The Double Wedding Surprise
A quiet wedding service at a Yakima home takes a dramatic turn when the officiating clergyman unites the mother and the daughter in marriage simultaneously.
A very enjoyable evening was that of Saturday, August 31, for those who were present at the double wedding which occurred at the residence of Mrs. E. A. Kumate. When Jasper Mikkleson and Mrs. Kumate stood up to be united in marriage it was no surprise to the friends present, but when the officiating clergyman, Rev. Mr. Head, arose and proceeded to read the service that united not only the mother but her daughter, Miss L. Blanche Kumate, the surprise was complete. The latter was married to F. B. Baker, a telegraph operator from Plattsburg, Penn., who came out to Yakima for that purpose. Mr. Mikkleson gave his bride a gold watch and chain, his new daughter a hundred dollars in gold, and Mr. Baker a diamond pin. There were numerous other handsome presents. Mr. and Mrs. Mikkleson expect to make their home on their Moxee farm, and Mr. and Mrs. Baker will remain in the territory, but probably not at Yakima. Two sisters of Mrs. Mikkleson, who had not seen each other for over thirty years, met at the wedding.
“When the officiating clergyman, Rev. Mr. Head, arose and proceeded to read the service that united not only the mother but her daughter, the surprise was complete.”
This charming account of a local pioneer-era double wedding reflects the close-knit social fabric of early Yakima. Such gatherings were essential for community building in the late 19th-century frontier, documenting the arrival of newcomers and the consolidation of property and families.
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