Kossuth County Iowa Historical Info Official Matters Marriage Record Licenses have always been required in the State of Iowa before the nuptial knot could be tied, and the clerk of the court has always been the custodian of the books and has authority to issue the said permits, under certain restrictions. These records therefore have proved an invaluable source from which to draw the majority of the facts found here. The first license on the record books of Kossuth County was issued by Judge Call, under date of April 22, 1857, and authorized the proper person to unite in the bonds of matrimony, William Moore and Sarah Wright. The ceremony was performed the same day, apparently, by George D. Wheeler, a justice of the peace. This was the first marriage within the limits of Kossuth County. The second license was issued on July 21, 1857, by Judge Call, to Hurlbut W. Lake and Rachel W. Eggers. This couple was married the same day by "his honor the judge." Licenses were issued the same year to the following parties: Charles I. Harvey and Minerva Wright, October 15. They were married by Judge Lewis H. Smith, the same day. Thomas J. Foster and Jane Lane, October 15, who were also united in marriage by the county judge. Lewis H. Smith and Abbie M. Rist, October 24. This couple were united under the sanction of the Church, in the person of Rev. Chauncey Taylor, and was the first rite matrimonial to be so solemnized by a clergyman in the county. Theodore J. Smith and Roxa Fleming, November 10. Roderick M. Bessie and Mary E. Lane, November 20. William D. Eaton and Nancy H. Kellogg, December 20. The last three couples were all married on the day of the issuance of the licenses by the Rev. Chauncey Taylor. This comprises all the marriages for that year, nor did the number increase very materially the next year. In 1858 there were the following candidates for matrimonial honors: August Zahlten and Mary Reibhoff, January 6, married, the same day, by Lewis H. Smith, county judge. Amos Otis, Jr., and Almira E. Heckart, March 24, married the following day by J. E. Blackford, justice of the peace. William A. Wilson and Chloe S. Lawrence, May 16, married, the same day, by Rev. D. S. McComb, a Presbyterian clergyman. James E. Hall and Susan Hall, July I, married at the same time by Judge Smith. George M. Wiltfong and Martha A. Clarke July 17, married the same day by W. B. Moore, a justice of the peace. Sylvester S. Rist and Mary Ann Millen, August 31, married by L. H. Smith, the county judge. Marcena Harriet and Caroline Lattimore, September 14; also united the same day, by Judge Smith. Swan Linquest and Hannah Peterson, Jan. 15, 1859; married the same date by L. L. Treat, justice of the peace. J. R. Armstrong and Jane Fife, Jan. 27 1859; married by Rev. O. A. Holmes. G. W. Mann and Laura M. Bellows, Aug. 25, 1859; married by Rev. C. Taylor. J. E. Stacy and Harriet E. Taylor, April 12, 1860; united in wedlock by the Reverend father of the bride, Chauncey Taylor. George P. Steele and Mary S. Clark, April 12, 1860; married by Rev. C. Taylor. Oscar Stevens and Jane Magoon, May 1860. Christian Hackman and Elizabeth Clark, May 24, 1860. Andrew L. Seeley and Alice Benschoter, May 30, 1861. Richard Colburn and Elmira Heckart, May 7, 1861. Elias N. Weaver and Polly Benschoter, Dec. 18, 1861. But this is sufficient. Many of the names will be recognized as those of early settlers, and of the parties who have been most prominently identified with the progress and development of Kossuth County. Herein is appended a table showing the number of marriages each year, and calling the attention to the curious variation in their number, as the times were hard or easy. 1857 . . . . . 8 1870 . . . . . 26 1858 . . . . . 7 1871 . . . . . 32 1859 . . . . . 3 1872 . . . . . 38 1860 . . . . . 4 1873 . . . . . 32 1861 . . . . . 3 1874 . . . . . 35 1862 . . . . . 2 1875 . . . . . 29 1863 . . . . . 3 1876 . . . . . 36 1864 . . . . . 5 1877 . . . . . 46 1865 . . . . . 9 1878 . . . . . 47 1866 . . . . . 16 1879 . . . . . 54 1867 . . . . . 9 1880 . . . . . 65 1868 . . . . . 18 1881 . . . . . 71 1869 . . . . . 20 1882 . . . . . 67 [History of Kossuth County, Iowa, Chapter IV, 1884, Transcribed by Charlotte Slater] Copyright © Genealogy Trails All data on this website is Copyright by Genealogy Trails with full rights reserved for original submitters.