ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA - October 2, 1885 Newspaper Article (Vitals) THE TIMES Altoona, October 2, 1885 First Marriage License --- Prothonotary Geesey Waits Till After Office Hours to Issue It. Yesterday the marriage license act became a law in the State of Pennsylvania. Expecting a visit from a number of applicants for matrimonial blessedness, Prothonotary Geesey put on his good clothes yesterday morning, indulged in a clean shave, and surprised his assistants by appearing at his desk arrayed in stunning gorgeousness, befitting the occasion. A number of lawyers who came to examine records were his first callers, and later in the day the old canal boatmen and Portage railroaders called to pay their respects and admire the architectural beauty of the fine Court House which has taken the place of the old barracks of past days. The Prothonotary greeted all with his usual suavity of manner, but to the usual habitues of the Court House his countenance wore an anxious, expectant look. He seemed absorbed in dreams, and though he plied his pen vigorously at times, the opening of the door always occasioned him to start nervously. The day wore on wearily, and as the shades of evening approached the anticipated vision of bashful, blushing and beautiful young love in search of a certificate grew fainter and gradually died out. Prothonotary Geesey went home last evening a disappointed man, and after supper took a walk about the town and mingled with the maddening throng on the streets, determined to forget about it. At the same time a young man was in hot pursuit of the Prothonotary. He had arrived in the burg with his affianced after the Court House doors were closed, having intentionally delayed his visit in order to escape the observation of the crowd. Friends came to his assistance. Prothonotary Geesey was hunted up, and at 9 o'clock the young couple stood before him. they were Mr. David F. Sunderland and Miss Emma M. Kepler, both of Altoona. The Prothonotary administered the oath and propounded the questions in the form, to which satisfactory answers were given. the parties then signed the affidavit, the expectant groom forked over fifty cents, and the Prothonotary shook hands with both of them and wished them happiness, at the same time delivering to them a handsomely engrossed certificate. The blushing pair then departed. When Prothonotary Geesey started for home he walked with an elastic step, and he greeted friends on the way with a hearty tone that expressed the full and thankful heart. Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Digital Library by Linda L ewis. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************