This is long but hopefully worth it. While searching all over trying to find my g-grandparents' wedding date in Chicago, I came across an interesting article in the Chicago Tribune archives. In a nutshell, it said that many couples from Chicago were travelling north to Milwaukee to get married in order to save the $2 license fee. That money was used instead for a steamboat trip up Lake Michigan to Milwaukee. For an additional $3 to cover the Justice's fee to marry them, streetcar fare and incidentals, the whole marriage could be done for about $5. The article estimates that over 1000 couples did this just between 1 May and 1 September of 1894, although only about 250 of those had been registered with the Deeds office when the article was written. The article then went on to list all 250 of those couples, including my g-grandparents. That was enough evidence for me to purchase a copy of the marriage record from the state of Wisconsin, which gave me another piece of info I needed - my g-g-grandmother's maiden name. I've transcribed the list from the article and added it below. I am convinced that the forms in the state records were filled out by the clerks, as my g-grandmother's name was misspelled (Noland vs. Nolan). So if you find something close (I had some problems distinguishing lowercase "i"s and "l"s, among others), or if you have run into the same problem I had - trying to find marriage records for around that timeframe in Chicago/Cook County - I would suggest a visit to wisconsinhistory.org to see if they actually got married in Milwaukee! Remember, the list below is only a partial list of those who went north to get hitched. Date in 1894; Groom; Bride; Celebrant 5 May; Frank J. Bendt; Anna Krause; Rev. George Hertz 5 May; Frank C. Morrow; Kunitunda Schubert; Justice M. B. Neelen 8 May; Robert J. Lewis; Annie Thorn; Rev. A. A. Kiehle 12 May; Frank A. Adams; Amelia Hammersand; Rev. Sabin Halsey 12 May; John R. Pomeroy; Mrs. Marie Smith; Justice Hayden 12 May; Egbert Whitemore; Jessie E. McKillop; Justice McWorther 16 May; Reinhold Wordrich; Louise Weber; Hirtz 17 May; James Kenna; Minnie Purcell; McWorther 20 May; William J. Powers; Annie Patterson; Kiehle 20 May; James Birney; Mary J. Smith; Halsey 21 May; Christian A. Geckler; Marina Ena; McWorther 21 May; August Laeffler; Babbetta Ziegler; Justice Walther 24 May; Frank W. Fullmer; Blanche F. Dale; Rev. August Pieper 25 May; Andrew J. Coshore; Ella R. Peterson; Neelen 26 May; Michael Lacas; Mathilda Ehrhardt; Hayden 1 Jun; Albert L. Glass; Delia Quinn; Hayden 2 Jun; Ralph P. Orlandine; Ida McDonald; Halsey 2 Jun; D. S. Benedict; Eliza A. Lilly; Rev. Frederick Evans 2 Jun; Cornelius Shea; Mary A. Grant; Rev. James D. Foley, S..J. 5 Jun; Samuel Magowan; Annie Patterson; Kiehle 6 Jun; Benjamin Franklin Hand; Evelyn Tyler; Rev. James Churn 7 Jun; William Llewllin; Louise M. Goessele; Julius Roehr 7 Jun; Morris Sallinger; Sarah Goldstein; Rev. Victor Caro 7 Jun; Frank H. Wing; Aggie Keegan; McWorther 7 Jun; James H. Ownes; Bertha Stockhouse; Halsey 9 Jun; Robert W. Herrick; Harriet P. Emory; Rev. Charles S. Lester 9 Jun; Joseph Sokups; Edith Herziger; McWorther 10 Jun; Louis C. Grandpre; Mary Gebhart; Rev. Edwin Richardson 10 Jun; Charles R. Warner; Sophia T. Brown; Halsey 10 Jun; Peter Esch Jr.; Katie Ufar; Halsey 11 Jun; Mortimer C. Ambrose; Mrs. Ida L. Middower; Rev. E. L. Eaton 11 Jun; Paul M. Friedlander; Freda C. Buchner; Neelen 11 Jun; Robert Marchard; Lizzie Tremble; not listed 12 Jun; George Tellman; Belle Gavin; Rev. E. D. Huntley 12 Jun; Edward A. Emmous; Mary E. Wight; Rev. C. Iwart 13 Jun; Withers F. Sieivert; Henrietta Young; Rev. H. Springer 14 Jun; Robert F. Bullen; Mary C. Clark; Eaton 14 Jun; Charles W. Gray; Mary Fitzpatrick; Richardson 15 Jun; Burns G. Knapp; Mary T. Schoetes; Neelen 15 Jun; Arthur A. Simmons; Addie N. Patchin; Evans 16 Jun; Ira H. Whipple; Ida Dickenson; McWorther 16 Jun Frank M. Crane; Anna W. Huckins; Kiehle 16 Jun; Albert A. Hardt; Mathilda Hardt; Pieper 17 Jun; Charles R. Nelson; Minnie Marshall; Huntley 17 Jun; Gustave Mintz; Sarah Beekof; Rabbi Solomon Bauer 18 Jun; Henry H. Davis; Harriet E. Johnson; Rev. W. J. Patton 18 Jun; Louis Mulschetly; Nellie Bollow; McWorther 18 Jun; Jacob W. Seitz; Emma B. Foster; Kiehle 19 Jun; Britton E. West; Clara E. Thompson; Halsey 19 Jun; Charles Wightman; Ada E. Brown; Halsey 20 Jun; F. Gresenschlag; Emma Ribbe; Judge Emil Waiber 20 Jun; Henry F. Shining; Dola M. Porter; Neelen 20 Jun; Albert Riehman; Rosszella Lytle; Kiehle 21 Jun; Harry D. Budkie; Mrs. Mary Kaiser; Hayden 23 Jun; Henry Hardmeyer; Mary Van Sickle; Halsey 23 Jun; Charles Rapp; Louise Hannann; Halsey 23 Jun; Thomas J. Wills ; Minnie Wills; Halsey 23 Jun; Addison D. Loucks; Lillian Brown; Lester 23 Jun; John Guetgesell; Mathilda Redman; Rev. F. Uplegger 24 Jun; William A. Osborne; Ada C. Fessler; Huntley 24 Jun; Linns A. Paddock; Phoebe E. Rothfuss; not listed 24 Jun; Victor A. Ingraham; Getrude T. Hanson; Rev. B. Sherin 24 Jun; Joseph J. Foley; Mary D. Carter; McWorther 24 Jun; Frank R. Labadie; Leah Fraser; Richardson 24 Jun; Robert G. Palmer; Julia Simon; Richardson 24 Jun; Alvah Luther; Annie Giles; Rev. E. W. White 24 Jun; Edmund A. Wilson; Mrs. Metta McCanomon; Rev. Issac Corry 25 Jun; Fritz Schmid; Adelhan Denzel; Justice Treis 26 Jun; William C. Lynch; Alice C. Davis; Halsey 26 Jun; John P. McDowell; Harriet E. Miner; Halsey 26 Jun; Sheldon R. Seymour; Maggie Gillespie; Halsey 26 Jun; Chester Batcheler; Pheba A. Runyan; Hayden 26 Jun; Cyrus R. Bonehard; Kate Portman; Hayden 27 Jun; Frank D. Holmes; Anna Skobles; Rev. M. B. Ryan 28 Jun; Charles A. Denlin; Orpha P. Mason; Eaton 28 Jun; Edward W. Mangson; Gertrude E. Brigdon; Eaton 28 Jun; Howard H. Bonn; Frankla B. Moore; Justice Walthers 29 Jun; Joseph S. Steinmetz; Mary Walsh; Halsey 30 Jun; Henry Kohler; Carrie Wood; Neelen 30 Jun; Ambrose Lanigan; Christini Johnson; Halsey 30 Jun; Frank D. Stocking; Alice Turbett; Hayden 1 Jul; William J. Tracy; Kittie Boland; McWorther 1 Jul; Lee W. Church; Bessie Beattie; Halsey 1 Jul; Henry M. Cohen; Mary Luettner; Halsey 1 Jul; Charles T. Sleeper; Angeline King; Halsey 2 Jul; Daniel Manning; Emma Bennett; McWorther 2 Jul; Edward Lowy; Alice H. Briggs; Rev. Henry T. Secrist 2 Jul; William F. Stamm; Blanche V. Fair; Walthers 2 Jul; Henry W. Paeper; Ada V. Slawson 3 Jul; Joseph W. Pickens; Harriet Ribeling; Huntley 3 Jul; Matthew Cummings; Ella Larson; Halsey 3 Jul; William A. Thompson; Harriet E. Wells; Halsey 3 Jul; Carl Eberlein; Beatrice Walt; Hayden 4 Jul; James W. Nishbet; Emily Wallace; Rev. W. A. McKillop 4 Jul; George Cranston; Sara Pepin; McWorther 4 Jul; Francis A. Breese; Julia Noland; Halsey 4 Jul; Rudolph L. Hayer; Minnie Rentsch; Halsey 4 Jul; Francis J. Rucavado; Susie A. O’Reilly; Halsey 4 Jul; Donald Rosie Jr.; Mary Hanlon; Halsey 4 Jul; Frank J. Thomas; Hattie Sweet; Halsey 5 Jul; Charles Eric Spaak; Anna G. Hessler; Rev. W. K. Frick 5 Jul; Wilhelm V. Schuette; Clara Reiss; Mgr. Leonard Batz 5 Jul; John A. Brayson; Delia Craygan; McWorther 5 Jul; Edwin F. Brookfield; Fannie Bissell; Hayden 5 Jul; John Wischemeyer; Emily Brisebois; not listed 7 Jul; James T. Hassett Jr.; Alice I. King; Halsey 7 Jul; Carl Klasmann; Lulu G. Leighton; Hayden 7 Jul; Jeremiah O’Brien; Olga Widgren; Hayden 8 Jul; Wilson S. Jones; Elsie E. Fish; Lester 8 Jul; Ernest F. Wayne; Kittie Holton; Hayden 8 Jul; John F. Parker; Mary E. Bancroft; Richardson 8 Jul; Bernhard Meyer Jr.; Mary Sprangel; Halsey 8 Jul; James R. McWilliams; Josephine Russell; Halsey 8 Jul; William E. Wilber; Mabel Puetlberg; Halsey 9 Jul; August Behn; Gertrude Jewell; Halsey 10 Jul; Herman Burgheim; Leonora D. Goldman; Justice Bornzak 10 Jul; Francis D. Macara; Laura A. Johnes ; Rev. Theo Jaekel 10 Jul ; Carl E. Davis ; Clara G. Dauphin; Halsey 10 Jul; Oscar Long; Ebba Frederickson; Huntley 11 Jul; Robert J. Dauphney; Mary J. Bryson; Iwart 11 Jul; Albert L. DeLamater; Mary Hill; Rev. Edgar L. Gee 11 Jul; Jophtha S. Dudley; Henrietta A. Bronston; Lester 12 Jul; Emil J. Sie; Clara Gauber; Huntley 12 Jul; John C. Wamser; Maud G. Bennett; Kiehle 12 Jul; Edward Hinckley; Maggie Fitzgerald; McWorther 12 Jul; Walter E. Bennis; Zella G. Smith; Halsey 14 Jul; James J. Corcoran; Catherine Donovan; McWorther 14 Jul; John Shelton; Emma Martin; Hayden 14 Jul; Charles O. Stemberg; Josie Schulz; Hayden 15 Jul; Louis S. Thoman; Bertha Brunner; Walthers 15 Jul; George A. Tirrell; Margaret Hodges; Kiehle 15 Jul; George J. Hilton; Catherine Joyce; White 15 Jul; Frank Baur; Gertrude Watschek; Halsey 15 Jul; Charles E. Stender; Nellie Beck; Halsey 16 Jul; Julius R. Lornze; Anna McCann; Justice McClintock 16 Jul; Frank E. Lawrence; Annie Davis; McWorther 17 Jul; William Connery; Kate Ford; Walthers 17 Jul; Albert J. Kuehn; Margaretha Schildein; Walthers 17 Jul; Charles S. Miller; Maude Lawther; Walthers 17 Jul; John Herdigen; Alice Snyder; McWorther 17 Jul; George G. Carter; Esther L. Reed; Halsey 17 Jul; Philip Morey; Annie Rectles; Halsey 18 Jul; Samuel E. Barr; Jennie Crawford; Halsey 18 Jul; William W. Brown; Jennie Madison; Halsey 18 Jul; Charles Rayman; Jessie D. Tobin; Halsey 19 Jul; Eric J. Edlund; Mary M. Ostron; Walthers 19 Jul; Israel H. Batchelder; Annie Grokin; McWorther 19 Jul; Edward Schach; Mamie G. Johnson; Halsey 21 Jul; Jacob A. Barkey; Jessie L. Boyd; Walthers 21 Jul; John F. Alexander; Bella Carland; Lester 21 Jul; James L. Mead; Cora Van Ness; Huntley 22 Jul; Henry Zuckerman; Lizzie M. Schultz; not listed 22 Jul; James T. Collins; Amanda Pearson; Rev. William M. Corckey 22 Jul; John D. Rosie; Ida M. Edwards; Richardson 22 Jul; Edward C. Beurck; Emma M. Robinson; Halsey 22 Jul; Charles M. Marden; Tullie Hunt; Halsey 22 Jul; William R. Mabee; Elizabeth Allen; Halsey 22 Jul; John F. Nagel; Myrtle M. Lefever; Halsey 22 Jul; Charles Fiefenthal; Mary L. Hitchcock; Halsey 22 Jul; John B. Olson, Jr.; Lena B. Christianson; Hayden 24 Jul; Frederick A. Colbourne; Geraldine B. Byfield; Walthers 24 Jul; Jacob P. Miller; Elizabeth Marggraf; McWorther 24 Jul; George W. Tewilliger; Elizabeth Kinsey; Hayden 25 Jul; Max E. Gotscheid; Ida M. Connegiser; Rev. Charles Grann 25 Jul; Adolph A. Macaland; Mary Baumrak; Court Commissioner Harper 26 Jul; Robert B. Stanley; Grace Booth; Justice Parsons 26 Jul; James F. Hackett; Bertha Schockett; Halsey 26 Jul; William B. Moffett; Arvilla Bell; Halsey 26 Jul; Chatman V. Dean; Hattie M. Hoffman; Hayden 26 Jul; Aaron Stern; Bertha Zobel; McWorther 27 Jul; Axer V. Hoglund; Hulda L. Bergquist; White 27 Jul; Edward Syske; Lillie Hillberth; McWorther 28 Jul; James S. Nodine; Florence M. Bryant; Richardson 28 Jul; Louis Henry; Josephine Maurer; Parsons 28 Jul; Louis Wald; Anna Young; Parsons 28 Jul; Norma T. Krause; Mamie E. Murphy; Halsey 29 Jul; G. J. Pleck; Frances Slinner; Hirtz 29 Jul; John Braeske; Tilly M. Leib; Walthers 29 Jul; Joseph McMardis; Matilda Richardson; Halsey 29 Jul; William H. Spring; Catherine Hannejshin; Halsey 29 Jul; Fredrick L. Mahoney; Ethel McClayton; Hayden 30 Jul; Robert A. Steltz; Mamie Collbeck; McWorther 31 Jul; Elmar H. Grace; Clara T. Benren; Rev. O. H. Lee 31 Jul; Hugh E. Bradshaw; Elizabeth R. Tirrell; Hayden 1 Aug; Idos Ringer; Josline Smith; Huntley 1 Aug; Max G. Isaacs; Charlotte G. Reynolds; Rev. Otto Humphreys 1 Aug; James L. Abrahams; Edith L. Dundas; Lester 2 Aug; Feodor Sommer; Rose Kisher; McWorther 2 Aug; Morris Klein; Carrie Bauer; Parsons 2 Aug; George T. Sexsmith; Jessie A. Burdeck; Rev. E. Purdon Wright 3 Aug; Charles R. Moore; Emilie Fritz; McWorther 4 Aug; William Madsen; Kathryn Scholfeld; McWorther 4 Aug; August H. Bergdahl; Amelia Erickson; Huntley 4 Aug; Charles G. Thorp; Matilda P. Lucas; Eaton 5 Aug; George Smith; Mary Magdalene Arle; McWorther 6 Aug; William L. Johnson; Carrie Strong; McWorther 6 Aug; Edward P. Hait; Isaiah Webster; Rev. G. L. Lumper 6 Aug; William H. Richards; Nellie Hammer; Lester 7 Aug; Louis Messner; Eliza Nehls; McWorther 7 Aug; Bernhard Vonderwahl; Wilhelmine Nehs; McWorther 7 Aug; George C. Paynton; Anna Kasten; Huntley 7 Aug; William H. McConnell; Anna McDonald; Lester 8 Aug; David A. Lindsay, Jr.; Mary Clark; McWorther 8 Aug; James M. Window; Maggie Mealy; McWorther 8 Aug; Alof Klinger; Christinn Thompson; Lee 11 Aug; John D. Irwin; Jennie Garrity; Wright 11 Aug; Henry M. Schoeb; Mary Dacy; McWorther 11 Aug; James Nishbet; Alice Westerling; Humphreys 12 Aug; Harry U. Bight; Annie Solys; McWorther 13 Aug; Fred W. Brothers; Edna A. Aldrich; Rev. Aug. C. Bendler 13 Aug; August W. Vaux; Whilemeny Kietfer; Wright 14 Aug; Frank B. Hedbeerg; Ida L. Hanson; McWorther 14 Aug; Perry D. Probert; Hattie E. Hallock; Parsons 14 Aug; John F. Gooding; Lottie Fletcher; McWorther 15 Aug; Charles H. Gritter; Nellie Burnann; Ryan 15 Aug; Joseph H. Zimmerman; Nellie P. Mech; Justice Taff 15 Aug; Ora Hebble; Katie Haggemeyer; not listed 18 Aug; John H. Golden; Alpha Bacon; Huntley 19 Aug; Lewis G. Squire; Maggie Eiffin; Rev. G. D. Henver 21 Aug; William Kolb; Alvina Wahl; Huntley 26 Aug; John D. Sloan; Rose McKillop; Rev. H. Hayden, S. J. 30 Aug; Abraham Bass; Ester Hirshfield; not listed -- Be Yourself @ mail.com! Choose From 200+ Email Addresses Get a Free Account at www.mail.com