Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1917 — MARRIED IN CHICAGO HEIGHTS [ARTICLE]

MARRIED IN CHICAGO HEIGHTS

Ted Watson and Cornelia Leonard , Eloped to Illinois. Word was received here Thursday of the marriage at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Sharp in Chicago Heights, Illinois, Wednesday evening of Second Lieutenant Ted Watson of Company M of Rensselaer and Miss Cornelia Leonard of Gillam township. Mr. Watson drove up to Gillam township Monday evening to see Miss Leonard and they left there in his “skeeter” auto, ostensibly for Wheatfield. The girl had no chance to take much extra clothing with her, but is understood to have donned two dresses, their plans having been made beforehand, and they drove "to Chicago Heights, reaching there about midnight. They went to Chicago Wednesday and procured their license and, returning to the Heights, were married as above stated, Mrs. Sharp being an aunt of the groom. They left Chicago (Heights Thursday on a honeymoon trip to Wisconsin, it is understood, and will return to Rensselaer probably next week. Mr. Watson is about 27 years of age while the bride is but 17 and was the youngest member of this year’s graduating class of the Rensselaer high school. The chief objection to their marriage by the parents of the bride is understood to have been her age. The prospect of Company M soon being mustered into service hastened the marriage.