MARRIAGE: Joseph Yingling to Amelia Fitz Mahaley, 1916, bride of Hanover, York 
County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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HANOVER “WAR BRIDE’

MISS MAHALEY WEDS JOSEPH YINGLING, A MEMBER OF MARYLAND GUARD.

WEDDING HASTENED ON ACCOUNT OF GROOM BEING “CALLED TO ARMS” – BRIDE TAKES HIS 
POSITION IN OFFICE AS HE LEAVES FOR CAMP.

Following the “call to arms” of the National Guards, of the several states in 
view of a possible war with Mexico, come the announcement of the marriage of 
Hanover’s first “War Bride,” Miss Amelia Fitz Mahaley to Joseph Yingling, of 
Westminster, Md.

The wedding had been arranged to take place at 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon, 
June 21 in the M. E. church, at Milton, Pa., Rev. J. V. Adams, a former pastor 
of the bride in this place, to officiate.

Miss Dora Yingling, a sister of the groom was to render several solos before and 
after the ceremony, while Miss Henrietta Adams, of Milton, was to play the 
wedding march.  Mary Margaret Adams was to serve as flower girl, Miss Estelle 
Mahaley, maid of honor, Miss Bertha Mahaley, bridesmaid and William J. Yingling, 
best man.

However, all these plans were upset by a telephone message from the groom, 
Monday afternoon, stating the Company H, of the Maryland Guard, of which he is a 
member, had been called out and they would be off for the Mexican border within 
several days. 

Arrangement were then hastily made for an immediate wedding.  A local notary 
public was commissioned to secure a license in the York County Court, and 
accompanied by Clerk of the Courts, T. J. Little, of this place, motored to the 
Court House last evening to make out the necessary legal paper, in his office.

Miss Mahaley, with her sisters, Misses Estelle and Bertha Mahaley and Miss Dora 
Yingling, left about 8 p.m. last evening for “Honey Suckle Hill,” the groom’s 
home, Westminster, in an automobile of J. B. Stambaugh, and there the ceremony 
was performed at 11:30 o’clock Monday night by Rev. Havenner, pastor of the M. 
E. church of Westminster.  The ring ceremony was used. 

The bride was dressed in the wedding gown which she had made for the more formal 
ceremony.  It was embroidered net over white silk with pearl trimming and she 
carried a bouquet of white roses.

Another “complication” confronted the young couple at Westminster.  They found 
that the license they secured in York was worthless, being issued in a different 
county and state, and a Maryland writ was necessary.  It was then nearly 11 
o’clock and it was necessary to arouse the Clerk of the Courts of Carroll County 
from his slumber to procure the necessary papers.

This morning the wedding party returned to Hanover, while the groom reported for 
duty at the Armory in Westminster.  He is secretary of the company and this 
morning was also appointed a stenographer.  

The bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Mahaley, of No. 23 Centennial 
avenue.  Miss Mahaley was graduated from the Hanover High School in the class of 
1912 and for the past several years has been employed as bookkeeper and 
stenographer in the office of the Keystone Wire Cloth Co.  She was also an 
active member of the Methodist church and was fourth vice president of the 
Epworth League Society and a teacher in the Sunday School.  She is also a 
soprano soloist.

The groom is employed in the office of McGinness and Co., at Carrollton, Md., 
and his bride will leave for that place tomorrow to fill his position while he 
is on duty with the Maryland Guards.

The Hanover Herald – Saturday, June 24, 1916