Sunday Church Records - a good substitute

I have been looking for my Paternal Grandparents Marriage Certificate, Record, Announcement etc of  John P. and Margaret Branfield Gardner .......  and with no luck so when I found their announcement and description of their 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebrations in the Alliance Newspaper I sent a letter to the First Christian Church, 114 E Main, Alliance, Stark Co. OH 44601 attention Secretary. This church was named in the article. I received a very nice letter back letting me know that they had no official records of the marriage - fires and water damage had destroyed alot of their early records. BUT she sent a copy of an article in the September 22, 1911 Christian Messenger Newsletter that told about their wedding. Needless to say I was thrilled..................

So you may not find the marriage license or record but you may find something that can be substituted for it. Look for the clues.

(Transcription reads...........  heading first............ )

Rally Day Next Sunday -- 600present. Bring Your Friends "THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER" Preach the Word --Paul vol 1 Alliance, Ohio, Friday, September 22, 1911 no# 51

"A Pretty Wedding" One of the prettiest weddings of the season was that witnessed by a large number of friends and relatives when Miss Margaret E Branfield became the bride of Mr John P Gardner. The marriage was solemnized at the home of the bride's parents, 76 East Cambridge Street by Mr Reynolds, Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock. After an elegant supper was served the newly weds left for Michigan on their wedding trip. They will be at home after October 15th in their new home, 283 West Broadway.

#The Christian Messenger extends congratulations and best wishes for a long, happy and prosperous life.

posted by Sandra Gardner Benward