1903 Marriage Record of Alma M. Gerner and Francis E. Kitch

Alma M. Gerner is the daughter of Fredrick K. and Elvira (Bartley) Gerner.  She is the seventh child and fourth daughter (of 16 children). 

This marriage record comes from FamilySearch's collection of Pennsylvania County Marriages and specifically from the Mercer County, Pennsylvania, Register of Wills, Marriage License Docket, Volume 9, 1902-1905, page 202.  With a free FamilySearch account you can see the image and other pages of the docket here.  

No. 7649
Francis E. Kitch born in Coolspring Twp.
on the 20" day of March A.D. 1886 residing at Fairview Twp
and a Farmer by occupation not related by blood or marriage
to the person whom he desires to marry
never married before
and Alma M Gerner born in Butler Co.
on the 29" day of Jan A.D. 1881 residing at Mercer Co
a ---------- by occupation never married before
_____________________________________________
And now this 28 day of Oct. 1903 Marriage License issued in legal form.
Consent of [blank] residing at [blank]
and [blank] residing at [blank]
      Filed this 28" day of Oct. 1903
      Duplicate Certificate returned and filed this 28" day of Oct 1903 showing
marriage ceremony to have been performed by Albert D. Lero.
on the 28 day of Oct 1903.

Notes, Comments, Observations

• I like the fact that this marriage records gives the dates and location of birth of both spouses.  Unfortunately, Alma's location of birth is not accurate:  she was not born in Butler County, Pennsylvania.  According to her county birth record, she was born in Scott District, Putnam County, West Virginia. 
  
• Alma's birth record gives her name as Mary Alma.  Through the years of her life she went back and forth, finally settling with Alma as her chosen name.
• Alma's father moved their family from Butler County to Mercer County, Pennsylvania, sometime between 1900 and 1910, then back to Butler County between 1910 and 1920.  Did Fred have a touch of wanderlust?
• There is a discrepancy in birth dates between this record (January 29) and Alma's birth record (January 20).  It's hard to dispute the birth record even though it is a set of ditto marks from two records above it.
• It has always interested me to see marriage license applications given on the same date the marriage occurred.  For many years now, at least in Ohio, a couple must procure a marriage license days or weeks before the marriage occurs.
• Alma is noted as divorced in the 1930 U.S. Census and is living with her daughter and son-in-law, Kathryn and Elbert Knox, in Bruin, Butler County, Pennsylvania.

-–Nancy.

Copyright © 2021 Nancy Messier.  All Rights Reserved. 
Do not copy or use any content from this blog without written permission from the owner. 
.