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Married:
- According to marriage records in Holt County, Missouri, "Jonathan Johnson Rayhill" and "Anna Helen Curry," both of Oregon, Holt County, Missouri, received a marriage license at Oregon, Missouri on 27 January 1914 and they were married on 31 January 1914 at Oregon, Missouri by I. [sic] E. Arnhold, of St. Joseph, Missouri, Minister of the Gospel and "Member Mo. Conf. M. E. Church."
The following account of the wedding ceremony was published on page 1 of the Holt County Sentinel (Oregon, Missouri) on Friday, 6 February 1914.
School-Day Courtship.
Marriage of Miss Ann Curry and
Jonathan J. Rayhill, a
Brilliant Affair
In the presence of a company that filled the First Methodist Episcopal church, and amidst environments of the most pleasing and attractive character, a very impressive wedding was solemnized at 3:30 in the afternoon of January 31, the contracting parties being Miss Anna Helen, the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Curry, and Jonathan J., son of Charles B. Rayhill, both of this city, and is the hadpy [sic] culmination of "happy school days," at the Oregon High school.
When her engagement was announced during the holidays it was received by her friends and especially by the "Fudge Club," with much regret because of the destiny which must take her permanently from Oregon. But Cupid's darts are love's summons, and plans were at once laid for a series of social events in her honor.
The brilliance of the wedding details were never excelled in our little city. The handsome auditorium of the church had been elaborately and artistically decorated for the occasion and presented a harmonizing of colorings of an unusally [sic] attractive appearance. The altar was heavily banked with palms and ferns, and potted plants, and Southern smilax, whose solid color effect was relieved by the brighter hues of the exquisite flowers. Ropes of evergreen swung gracefully from the pulpit loft to the four corners of the pulpit. Back of the choir stand, the wall was latticed with Southern smilax, tied with pink Killarney roses.
The ushers, Mr. William R. Curry, of Indianapolis, Ind., a brother of the bride, and William Moore, and George Zeller, of this city, seated the guests on arrival, and nearly 400 were present when the hour for the ceremony arrived. The seats in the front center section, reserved for the relatives, were designated by broad bands of pink and blue satin ribbon tied in large bows at the pew ends and enclosing the seats reserved.
Preceding the entry of the bridal party, Mr. George Steinmetz, of St. Joseph, a cousin of the bride, sang most acceptably, "I Love You Truly" and "O, Perfect Love." He was accompanied on the piano by Miss Zinna Bragg.
The entrance of the bridal party was very impressive, and was heralded by the strains of the wedding march from "Lohengrin," Miss Bragg presiding at the instrument. The bride's maids, Misses Ina and Mae Botkin and Trot King, school-day chums of the bride, entered the church at long distances in perfect time, and proceeded to the east aisle. They were gowned alike in blue charmeuse with tunics of blue chiffon edged with pink roses, the gowns were made with trains. The maids wore black picture hats with bridles fastened with pink roses, and carried arm bouquets of Killarney roses.
Following the bride's maids in equi-distances came the ushers, who moved to the west aisle, and the sextette [sic] moved down their respective aisles, with a poise that truly made an inspiring picture not soon to be forgotten. On approaching the altar, the ministers arose and took their position immediately to the front of the altar, and the attendants took their respective positions to the right and left of them. Miss Mary Zook, a cousin of the bride, as maid of honor, then entered, and passed down the west aisle. She was gowned in pink meteor with bodice and tunic of blue beaded net. The dress was made with train. She wore a black picture hat with bridle, fastened with pink roses, and carried a shower bouquet of Killarney roses, - thus the attendants carried out to its fullness the bride's color scheme, blue and pink.
Following the maid of honor came the bride, who moved down the west aisle, and as she approached the altar she was met by the groom, and his best man, Dr. Sherman Hibbard, of Kansas City, who entered from the pulpit door. Anna Curry, the bride, whom we have known from her cradle to the altar, never before in her life looked more lovely; save perhaps when she dressed in her first long dress. On this most joyous occasion she wore a gown of cream white charmeuse, with bodice and draped tunic of shadow lace. The girdle and long train were held in place at waist line by pearl ornaments. She wore a bridal veil with wreath of lilies of the valley, and carried a shower bouquet of bride's roses and lillies [sic] of the valley. The groom and his best man and ushers wore Prince Albert coats, gray trousers with ties and gloves to match.
At the altar the attendants and ministers in semi-circle faced the audience, while the bride and groom, the maid of honor and groomsman faced the pulpit, and the marriage was impressively performed. The full ritual of the Methodist Episcopal church was employed, and the words uniting these two souls with but a single thought, two hearts that beat as one, was performed by Rev. T. E. Arnholdt, of St. Joseph, a cousin of the bride, who was assisted by the bride's pastor, Rev. J. H. Thompson. During the ceremony Miss Bragg softly played the march from Lohengrin, and upon the benediction being pronounced, struck up the Mendelssohn, to which the party retired from the church by couples by the east aisle.
The couple and attendants, followed by relatives and the more intimate friends, repaired to the home of the bride's parents, where hearty congratulations were extended the happy pair, after which a relishable luncheon was served.
The bride is the only girl in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Curry, and by this wedding a vacancy in the home will come, that will be hard to become reconciled to; but it seems to be the divine law that girls will marry and leave all others dear, for the apple of her eye - but why should they and her kindred and friends wish this for her? Is it not after all, the true life for her, of for any woman? She was born and reared in our little city, and was educated in our school from the primary to the High school, from which she graduated in 1908, and also a graduate of the Northwestern university, of Evanston, in 1912. During the school year 1912-13 she was a member of our High school faculty, and since the time up to her marriage her time has been given up to those studies and things that might equip her best to fill the position that will come to her by reason of her new relationship in life. When quite young she identified herself with the M. E. church, and has ever been a worker in the church, and most earnest and successful Sunday school worker; a life embodying all the most beautiful Christian attributes. A leader in social and literary circles; of the highest ideals, and greatly beloved for many beautiful traits of character. She presented each of her maids with a friendship circle pin.
The groom has been known here from his school days, and was reared upon the farm, but since his graduation has been mostly in the West, where he was in a responsible position with the Wells-Fargo Express company at Seattle, Wash. A young man of splendid physique, and sterling qualities, and pure life. He is popular and numbers his friends by his acquaintances. His gift to this attendants was a friendship circle stickpin.
They begin life together under the most auspicious circumstances, and their many friends will join in wishing them a happy union. May their pathway of life be strewn with the flowers of success and happiness, trusting ever that they many grow younger as they grow older.
The popularity of this young couple, and the esteem in which they are held, were attested by the bridal gifts, the array of which was one of the handsomest and most useful ever seen in our little city.
They left on the 5:35 evening train for a brief honeymoon to Kansas City. Returning to this city, they will pack their effects and hie away to Milo, Vernon county, this state, where the couple will begin life together on a farm, and the groom will find in the wife a true help-mate in the broadest and most comprehensive sense.
The out-of-town guests, attending the wedding reception, were:
Will R. Curry, Indianapolis, Indiana; Mrs. J. C. Fitts and sister, Mrs. Ferd [sic] Crampton, Dr. Sherman Hibbard, of Kansas City; Adolph Steinmetz, George Steinmetz, and wife, Miss Anna Fiegenbaum, Lydia Gutknecht, Rev. T. E. Arnholdt, wife and daughter, Mrs. Mariah Denny, Miss Maymie Denny, St. Joseph; Leonard Botkin, Cherryvale, Kansas; Miss Zinna Bragg, Tarkio; Mr. and Mrs. Lyon, Maitland.
This notice of the marriage appeared on page 7 of the same issue of the newspaper in a column titled "M. E. Church Notes" and signed by "The Pastor."
One of the greatest social events of the season took place last Saturday afternoon in our church, when Miss Anna Curry, one of our most efficient Sunday school teachers, was given in marriage to Mr. Jonathan Johnson Rayhill, of Seattle, Wash. The ceremony was read by Rev. Thos. Arnholdt, a cousin of the bride, assisted by the writer, the bride's pastor. There were 400 guests present. Dr. Sherman Hibbard, of Kansas City, acted as "best man," and Miss Mary Zook, of this city, and a cousin of the bride, was "maid of honor." The ceremony was beautiful and impressive, the entire bridal party, consisting of the Misses Botkln, Miss King and Miss Zook, and Messrs. Wm. Moore, Geo. Keller, Dr. Hibbard and W. R. Curry, a brother of the bride, marching in as Miss Bragg played the march very beautifully on the piano. As a prelude to the march, two songs were sung very impressively by Geo. Steinmetz, of St. Joseph, also a cousin of the bride. After the ceremony a large number were invited to the reception at the Curry home, where hearty congratulations were showered upon the bride and groom, after which a dainty luncheon was served. Mr. and Mrs. Rayhill were the recipients of a fine display of the costliest presents which it has been my privilege to have ever seen on an occasion like this. They left Forest City on the evening train for a short honeymoon trip, when they will return to Oregon preparatory to moving soon to their home near Nevada, Mo. Hosts of admiring friends will wish them joy and serene happiness in their married life.
Residence (family):
- According to information on his World War I draft registration card, filed on 5 June 1917, Jonathan Johnson Rayhill lived at Oregon, Missouri. Jonathan reported that he was a self employed farmer in Nodaway Township. He claimed an exemption from the draft because he was the sole provider for a wife and child. The Registrar of the local draft board, [A?] L. Planalp, described Jonathan as a tall, stout man; bald, with brown eyes and brown hair. There were no other physical characteristics that would disqualify him for military service.
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