Lensing-Heim Wedding: A Bright Start in Life

Casper and Anna Lensing, my paternal grandparents, were married September 5,  1911.   Dad always told me that the wedding was a special one, as Anna was the oldest daughter of George and Elizabeth Heim, and very special in their eyes.  She was a very petite young woman with a 21 inch waist, which is easy to see in the accompanying photo.  This photo always hung in my grandmother's home above the photos of each of her nine children.  It was in a large glassed-in shadow box with a beautiful carved wooden frame.  Her original wedding veil was inside the box too, wrapped around the photograph, and I remember how I would stand and stare at that picture whenever I was there - there was a magical quality to it, it was beautiful.   

From what Dad told me, Great Grampa Heim built a huge platform stage for dancing and the wedding party lasted three days.  It was documented on the front page of the the local newspaper, The Scranton Independent.


Here is the article dated September 15, 1911:

The Scranton Independent
OUR MOTTO:  To Boost Scranton, Logan County, and Old Arkansaw, First, Last, and Then Some More." (I just love that!) 

Lensing-Heim

"On Tuesday, September 5th, at 9 o'clock a.m., during High Mass at the Catholic church at Morrison Bluff, Ark., Casper Lensing and Miss Annie Heim were united in marriage according to the rules and usages of the church by Rev. Martin Fleig.

After the ceremony, the bridal party were escorted by the Morrison Bluff Silver Cornet Band to the hospitable home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Heim, where they were joyously welcomed by a large concourse of relatives and friends.

A long table that would probably seat 30 or 40 people was loaded down with every description of eatables, as fast as one crowd satisfied the wants of the inner man another took their places, and this was kept up all day and far into the night.  Several beeves, hogs, etc., were slaughtered to take care of the big crowd.  No one went hungry or dry.

Dancing was one of the pleasant features, and the splendid music, handsome men and lovely maids and matrons, all combined with glorious weather and beautiful surroundings, reminded one of some of the famous Aladdan Lamp fairy scenes.

The happy couple were the recipients of many beautiful and costly presents, and their start in life seems indeed bright.

Among those in attendance from out of town were:  Herman Lensing of Little Rock; Mrs. Threasia Lyons of St. Louis; Mr. and Mrs. Pete Schmitz and family, Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Heim, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Heim, with their families, Mrs. M. A. Heim and Miss Barbara Heim, all of Ft. Smith; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lensing and family of Shoal Creek.  It is a conservative estimate in giving the number in attendance at 400.

Casper Lensing is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lensing of Shoal Creek, and secretary of the Scranton Mercantile Co.; a young man that makes and holds your friendship and respect by his sincerity, truthfulness and utter abhorence of anything underhanded.

Miss Annie is the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Heim, and by her ladylike manner, sweet disposition and charming personality, has won the respect and esteem of all who have been fortunate enough to meet her.

The Independent, with hosts of others, wish Mr. and Mrs. Lensing all that life holds dear to the young, and that their old age may be tempered and shorn from the winds of adversity."