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Source: Wills De Hass – 1851 Publication The marriage was generally celebrated at the house of the bride. In the morning of the wedding day, the groom and his intimate friends would assemble at the house of his father, and after due preparation departed for the home of the bride. The journey was sometimes made on horseback, sometimes on foot and sometimes in a farm wagon or cart. It was always a merry journey, and to insure merriment there might be a bottle taken along. After the marriage ceremonies were performed, supper was eaten. The meal was a substantial back-woods feast of beef, pork, fowls, and sometimes venison or bear meat that was roasted or boiled, along with plenty of potatoes, cabbage, and other vegetables. During the dinner the greatest hilarity always prevailed; although the table might be a large slab of timber, hewed out with a broad axe, supported by four sticks set in auger holes; and the furniture some old pewter dishes, and plates; the rest, wooden bowls and trenchers; a few pewter spoons, much battered about the edges, were to be seen at some tables. The rest were made of horns. If knives were scarce, the deficiency was made up by the knives carried in sheaths suspended to the belt of the hunting shirt. Every man carried one of them. When dinner was over, the dancing would commence, usually lasting until morning. The figures of the dances were three and four handed reels, or square sets and jigs. At the proper time for retiring, a deputation of young ladies would steal off the bride and put her to bed. This done, a deputation of young men would escort the groom to the same location to join his bride. A busy and productive year has zipped by and as the cold, wet, windy months of winter turn into memories; we enjoy April Showers, May Flowers and June Brides! In the first years of the settlement of the country, a wedding engaged the attention of a whole neighborhood; and the frolic was anticipated by old and young with eager expectation. This is not to be wondered at, when it is told that a wedding was almost the only gathering which was not accompanied with the labor of reaping, log-rolling, building a cabin, or planning some scout or campaign. No idle time for these young brides and grooms! Raising large families and having no choice than to be self-sufficient, their days were filled with hard work and long hours. JULY MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL Please renew your annual membership as soon as possible, and while you’re at it, why not purchase a membership for friends and family? What a wonderful gift! Your support is very important to the continued existence of the Historical Society. Thanks! John Rohr was born in 1860 in Nuremberg, Germany, and came to the US when he was 19 years old. Emma was born in Illinois in 1866. They met and were married in Illinois before coming to Tacoma in 1888. John and Emma came west because the climate was ideal for garden farming and Spanaway is where they chose to homestead. Seven children were born to them, 4 boys and 3 girls. They raised all of the hay for their cattle, had a fine orchard that produced lots of fruit and their garden grew so well that the Rohr’s were able to have a route downtown where they sold garden vegetables, fruit, eggs, butter and the sauerkraut made by Mother Rohr. John Barnes was born on the Nisqually Plains 1857. His father was a Hudson Bay man from England. Janet Barnes was born in Scotland on 1865. In 1877, at age 11, she and her 9 year old brother came to live with the Adam Benston family. Adam had known Janet and her brother when living in Scotland. John and Janet were married when she was just 16 years old. They had ten children and on their farm they raised cattle, pigs, chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks. There was always a big garden to tend and the family even harvested the cranberries which grew in the swamps around Spanaway Lake. Spring 2013 Index June Brides Museum Happenings Updates Mark Your Calendar The purpose of the Spanaway Historical Society is to assemble and preserve the his ge gained therein may be used for the education and improvement of the community. Karl Schwanz (1848) and Eliza (1860) were both born in Germany and met at a big “German doings” in Tacoma which finalized in marriage. They began their life together on their homestead near Spanaway in the 1880’s. All 14 of the children were born on the Homestead and worked at various jobs to help the family. Mark Your Calendar Fir Lane Park Memorial Day Flag Placement June 25 @ 9:30 AM Memorial Day Services May 26 @ l:00 It’s the You Won’t Find A Better Deal Anywhere SHS Yard Sale! JUNE 1 @ 10 AM - 4 PM POTLUCK PICNIC : Sunday, July 21 Noon Friends, Family, Food and Fun!! See you there! Memberships General $8 - Spouse $5 Seniors 65+ $6 - Spouse $5 Student age 18-22 - $6 Under 18 - $5 Community Connection Celebrate Spanaway serves Spanaway through its online local business directory, community information website, special projects, and support of charitable organizations serving the area www.celebratespana way.com Spanaway Pioneer Cemetery www.Findagrave.co m MUSEUM INFORMATION 812 East 176 th Street Along with the special events, the museum is open every Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and on the 3 rd Sunday of each month between 2:00 – 4:00 PM. For Group tours of any size, contact the museum at: 253-536- Theodore Manteufel came to the US from Berlin Germany when 21 years old. He came to Spokane to find work and met Marie Lorenz whom he later married. In 1882, they traveled to western Washington Territory and homesteaded in Spanaway. They raised 7 children. Theodore would take sacks of carrots, onions and potatoes to Murray’s store in Roy to trade for groceries. The hogs, calves, geese and ducks were taken to Roy or South Tacoma. The round trip to South Tacoma by wagon took from 4 AM to 10 PM. Wagon Train Settlers B. Franklin Wright, when 18 years of age, went to Licken, Missouri, to sell a load of mules. He met Miss Frances Jane Blankenship , a daughter of a Pennsylvania Dutch tobacco planter. Two years later they were married and in May 1853, together with B. Franklin’s parents, brothers, sisters, their families and their own baby daughter, joined the immigrant train headed for Fort Steilacoom. The trip was long, hard and hazardous. The covered wagons reached Ft. Steilacoom on November 2, 1853. Soon after, B. Franklin took up a Donation Claim to build a home for his family. They had 14 children and raised 12 to adulthood.
