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| Methodist Church (now Democrat Headquarters) |
On Sept 27, 1886 two couples were married in a double ceremony at the Hastings Methodist Church.
They were Fred & Lucille Otis and William & Mattie Havens. Lucille was sister of William Havens. Mattie was cousin to Fred Otis. The Havens had their farm just up the road from the Otis place on Glass Creek.On Sunday Sept 26, 1936 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversaries. The whole community helped them celebrate. It made the news in the Battle Creek Enquirer and the Detroit Free Press!
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| Otis and Erway couples 1936 |
The Otis lived in the same home in Rutland Township for the last 48 years. Fred was born in Rutland Township and Luella was born in Washtenaw Co. Their family in 1936 consisted of 10 children, 25 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren.
William was born in Jackson Co 72 years ago; Mattie born in Rutland Twp. They had 3 children, 6 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren. Their farm was in adjacent Hope Twp.
In celebration they held an open house for friends Sunday afternoon and evening. As pointed out in the Free Press, anybody in either family was to some extent related to anyone in the other family!
Neither couple left Michigan more than once in their married lives. The Havens once visited Wisconsin and the Otises on Sunday drove to Indiana.
A visit to Rutland Township cemetery on M-43 just NE of Hastings shows the deep roots of these families, together in the township for all eternity. There is a nice aspect to having so many family and friends around one in death, isn't there.
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