Mote and Julia’s Wedding – by Anne

November 18, 1895 was a beautiful day for a wedding. Joseph Mote Gill married Julia Emily Hess at her home. They had been raised about a mile apart. Dad gave Mama a pretty gold man’s watch. It had a nice chain and she wore it around her neck. It’s the only gift we can remember him giving her. It was a big wedding, supper for everyone, then they danced all night. There were lots of gifts, pretty dishes and bowls. All gifts went to the bride. She claimed them all. Grandad Gill gave them 5 head of horses. They weren’t worth anything. One horse eats as much as 3 cows. Granpa Hess gave them all furniture. Old Man Oaks gave a bright red heifer. Mama named her Red Bird. She planned to start her a herd with that red heifer. That red heifer had lots of calves. But it was a way down the line before one of them was a heifer. By then Mama had give up on having her a herd.