Jefferson City Daily Tribune, March 8, 1876
A BRILLIANT WEDDING
Nuptials of Mr. Max. Rauh and Miss Ophelia Obermayer.
A Happy Occasion and an Interesting and Impressive Ceremony.
For months past the theme of conversation among the intimate friends of
the parties, has been the marriage, celebrated yesterday, of Mr. Max
Rauh to Miss Ophelia Obermayer. A betrothal, with our Jewish fellow
citizens bears all the binding solemnity of marriage itself, and from
the day the young couple plighted their troth, it has been generally
known in the community. Of Miss Ophelia it is scarcely necessary to
speak to Jeffersonians. Born, reared and educated in our midst, she is
well and favorably known for her many amiable qualities, her kindly
traits of head and heart, a winning, sunny disposition, her practical
mind, which have made her the light of the household, and a favorite
with her friends. Mr. Rauh is also well known as one of our rising young
business men. Connected for some years with the establishment of the
Messrs. Obermayer & Bro. he has proved himself energetic, persevering,
and reliable. He is truly a deserving young man, industrious, steady,
painstaking and enterprising. His admirable social qualities have made
him many warm friends, and that he will ere long rank with our leading
men of business, we are assured. He has a treasure for a wife, and never
did a young couple stand before the altar to whom went out more
heartfelt wishes than were given on yesterday.
The ceremony was set for 10:30 o’clock, and long before that hour the
invited guests began to arrive. The folding doors of the spacious
parlors were thrown wide, and the rooms were soon thronged with the
friends of the parties. Both parlors were elegantly decorated and
festooned with wreaths of evergreen, and prominently to be seen was the
tastily, and deftly arranged by Miss Sarah Obermayer, sister of the
bride. On the piano and literally covering it from view, were displayed
the splendid bridal presents, gifts from friends and well wishers at
home and abroad. Mr. Rauh was formerly a resident of Cincinnati, and
early yesterday morning, congratulatory dispatches began to arrive from
friends who were unable to be present. And not only from Cincinnati but
from St. Louis, Indiana, and other places. We noticed and read at least
a dozen, some of them full of pith and pungency, but all wishing a
roseate future for the wedded pair. One especially, from St. Louis,
attracted our attention. It read: “Dear Max, may all your pleasures be
great ones, and your troubles only little Rauhs.”
The marriage ceremony was performed by Dr. S. H. Sonneschein, of St.
Louis, a gentleman of rare literary culture, who is beginning to be
recognized as one of the brightest and ripest scholars in the land. Dr.
Sonneschein is a native of Hungary, and although but a few years a
resident of the United States, has made himself master of the English
language. He is eminently a scholar, and withal a genial gentlemen. Not
many present yesterday, had ever witnessed a Jewish wedding, and of
course were just a little, but pardonably curious. The parlors were well
darkened and the chandeliers lighted with gas. At a little before eleven
o’clock the bridal party entered and stood in front of the altar, the
young couple facing each other. Mr. Fred. Rauh, a brother of the groom,
from Cincinnati, and Miss Sarah Obermayer, stood, respectively, to the
right and left. To the right of the Rabbi, the mother, and on his left,
the father of the bride. In front, the younger members of the family.
Intending to leave on the noon train, Miss Ophelia was simply, but
becomingly attired in a beautiful traveling costume, of green Scotch
plaid, trimmed with a very dark shade of green cashmere. She wore no
ornaments whatever. A natural rose here and there were all. After a
solemn invocation to the Supreme Being, Dr. Sonneschein proceeded at
some length, illustrating his discourse with neat and appropriate
allusions, to impress upon the young couple the solemn obligations and
duties attendant upon the step they were now taking–by far the most
important of their lives, fraught as it was with all their future weal
or woe. He besought them not to think lightly of the responsibilities
they were now assuming. It was customary with too many to look forward
to the marriage hour as the summit, the acr? of all human happiness, but
with these too often the scale of the future was a descending one. Far
better to comprehend and recognize at once and fully the true
obligations and responsibilities with which the marriage tie is vested,
and then, with a thorough appreciation of each other and that life is
real, wedded life from the marriage altar is an ascending one, onward
and upward, brightning as the days and years are left behind and silver
and golden weddings are such in reality. The Doctor then said that, in
accordance with the laws of the land, it became his duty to propound
certain questions. These he asked–first the bride and next the groom–and
the responses were given by each, firmly and audibly. Producing a ring,
a massive plain gold one, the Doctor proceeded to explain its symbolic
connection with the marriage ceremony, and handing it to Mr. Rauh, that
gentleman placed it upon the right first finger of his bride, repeating
after the Rabbi, the words, “Thou art now consecrated to me by the laws
of our religion, the laws of our country, and the laws of our God.” The
sacred words were distinctly spoken; the ceremony was over; the twain
were one. Simple, beautiful, and impressive was the ceremony, and those
who had never before heard or witnessed it, were well pleased. The young
couple were congratulated by all present, and after partaking of
refreshments, left on the train for St. Louis. They will remain a day or
two in the latter city, and then proceed to Cincinnati, to return in
about a fortnight. We must not omit to mention that the time honored
custom of throwing an old shoe after the departing couple, was duly
observed by the mother of the bride. The guests, one and all, partook of
the refreshments, of which there was certainly a superabundance, and
many a sincere toast to the future of the wedded couple was drank
yesterday morning.
Of the guests present, we noticed Governor Hardin and lady; Hon. Joseph
W. Mercer and lady; Hon. R.D. Shannon and lady; Dr. Tennessee Mathews
and lady; Col. James Price and lady; Major J.M. Clarke and lady; Phil E.
Chappell and lady; B.A. Suppan and lady; Capt. Joe Fisher and lady; Dr.
R.E. Young and lady, Major W.H. Lusk and lady; J.S. Ambrose and lady;
A.W. Griffith and lady; Dan. Boon and lady; R.S. Stevenson and lady;
J.F. Regan and lady; Wendell Straub and lady; Gen. J.S. Miner; Senator
J. Ed. Belch; Rev. T.W. Barrett; Dr. G. B. Winston; Junita S. Clarke;
B.A. Feineman, Esq., of St. Joseph; William G. McCarty; Henry W. Ewing;
Nick Grieshammer; Sam. Engleton, Jr.; E.T. Miller, Jr.; Julius Wagner;
Miss Antoine Wagner; Mrs. O. Kochtitzky; Miss Emma Rieger; Miss Mattie
Curry; Misses Clare and Sallie Gross; Mrs. C.F. McCarty; Miss Alice
Ewing; Mrs. Matson; Miss Carrie Kaiser; Miss Dollie Belch; Miss Mary
Kochtitzky; Miss Dora Bradbury; Miss Mattie Riley; Mrs. S.W. Cox; Miss
Mary Riley; Mrs. A.H. Wells; Miss Mary Baily; Mrs. L. Stanly; Miss
Meggie Harding; Mrs. P.H. White; Mrs. Howes; Miss Ella McCarty; Miss
Sallie McCarty; Mrs. H.C. Ewing; Mrs. John Miller, and very many others.
Rarely have we witnessed a more brilliant gathering; never have a young
couple in Jefferson started on a bridal tour with sincerer wishes for a
joyous future, than went with Mr. and Mrs. Rauh.
The bridal presents were numerous, and in every instance valuable. The
following does not include all:
A solid silver pitcher, goblets and waiter; from Mrs. Simon Obermayer, of St. Louis.
A complete set of cut glass-sixty pieces; from L.J. and H.J. Mack, of Cincinnati.
Silver soup ladle; from Mr. And Mrs. Mendersen, of Cincinnati.
Silver fish spoon; by Jacob Mendersen, of Cincinnati.
A beautiful and costly pair of silver salt cellars; from Miss Tenie Wagner.
Sett of silver knives, forks, spoons and butter knife; the joint offering of C.C. Guenther and Jake Fisher.
A massive silver pie knife; Mrs. W.Q. Dallmayer.
A neat handkerchief box, spatter work; Miss Katie Carter.
Silver flower stand; Miss Emma Rieger.
Splendid toilet sett–silver stand; the gift of B.A. Feineman, of St. Joseph.
Set of silver knives; Dr. G.B. Winston.
Silver sugar and salt spoons; Misses Clara and Sallie Gross.
Embroidered pin cushion; Mrs. Kaiser
A beautifully embroidered handkerchief box; from the Sisters at the Convent.
Silver butter knife; Mrs. J.E. Carter.
Toilet set; B.A. Suppan and lady.
White lace neck-tie; Miss Carrie Kaiser.
Set of wine goblets; Louie Lehman
Black lace neck tie; Miss Mary Kotchtitsky.
Solid silver napkin rings; from Col. Ambrose and lady.
Mr. Wendell Straub, the tobacconist, presented the groom with a box of
choice Havanas for the honey-moon trip.
Source: Jefferson City Daily Tribune, March 8, 1876