Ward Bruce Hathaway (1894-1920)

Pretty Home Wedding

A very pretty home wedding occurred last Wednesday evening, February 21*, when Miss Martha Zartman and Ward Bruce Hathaway were united in marriage at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Zartman. Rev. J.J. Simpson performed the ceremony in the presence of about twenty-five relatives and friends. The wedding march, "Lohengrin's Bridal Chorus," was played by Miss Orra Zartman, sister of the bride. The house was beautifully decorated with cut flowers, which were distributed among the guests after the serving of the refreshments.

The newly married couple are among our most highly respected young people and they have the well wishes of a large circle of friends for a long and happy wedded life. The young people left immediately after the ceremony for a wedding trip to Indianapolis and St. Louis, where they will visit relatives. On returning home they will take up their residence on the Hathaway farm east of Lowell.

* NOTE -- The wedding date of February 21 differs from the marriage date (February 15) given in Ward Hathaway's obituary (below).

Ward Bruce, youngest son of Emory and Effie Hathaway, was born June 26, 1894, on the old Hathaway homestead, the next farm north of the present residence.

At the age of 2 years and 2 months he came to the home of Paul and Nellie Hathaway. They gave to him unreservedly of their love and care and raised him as their own son, having in the mean time, adopted him.

He was married to Martha Zartman February 15, 1917. He united with the Methodist Episcopal church, August 16, 1906, under the ministry of Rev. Dunning Idle. He passed away on the morning of July 19, 1920, at the age of 26 years and 23 days.

Ward['s] was a jovial, friendly disposition. He was industrious, building up his country home, where with his loving wife and little Martha Jean, he was happy and contented.

His wife and little daughter, father, mother, foster-parents, two brothers, Harry, of Lowell, and Jay, of Animos, Colorado, mourn his departure.

Funeral services were conducted at the home at 2 o'clock Thursday, July 22, 1920. Rev. C.A. Brown preached the sermon. The pall-bearers were Ross Cable, Ed Modlin, Floyd Strickland, Will Surprise, John Deathe and . . . [The article was cut off at this point.]