Clayton Cecil Straw
b. April 15, 1895 · Fremont, Steuben County, Indiana, USA
d. March 6, 1969 · Branch County, Michigan, USA
married December 28 1916 · Fremont, Steuben County, Indiana, USA
Martha Beulah Duguid
b. January 11, 1897 · Ray, Steuben County, Indiana, USA
d. January 15, 1993 · Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, USA

Children of Clayton and Beulah Straw

 

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Straw-Duguid Wedding

Clayton C. Straw and Miss Margaret Beulah Duguid were married at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 27, 1916 in the Reformed Presbyterian church at Ray, in the presence of a hundred relatives and before a congregation of friend that crowded the large church. The wedding ceremony was one of the most beautiful and certainly the most impressive ever seen in Ray. Forty-two persons preceded the bride in her march to the hymenal altar, and a chorus of twenty-eight voices announced the coming of the bride by singing the "Bridal Chorus." The procession, because of its completeness, was one that the youngest child present will remember as long as he lives. At 2:30 o'clock Miss Ruth McNaughton took her place at the piano and began playing softly, "Hearts and Flowers," which were then turned into the stronger chords of Mendelssohn's "Wedding March," announcing the approach of the bridegroom's party. Leading the way came Leona McNitt, flower girl, carrying a large basket of rose petals on her arm. With her long curls she looked herself fair enough for a bride, as she sprinkled the way to altar with flowers and perfume. Following came the four ribbon bearers -- Rosamond McNaughton, Frederick Duguid, Mildred Stewart, and Oral McNitt __ who made a ribbon lane to the pulpit. Owen Jack and Robert Nichols then carried to the center of the pulpit space a kneeling cushion. Then at the repetition of the powerful Mendelssohn chords, the bridegroom's party entered the doorway. The bridegroom was accompanied by his brother, Walter Straw, and preceding them marched the little ring bearer, Isabelle Jack, carrying the ring tied to a rope on a satin cushion and the minister, the Rev. D. O. Jack. They took their places on the stage, facing the entrance, as the Mendelssohn march was ended.
After a moment's pause came from the vestibule, as though far away, the strains of the famous "Bridal Chorus," from Wagner's Lohengrin. After it was sung once softly, the doors were flung open and fourteen couples marched in, repeating the chorus with volume. The tallest couple marched first and stopped at the first seats and formed an arch with decorated evergreen boughs which they carried. Thus each couple, after marching beneath, extended the arch until it was complete from the entrance to the chancel. At a renewal of the main strain of the march, the bride entered archway leaning on the arm of her father, and Miss Bessie McTaggart, the bride's maid, led them to the altar. The brief Presbyterian ring [bottom cut off] they knelt on the cushion for the blessing, a shower of rose petals fell upon them from a large wedding bell suspended above,while again the pretty strains of "Hearts and Flowers," again floated softly through the room.
The bride appeared indeed winsome in her gown of white silk. She wore a veil and carried white roses. The bridesmaid's dress was light blue crepe de chine, and she carried pink roses. The groom wore the conventional black.
Immediately after the service, a wedding reception was given by the parents of the bride, Mr. and Mrs. W. R Duguid, at the old Duguid home southeast of Ray. Charles Noyes, caterer, of Angola, served a two course dinner, the girls of the "Hiking Club" assisted in the serving and provided entertainment. About one hundred and fifty guest were received. A brief program of responses followed the dinner. Mrs. Dr. McTaggart acted as toastmistress, and responses were had from Mrs. Theodore McNaughton, and Mrs. D. O. Jack. Misses Ruth McNaughton and Bessie McTaggart each sang a vocal solo. The presents given the happy couple were numerous, and consisted of cut glass, silver and china pieces, table linen and practical aluminum ware. The guests from a distance were Mrs. Geo. M. Brown and son George of Hinsdale, N. Y., Mrs. Helen Speer and son Beryl and daughters Lillian and Lucile, of Ypsilanti, Mich.; Mrs, R. G. Williams and Mrs. Olin Brott, of Jackson, Mich.; Mrs. Edna Miller and two sons, of Eaton Rapids, Mich., and relative and friends from Pleasant Lake, Angola, Kendallville and Fremont, Ind., Coldwater, Mich.
The Girl's Hiking Club gave a shower for the bride on Tuesday at the home of Misses Ruth and Miriam McNaughton. Twenty girls were present, and the bride, Miss Beulah, arrived in the middle of the afternoon. The girls had invited some of the sterner sex for a six o'clock dinner, which was served in "progressive style" and afforded much merriment. At the bride's table sat Miss Duguid and her fiance, Clayton C. Straw, and Miss Bessie McTaggart and Walter Straw. Over them hung a sprig of mistletoe. The place cards as well as the invitations had been cleverly painted by Miss Lorene McNaughton. Later in the evening, in a game of guessing cooking utensils, the prospective bride and groom won the prize__ a cooking utensil. 
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A mistake was made last week in the date of the wedding of Miss Martha Beulah Duguid and Mr. Clayton C. Straw. It was on Thursday, Dec. 28, 1916. Beulah is a graduate of Fremont High School class of 1916, and a student of Angola College. Clayton is also a graduate of Fremont high school, class of 1914, a student of Angola College and teacher of fine ability. He opened his school at Clear Lake last Tuesday after a week's vacation. Our heartiest congratulations are bestowed upon these worthy young people who have united their lives and settle in our community. They have a suit of rooms at the Duguid homestead and are at home to many friends. They entertained a small company of young friend Monday evening.

A perpetual calendar of birthdays and anniversaries of the extended Straw family.