marriage record between Charles F. Brown & Clara E. Smith,

both of Danville, Illinois.  The date on this certificate is 17 JULY 1912.  Written on the back of this one are the words, "Dorothy Brown's (Garland) mother and real  father's marriage certificate.

 The above marriage certificate is between Bernard C. Smith (?), piece on end of name is missing.

His bride is Luella Belle Jones.  The marriage took place in Danville, Illinois on 24 DEC 1885.

The back of this has, "Dorothy Louise Brown's (Garland) Grandmothers marriage certificate. Clara Smith (Jennings Brown) mother.  Also notes this was Clara's second marriage?

Finally,  this birth register shows births for 7 persons, Caroline Belle Smith, Mary Bernice Smith, Walter Roy Smith, Clara E. Smith, Bernice E. Smith and Paul Edwin Smith.  There are dates for each birth except for Mary Bernice Smith.  The back of this has the words, "births of Grandma Garlands - Dorothy Louise Brown family on mother's side."

I'd really like to see these in the hands of family members again.  Can you help?  If this is your family, I'll be happy to send them to you.  Contact me via this blog and I'll get them to you.  Sure hope these can go HOME to the family they belong with. 

Wedding Wednesday

Gospel Messenger,  20 JAN 1934, Pg. 27

Eichhorn – Early  - Dec. 28, 1933, at the Bride’s home, the home of the undersigned, Gaylord Eichhorn of Troy, Ohio and Genevieve Early.
 --S.P. Early, Roaring Spring, Pa

  The week between Christmas & New Years Mr. Brown Eyes always takes me away for a few days of research.  This year we spent some time researching in three different locales in the area of Dayton, Ohio.  

  Thursday we spent at the Dayton Public Library getting obituaries using their obituary index for some of my "wants", others we had to search for.  Friday we worked at the Montgomery County Records & Archive Center.  Saturday we spent at the Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville.

I enjoy using all of these places to research the families I have in the Montgomery County area.  Today's wedding entry I found in the Brethren Heritage Center.  The Heritage center has a very large collection of Brethren periodicals, mainly newspapers.  They are indexed and the staff there is very knowledgeable regarding the indexes and the collection in general.  I had about 48-50 items on my to do list and the only items I didn't get were items that were in three issues that they did not have of The Gospel Messenger.  

Most of the entries that day were obituaries I was seeking on the Early family out of Rockingham County, Virginia.  While looking for the obituary of one of that family I just happened to notice the above under "Matrimonial".  I couldn't leave it there. 

 Genevieve Early is the daughter of Simon P. Early (1874-1948) and his wife, Emma Wine.  

 You'll be seeing more of the Early family in weeks to come as I have plenty of items I want to share.  They were in Rockingham County, Virginia and then migrated thru Pennsylvania (where some remained) into parts of southwestern Ohio and then into Illinois and Missouri.  

Happy Researching!