MJH, Buffalo County NEGenWeb Project © 2001
LABS - SCHUKAR WEDDING
Fully Five Hundred People Gather At the Schukar Home to Celebrate the Happy Event and are Royally Dined.
At the German Lutheran church east of Watertown, on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 1, 1908, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Carl Labs and Miss Josephine Schukar, Rev. J.F.M. Grosse, pastor of that congregation, officiating.
The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Labs, prominent citizens of Amherst, and is a highly respected young man. The bride is next to the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Schukar of Watertown, who are among the best known and most respected citizens of that locality. She is a cultured young lady, loved by all who know her because of her womanly graces and sweet disposition.
The services that culminated in the lawful and divine union of these worthy young people was exceedingly appropriate to the happy event and were largely attended. The bride and groom elect, with their attendants and near relatives, entered the church and occupied the places reserved for them in front of the altar as the Amherst band played a march. Rev. Grosse then spoke briefly from 1 Cor. 13:13, explaining how matrimony life of a Christian is sanctified. First sanctification by faith in Jesus Christ, second, by hope; third by charity or love. After the ceremony was performed the choir rendered an appropriate selection and to a march by the band, all filed out of the church, and went to the bride's home to celebrate the happy event and to honor Mr. and Mrs. Labs.
For several days preceding the wedding day, relatives and friends worked early and late planning and executing for a celebration of huge and grand proportions. One hundred invitations had been sent out and upon these were bases an estimate of at least 400 guests to be provided for. However, there were present not far from 500 and there was more than plenty for all. To entertain royally such a vast number of people was a task more easily imagined than described, yet it was done and most perfectly done at that. Some four days before, a large beef and hog specially fattened for the event, were slaughtered and the work of cooking the great quantity of meat, cakes, pies, bread and other delicious dishes was begun under the skillful supervision of Mrs. Schukar, assisted by relatives. While this great task was proceeding in the kitchen, Mr. Schukar and assistants were busy early and late outside erecting an annex on three sides of the house, 16 x 114 feet, to shelter the throng and to serve as a dining hall. Even the safety and comfort of the guest's horses were provided for by the erection of stalls to accommodate 200 teams. Tables extending the entire length of the annex were handsomely decorated with large vases of cut flowers and were loaded with the choicest and best of everything to eat. Nor were all the good things to be had found on the tables. Among the guests were constantly being passed cigars, and a choice of fruits and off to itself was a booth were refreshments were served. The young people were provided with amusements to suit their tastes, and through the afternoon and most of the night the merry-making continued without a hitch to mar its enjoyment or to interfere with the perfect execution of the wall matured plans of the excellent host and hostess.
Among those present from a distance were Grandma Schukar and a nephew of St. Louis, and a number of friends from Columbus and Kenesaw.
The young couple received many handsome and useful presents, some of them very costly, as tokens of respect and esteem from relatives and friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Labs are now at home in a handsome new house on a fine farm belonging to the groom near Amherst.
Published in the Elm Creek Beacon
Submitted by Mona Houser, grand-daughter of the couple.
