(in part)... An interesting decision was rendered yesterday morning by Judge Tuley in the case of Veersema vs. Veersema, involving the question of a common-law marriage. It appeared from the evidence that in the fall of 1864 John Peter Veersema engaged Carrie Tappar as a servant at his home in Jefferson. After a few weeks an illicit intercourse began between them, and about eighteen months after Carrie went to Veersema's house she bore him a daughter, Annie, the complainant in the present suit. The parties lived together until Veersema's death, in 1873[?], as husband and wife, eating together, occupying the same bed, and occasionally going in public together. No ceremony of marriage was ever performed by any minister, priest, or civil officer. The present bill was filed by the daughter for the purpose of establishing her heirship and the marriage of her parents, and of removing certain clouds alleged to have been put on her father's property by means of deeds executed by her father's brother, who had been appointed administrator....
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1882/05/17/page/10/article/an-illegitimate-daughter-seeking-to-vindicate-her-mothers-honor
