Virginia Lee Garrett Koehler

Update November 9, 2012 - I have identified the wedding picture for the Garrett-Koehler wedding of  1924.  It can be viewed here.

Virginia Lee GARRETT was the daughter of Finis James GARRETT and Elizabeth Harris BURNS making her a cousin of the Moran's.  Virginia married Benjamin Gund KOEHLER of Nebraska on June 5, 1924 in her hometown of Dresden Tennessee.

Miss Garrett Becomes Bride of Mr. Koehler

A wedding of interest throughout Tennessee and in Washington, D.C., was that of Miss Virginia Lee Garrett, daughter of Representative and Mrs. Finis James Garrett of Dresden, Tenn., to Mr. Ben G. Koehler, of Lincoln, Neb., solemnized yesterday evening at 6 o'clock at the Methodist Episcopal Church at Dresden, with Rev. S. L. JEWELL officiating in the presence of an auspicious assembly.

The handsome new church was artistically decorated with mammoth white chrysanthemums, palms and ferns.  Rows of cathedral candelabra in which gleamed white tapers added a final touch to the impressive scene.

Preceding the entrance of the bridal party a programme of nuptial music was rendered with miss Gerster NEAL of Dyersburg, Tenn., presiding at the organ, Mrs. L.E. HOLLADAY, of Dresden, sang "My Dear," Mrs. James C. BURNS, of McKenzie sang "The Sweetest Story Ever Told," and Mmes. Jas. C. BURNS and Turner C. CANNON sang "Until."  Lohengrin's processional announced the entrance of the bridal group.  For the recessional Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" was used.

The bride, who was given in marriage by her father, was beautiful in her wedding gown of white satin made basque waist, bouffant skirt with trimmings of Princess lace and veil of lace falling in graceful folds full length of her court train.  She carried a shower bouquet of Bride's roses and valley lilies.

Miss Reba DOUGHTON, of Laurel Springs, N.C. who served as maid of honor, wore a beautiful model of gold lace over cloth of gold and carried an arm bouquet of yellow chrysanthemums.

Mrs. Irvin A. CLEMENT, of Memphis, attended the bride as matron of honor, wearing a gown of yellow chiffon in straight line model caught at the sides with clusters of handmade French flowers.

The bridesmaids, Misses Elise and Rozelle MAYO and Eleanor McCUAN, wore charming frocks of yellow chiffon trimmed in ostrich and carried arm bouquets of giant yellow chrysanthemums.

Master Edwin REGINALD and Miss Cara COSTEN opened for the lovely bride the bridal gates, followed by by Misses Katherine COSTEN and Mary Lee REGINALD, bearing the pillows for prayer.  master Nathan Harrell MORAN followed, bearing the wedding ring in the heart of a rose.  The little flower girl, Carolyn CANNON, daintily dressed in a frock of yellow chiffon, with gold trimmings, scattered rose petals from a basket of gold in the path of the bride.

Mr. KOEHLER had as his best man, his brother, Mr. John KOEHLER, of Geneva, Neb. Groomsmen were Messrs. B.P. MOORE, Jr., of Memphis, Burns GARRETT, brother of the bride, John JETER, of Dresden, and James C. BURNS, of McKenzie.

Following the ceremony a reception was held at the home of the bride's parents where members of the bridal party assisted Representative and Mrs. Garrett in receiving the guests.

Mr. and Mrs. Koehler left for an extensive bridal trip including visits to Chicago, Omaha and Lincoln, Neb., after which they will be at home to their friends at Cottage Grove, Ore.

The out-of-town guests included:  Mrs. Bartholda KOEHLER and Mr. John KOEHLER, of Geneva, Neb.: Miss Reba DOUGHTON, of Laurel Springs, N.C.; Mr. and Mrs. Irvin A CLEMENT, of Memphis, Mrs. Duke C. BOWERS and Mrs. Georgie WILLIAMSON, of Memphis; Mrs. James J. MILLER, Union City, Tenn.; Mrs. Frank HALL, Nashville, Tenn; Mr. and Mrs. Frank BURNS, of Columbus, Ohio; Mrs. Sherman PYLE, Ardmore Okla; Miss Gerster NEAL, Dyersburg, Tenn.; Mrs. Charlie COBB (Marion MORAN) Union City Tenn; Mr. and Mrs. James T. BURNS, of McKenzie, grandparents of the bride; Mr. and Mrs. Turner C. CANNON, of McKenzie and a large number of relatives and friends from Martin, McKenzie and Greenfield, Tenn.

I also came across this letter she sent to the Moran family on June 21, 1968, after learning of the death of her cousin, James Henderson Moran III.

21 June

Geneva

Dear MORAN Family

I feel frustrated as I have not been able to reach you by phone-----and kept thinking I could!  So have not written either.  Please forgive, but where is everyone? I have called Dresden, Kansas City, Kingsport and Pittsford, at various intervals and no answers.

Of course I did not know of Jim's death for a couple of weeks.  ? had seen it in the papers and relayed to me.

At any rate I have been thinking of all of you.  The inevitable catches up with all of us eventually but as long as friends and children of Jim's are left on this earth

he will be remembered with joy.  Certainly all of you have meant a great deal to me through the years and I do send love and sympathy to each of the dear Morans.

Sincerely,

Virginia

Virginia Garrett Koehler had called Dresden because that's where Virginia Shumate Moran, Jim's widow, was living.  Kansas City is where Nathan H. Moran and his family were living. Nathan was the middle child of Virginia and Jim and was also the ringbearer at Virginia and Ben's wedding.  Kingsport is where James H. Moran the IV was living with his family.  He was the eldest child.  And the youngest child and only daughter Louise Moran was living in Pittsford with her husband Robert Wrisley Atkins.

After the Death of Sophia Gunn Moran

These two letters were written by Fannie Moran after the death of her mother in October  1895.  

The first letter is dated Nov 7 1895 and is to her brothers James H. Moran and Charles Harrell Moran.  The letter has the usual sadness that a mourning letter would have but it also has interesting tidbits of information about the time period.  For instance, the street lights in Dresden were lit after 6pm.  She also references a marriage that may or may not have taken place between her cousin Sophia Irvine and Charles Ferguson.  The marriage did indeed take place but it happened later in the month.  In addition it's interesting that she notes the society marriage of the Duke of Marlborough and Consuelo Vanderbilt which had taken place the day before she wrote this letter.  It also mentions a popular medicine of the day, Paine's Celery Compound.

Dresden.

The second letter is written in December 1895 and is to Fannie's brother Harrell.  It reminds of A Christmas Carol where she talks about how they had permission from Papa to come home for the holidays rather than stay at school.  Harrell and Jim were attending the Webb School at that time.  The rest of the letter she is telling Harrell where to shop to buy the prettiest and cheapest flowers.  What to buy for their youngest sister Marion and how the train schedule had not changed that much.  She also tells him he only had two misspelled words in his previous letter.  You have to remember that Fannie was a schoolteacher.  :)

Nov. 7 1895

My dear Brothers (Jim and Harrell)

My heart bleeds afresh as I write the above date.  You know the sorrow it brings to me, and I know the sorrow you are going through.  One month since she (Sophia Riley Gunn Moran their mother) died, and what a long, dreary month it has been!  The past ten years with their days of happiness seem but half that time and it seems hard to realize that we have suffered all the agony of and lives' greatest sorrow, has been comprised into one short month.  Truly time is not measured by days but by actions and events.  From this I realize that constant action, work either physical or mental is our only report.  

The worst hour of the day for me, the hour that seems longer than all the rest is the twilight hours when the days work is finished before the lamps are lighted, from 5 to 6 the hours that her soul passed eternity.  How I wish I could say something to comfort you, but your sorrow is mine.  Hand in hand we go through the valley of the shadow, and lover for her, for God and for each other is our only comfort, and it is a comfort to know that our lives have been so rich in love.  

It was impressed on me in reading of the great Marlborough Vanderbilt marriage celebrated in all the pomp and magnificence that unbounded wealth could conceive of and yet the father and mother of the bride were further apart than if oceans separated them.  Would you exchange even the memory of our once happy home with her?

I stayed longer in N.(Nashville) than I expected, but came home as soon as I could.  I got the ?? for Papa (John Williamson Moran) so Brother may rest easy.

In return wont you promise to take broken doses of salts for your boils and get a bottle of Paines' Celery Compound and take regularly.  If you haven't the money to buy it I will send it to you.  

Twas reported that Soph (Sophia Irvine) and Charlie (Charles Ferguson) were to be married at Bump's (James A Irvine) last night, but hope tis not true as I haven't heard it verified this a.m.  She made people believe she had broken off entirely with him after Brud's (Harrell Moran) talk with her but tell Jack (Forrest Dabney Irvine) I think he'll have to write her another letter.

Mr. Bondurant is worse.  This is a dreary, rainy day and the carpenters cannot work.  Bettie is up here sewing.  Papa has not looked so well for the past few days.

With a heart full of love

Sister (Fannie Moran)

LETTER 2

Dresden

Tuesday (The envelope is dated December 17 1895)

Dear Brud (Harrell Moran)

We enjoyed your letter which came yesterday and I was so proud to know that you had been complemented by "Buck".  All the ambition that I once had for myself is now centered on you and Jim and it does my heart good to know that you are getting along so nicely.

Jim's last letter was unusually good and yours was much better only two mis-spelled words both of which I think were due to carelessness instead of ignorance, couldent for couldn't and whare for where. 

We hadn't written about your coming home because we didn't know that you were going to get to come but after many persuasions and promises exacted by Baby (Marion Moran) from Papa, he consented saying it would be his Xmas present to you and we are so glad.  At the best it will be but a lonely Christmas for us without our dear one but more so with out your two.  I have just finished a letter to Mr. Webb giving you permission to come.  Papa asked me to write and also say he would send a check tomorrow.   He went hunting this morning with Mr. ? Scott.  

He said you never wrote him about Mrs. Black's bread bill, what the amount is up to date.  Please find out.  Knowing a little extra change is always convenient I enclose $1.00 bill for your street car fare, etc. while in N. You may go around to the market house and price the flowers.  When I was there they were some cheaper than at the Florists but were faded and soiled.  If they won't do, go to Joy's on Church St almost upper site the Vendome and to Currey's near the Nicholsons toward the depot.  Buy wherever they are prettiest and cheapest which I think will be at Joy's. Carnations and hyacinths are the most seasonable flowers.  Also ask about the weeping willow. 

So that you may not get duplicates let me tell you that I am to give Ida some garter clasps and Marion paper dolls and a book.  If you can find a tiny doll brush and comb for her get it.  There has very little change been made in the R.R. schedule the 11:30 train leaving N. 1/2 hr later and getting here at 12.  

With love to Jim and Jack

I am devotedly

Sister

Marion Agnes Moran and Charles Henry Cobb Wedding Invitation 1905

This is the wedding invitation announcing the marriage of Marion Agnes Moran to Charles Henry Cobb, October 3 1905.   She and Cobb had one daughter, Carolyn Elizabeth Cobb.  Marion committed suicide October 1, 1934 and is
buried in East View Cemetery, Union City TN.