It was on the twenty-ninth day of November, 1836 that "Isaac Blakely and Eleanor Lammon" secured a marriage license from Wm. Ross, clerk of Des Moines County, Wisconsin Territory. The wedding took place on the first day of December "at the home of the bride's parents." Far and wide a lively interest was taken in the event. The good housewives who lent their assistance found there were no preserves for the wedding-feast. Considering this deficiency a reproach to their skill, the soon converted some wild crabapples the only fruit available, into the desired sweets to grace the table and the occasion. "William Bradley, M.G." so he signed the official return, solemnized the rites.
The validity of the ceremony was later called in question. The Blakelys, to cure the defect, if any really existed, took out the second license to marry issued under the jurisdiction of Jefferson County. . It bears date of March 16, 1839, and runs "for Isaac Blakely of legal age to Miss Elen Landman by consent of parents." The different spellings of the bride's name should be noticed.
The next day their second marriage was consummated. "Benjamin F. Chaseteen a minister of the gospel" as he styled himself in the return officiated. The legality of this union was in turn subject to doubt. The difficulty in each instance probably was theat neither minister had secured the civil license authorizing him to act in this particular capacity.
That Chasteen had not is certain from a subsequest entry made by John A. Pitzer, then clerk of the district court of County, Iowa Territory. "This is to certify to all whom it may concern that we a Presbytery of Ministers of the gospel of the separate Baptist order being legally authorized have by and with the consent of the church to which Brother Benjamin F. Chasteen is a mimber having examined into his views of the gospel his qualifications to preach the same do hereby certify that in conformity to the Gosspel we have laid our hands on him and legally ordained him to preach and administer the ordinances of the Gospel agreeable to the separate baptist order in testimony whereof we have set our hands this 7th day November 1839. Thomas Skaggs, Aaron Bleakmore."
There was ground for uneasiness for obvouusly Chasteen had acted without proper legal sanaction. So numerous were cases of this kind that in 1842 the legislature enacted that all marriages prevously solemnized by a regularly ordained or licensed minister of the gospel in this territory should be in all respects as valid in law as though solemnized by a minister licensed as required by the statute.
The Blakelys afterward removed to Davis County, where Isaac Blakely rose to high esteem and was chosen to represent that county in the House of the Fourteenth General Assembly.
