On October 26^th in 1846, Jesse Taylor Jackson and Fanny Elmer were issued their “voucher” or license to marry by the Mahaska County District Clerk, M. T. Williams. They were married the next day in the house of Mr. Elmer by  M. P. Crowder, Justice of the Peace. The Elmer house was then in Monroe Township, Mahaska County, Iowa Territory, sitting on the very edge of the frontier. There marriage was officially recorded in the Mahaska County Marriage Book on January 27, 1847.

Below is a digital copy of their marriage record. This document offers many clues about their marriage, which I’ll explore in future posts as I recreate the story of their wedding day.

Citation: Mahaska County, Iowa Territory, Marriage Record, 1844-51, 1: 75, Jackson-Elmer, 27 Oct 1846; FHL microfilm 985,381; District Court Office, Oskaloosa.

Transcription:
[p] 75
Jesse T. Jackson
Fanny Elmer

Territory of Iowa
Mahaska County

To any persons in said County duly empowered by law to solemnize Marriages Granting You are hereby authorized and empowered to join together as Husband and Wife Mr. Jesse T. Jackson and Miss Fanny Elmer, and shall be your sufficient voucher —
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand the seal of the District Court of said County, this 26th day of October A.D. 1846.
M.T. Williams
Clk. D.C. [?]

No 75
Mahaska County, Monroe Township

This will certify that the above named Jacksons were joined together in the bonds of matrimony on the 27th day of October A.D. 1846, — Done at the home of Mr. Elmer.
M.P. Crowder J.P.
Returned and Recorded Janury [sp] 27^th — 1847 —
M.T. Williams Clerk