While sorting through some of my digital genealogy files this week, I stumbled upon a gem tucked away in my records—a marriage license from 1895 for John F. Mentzer and Anna M. Wells in Woodson County, Kansas. I must have saved it during an earlier research session, but somehow it slipped through the cracks. Finding this document again was like uncovering a hidden piece of family history, and it gave me a fresh opportunity to revisit their story. This Friday Find is a reminder that sometimes the best discoveries are already sitting right in your files, just waiting to be noticed.
Mentzer – Wells
MARRIAGE LICENSE RECORD
State of Kansas, }
Woodson County. } ss.
In the Probate Court of said County and State.
John F. Mentzer, who has made application for Marriage License, addressed to any person authorized by law to join in marriage John F. Mentzer of Yates Center aged 23 years, and Anna M. Wells aged 23 years, being by me first duly sworn, doth say that the above statements are true,
And that they, the said John F. Mentzer and Anna M. Wells are not related to each other in the degrees prohibited by law, to-wit: Parent and child, grandparent and grandchild of any degree, brother and sister of either the one-half or of the whole blood, uncle and niece, aunt and nephew, nor first cousins—and that there exists no legal impediment to said marriage.
In Testimony Whereof, I, the undersigned, Judge of the Probate Court in and for Woodson County, and ex-officio Clerk thereof, have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court at my office, this 23rd day of March A.D. 1895.
Jas Dutton, Probate Judge.
STATE OF KANSAS,
COUNTY OF WOODSON,
Office of Probate Judge of said County.
Be it Remembered, That on the 23rd day of March A.D. 1895 there was issued from the office of said Probate Judge, a Marriage License, of which the following is a true copy:
MARRIAGE LICENSE
Woodson County, State of Kansas, Yates Center, March 23 A.D. 1895
To any Person Authorized by Law to Perform the Marriage Ceremony, Greeting:
You are hereby authorized to join in Marriage John F. Mentzer of Yates Center aged 23 years, and Anna M. Wells of Yates Center aged 23 years, and of this License you will make due return to my office within thirty days.
Jas Dutton, Probate Judge.
And which said Marriage License was afterwards, to-wit: on the 24th day of March A.D. 1895, returned to said Probate Judge, with the following Certificate endorsed thereon, to-wit:
STATE OF KANSAS, County of Woodson, ss:
I, E. J. Fankhauser, do hereby certify, that in accordance with the authorization of the within License, I did, on the 24th day of March A.D. 1895, at Yates Center in said County, join and unite in Marriage the within named John F. Mentzer and Anna M. Wells.
Witness my Hand and seal this day and year above written.
E. J. Fankhauser
Christian Minister
ATTEST:
Jas Dutton, Probate Judge.
Finding this marriage license reminded me that even small documents can hold big value in our research. Whether it’s confirming a location, a date, or a connection between families, every piece of the puzzle matters. I’ll be taking a closer look at John and Anna’s story to see what else I might uncover—maybe there are more forgotten treasures waiting to be rediscovered.