Did Marguerite marry the wrong guy?

This is one of those family stories that was passed down but we really weren’t sure if it was true.  It goes back only as far as my grandmother so it isn’t like it was handed down from generation to generation to generation. 

The story goes that Ma Schulstad (My great grandmother nee Elen Mehling.) who had eleven children, was lying on her death bed.  The children all were married and taken care of except the youngest, my grandmother.  Marguerite was 13 years old and it was Ma’s dying wish to see her married.   So they sent for Ernest Phillips, who was her beau at the time so he and Marguerite could be married before her mother died.  BUT…Ernest was a sailor and was out at see at the time.  In his stead his brother, Frank, arrived and the two of them tied the knot.  Sadly, Ma Schulstad died the next day.

I think this is a cool story.  It has some romance, tragedy, passion, a little comedy.  I would love to see the movie when it comes out.  It made me nervous to delve into it because I didn’t know if I wanted it to be true or not. 

Here is what I found out:

            According to her birth certificate, Marguerite Louise Schulstad was born on 18 May 1892.  I found her marriage certificate to Frank Phillips and the date was 25 January 1913.  She wasn’t 13 when they married.  She was 19.

            According to the death certificate of Elen Schulstad, she died on 26 January 1913. 

            From all of this we can see that Marguerite did marry Frank on the day before her mother died.  She wasn’t 13 but still young.

            I also found a newspaper clipping about the marriage of one of Marguerite’s brothers who was married on 7 October 1911.  It says:

JACOBSEN-SCHULSTAD MARRIAGE SOLEMNIZED

The home of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Jacobsen, 4317 Costello Avenue, was the scene of much festivity last Saturday evening, Oct 7, when their daughter, Adelaide H. and Mr. Richard H. Schulstad were united in holy matrimony. …….

……

The maid of honor, Miss Marguerite Schulstad, of 1719 West Ohio Street, the groom’s sister, attired in a dress of pink ioline, came down with the best man, Mr. Walter H. Lyngaas, of 2033 Emerson Avenue.

…..

At 11 p.m. the supper march was played, and, led by the bride and groom, was followed by the maid of honor, Miss Marguerite Schulstad and her fiancée, Mr. Frank Phillips, after which came the best man, Mr. Walter Lyngaas and his fiancée, Miss Emma Johnson.

…..

This makes it pretty clear that Frank was a willing participant in his marriage to Marguerite.

I have copied only portions of the article here.  I am attaching the article in its entirety as it was scanned.  I love the detailed description in the paper and the way the evening went for Richard and Adelaide.

All in all I think the story turned out pretty well.  And I am glad we got the facts straight -- for all of us.

I will write more about these people and other family stories soon.