Joseph Edward Shackford, the son of William Brown and Catherine T Mullett Shackford married Donna Lovilla Evans, the daughter of Thomas Evans on October 20, 1887. We’ve gotten a DNA match on two of Donna’s relatives and are hoping to learn more about her so we can learn more about her ancestry. (Yes, we realize we haven’t blogged about the DNA results or match yet because we’re focusing first on verifying relationships in Donna’s family.)
First the wedding announcement
Brilliant Social Event.
A large and elegant company as-
sembled by invitation Thursday even-
ing at the Central Park Congregational
Church, to witness the wedding of
Joseph E. Shockford [sic, jsp] of Syracuse, N.
Y., and Miss Donna L. Evans of this
suburb, Rev. J. E. Adams officiating.
The bride is the daughter of Thomas
Evans, and has long been prominent
in social circles here. Arthur Evans
was best man, and Miss Bessie Hous-
ton, bridesmaid. The ushers were Ed
Ward Bennett, Edward Hasbrook and
Will Hervey of Hinsdale, while Miss
Alice Clafin, of Lombard, Ill., render-
ed Mendelssohn’s wedding march.
After the ceremony the relatives and
near friends of the happy couple re-
paired to the residence of the bride’s
brother, L. F. Town, 988 Lawndale
avenue, where a reception was held
and refreshments served by Eckhart
the caterer. The presents were num-
erous and costly. After all the warm
words of congratulations had been said
the happy couple departed by the night
train for their future home in Syracuse,
N. Y., followed by a host of good
wishes and showers of rice and old
shoes. Among those present and in-
vited to reception were the following;
Misses Stella Patrick, Clara Towne,
Bessie Towne, Mr. Thomas Evans, Mr.
and Mrs. L. F. Towne, Mr. Arthur
Evans, Mr. and Mrs. Will K. Patrick,
Miss Helen B. Thomas, Miss Mame
G. Holly, Mr. A. R. Thomas, Mr. and
Mrs. E. B. Butler, Rev. and J. A. Mack,
Mrs. Issac Clafin, Mr. Will Clafin,
Miss Alice Clafin, Miss Margaret
Towne, Mrs. Robert Baird, Miss Gertie
Baird, Miss Frank Patrick, Miss Jessie
Patrick, Miss Donna Hills, Mr. and
Mrs Will Clafin, Mr. J. H. Nair, Mr
G. M. Morehouse, Mr. L. L. Lowry,
Mr. George C. Patterson, Mr. and Mrs.
S. A. Tucker, Mr. and Mrs. J. A.
Painter, Mr. Fred Painter, Miss Har-
riet Painter, Mr. and Mrs. G. W.
Powerll, Mrs. Carrie Spencer, Mr. and
Mrs. Bert Jones, Mr. and Mrs. John
White, Mrs. John Houston, Miss
Mary Houston, Miss Jessie Houston,
Mr. Will Hewey, Mr. Ed Bennett, Mr
Ed. Hasbrook, rev. and Mrs. J. A.
Adams, Mr. Chas. E. Doyle.
Interestingly, none of Joseph’s family who were living in Syracuse, New York attended his wedding (he had divorced his first wife Dec 1886, had two children ages 15 and 11 and his 75 year old mother was living with the family).
Most of the the attendees were from Donna’s family has helped us learn more about her. In this blog we’re taking a look at those who attended the wedding to see if we can learn more about her ancestry and family relationships:
Thomas Evans (1824-1911) – Donna’s father (find the family in census records & Thomas visits Donna in Syracuse after her marriage.)
Arthur T Evans (1854-1912) – best man was Donna’s brother. (find him in census records.) He married Mary G Holley in June 1889.
Bessie Houston – bridesmaid, do not think related
Ed Ward Bennett – usher, do not find a relationship
Edward Hasbrook, usher, do not find a relationship
Will Hervey, usher, do not find a relationship
L. F. Towne (1846-????) – listed as Donna’s brother in announcement but was brother-in-law, husband of her sister Stella Jane Evans, lived at 988 Lawndale
avenue
Miss Stella Patrick (1882-1969) – niece, daughter of sister Margaret Elizabeth (Evans) Patrick & her husband Wilbur Knowles Patrick
Miss Clara Towne (1880-1933) – niece, daughter of sister Stella Jane (Evans) Towne
Miss Bessie Towne (1883-????) – niece, daughter of sister Stella Jane (Evans) Towne
Mr & Mrs Will K Patrick – Donna’s sister Margaret Elizabeth (Evans) Patrick (1859-1935) married Wilbur Knowles Patrick (1858-1918)
Miss Helen B Thomas – do not find a relationship
Miss Mame G Holley – future wife of her brother Arthur Thomas Evans – they married June 4, 1889
Mr A. R. Thomas – do not find a relationship
Mr. and Mrs E. B. Butler – do not find a relationship
Rev and J. A. Mack – unsure of relationships
Mrs Issac Clafin – Lucian Towne’s sister Mary Watts Towne.
Mr. Will Clafin – child of Mary Watts Towne
Miss Alice Clafin – child of Mary Watts Towne
Miss Margaret Town – child of Mary Watts Towne
Mrs Robert Baird – husband of Lucian Towne’s sister Agnes Wells Towne
Miss Gertie Baird – child of Lucian Towne’s sister Agnes Wells Towne
Miss Frank Patrick – ??? unsure due to spelling but possibly Wilbur Knowles Patrick’s brother or sister
Miss Jessie Patrick – probably Wilbur Knowles Patrick’s sister
Miss Donna Hills – unsure of relationship
Mr and Mrs Will Clafin – Lucian Towne’s sister Mary Watts Towne.
Mr J. H. Nair – unsure of relationship
Mr G. M. Morehouse – unsure of relationship
Mr L L Lowry – unsure of relationship
Mr George C Patterson – unsure of relationship
Mr and Mrs S A Tucker – unsure of relationship
Mr Fred Painter – unsure of relationship
Mr and Mrs G W Powell – unsure of relationship
Mrs Carrie Spencer – unsure of relationship
Mr and Mrs Bert Jones – unsure of relationship
Mr and Mrs John White – unsure of relationship
Mrs John Houston – unsure of relationship
Miss Mary Houston – unsure of relationship
Miss Jessie Houston – unsure of relationship
Rev and Mrs J A Adams – minister officiating the wedding
Mr Chas E Doyle – unsure of relationship
Future research may help us identify more relatives or perhaps coworkers of Joseph Edward Shackford who attended the wedding – we’ll make updates if more relationships become apparent and perhaps they will help us learn more about Donna’s ancestry.
All posts on this website are a work in progress. We’d love to learn of any corrections or additions to the information shared. Also we’d love it if you’d like the post here or at http://www.facebook.com/shackfordgenealogy) as that helps share the post with others. Thanks!
SOURCES:
“Brilliant Social Event,” Oak Park Reporter, 21 October 1887; Newspaper Archive (http://access.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 29 January 2014)
Copyright 2017 Joanne Shackford Parkes (sharing a link to this post is appreciated but please do not copy this material and paste it elsewhere)
Donna Lovilla
SHACKFORD Family History 