Earnest A. Garlington

[markland]

Stumbled upon this last night and thought it would prove useful to someone.

Billy



The Army and Navy Journal
August 21, 1886

MARRIED

Garlington-Buford.-At Trinity Church, Rock Island, Aug. 17, Lieut. Earnest A. Garlington to Anna B., youngest daughter of T. J. and Grace Buford.

[elisabeth]

Well, now ...

The father of the bride turns out to be Thomas Jefferson Buford -- brother of the great General Buford.

www.iltrails.org/rockisland/pioneersfolder/johnbufordbio.html

As we know, Keogh had been ADC and friend to General Buford. In 1878, Garlington, as Adjutant, signed Sturgis' famous General Order No. 7 proclaiming Comanche's protected status. And in 1891, Garlington succeeded Nowlan as Captain of Keogh's old troop, Co. I. (He also, helpfully, wrote a Chronological Sketch of Co. I's history, which is reproduced in the 1972 edition of Barron Brown's book, "Comanche".)

Small world, isn't it!!!

[d o harris]

From the Rock Island Argus, Aug. 17, 1886.

Headline: Marriage at Trinity Church of Miss
Anna B. Buford and Lieut. Gar-
lington.

A wedding associated with which is as much distinction as any that has been held in Rock Island before, took place at Trinity Church today. It was the joining for life of Miss Anna B., daughter of Captain and Mrs. T. J. Buford, to Lieutenant Ernest S. Garlington, of the U. S. Army. It was a high noon wedding, and half an hour before 12 the invited guests began arriving at the church and were met at the door by the ushers, Messrs. Fay Lynde, O. M. Curtis and T. J. Buford, Jr., of this city, and J. N. Van Patten, of Davenport, and escorted to seats. By the hour appointed for the ceremony the church was comfortably filled, Davenport, Moline and the Island being largely represented in the assemblage. Promptly as the clock on the arsenal tolled the noon hour, Mrs. Rodderick Dart struck up Mendlesohn's wedding march, and preceeded by the ushers, the bride-elect leaning upon the arm of her father, Captain Buford, proceeded up the broad aisle to the chancel steps where she was met by the groom and his best man, Lieut. L. S. McCormick of Leavenworth, and escorted to the chancel rail, where Rev. R. F. Sweet joined Lt. Ernest S. Garlington and Anna B. Buford to life's most precious bonds. The ceremony throughout was beautiful in its impressiveness and solemnity. Miss Lina Buford, sister of the bride was attendant at the altar, and Capt. Buford gave the bride away. The bride wore a navy blue camel's hair traveling suit with hat to match, and there was nothing affecting display in any of the details of the affair. At the close of services...[the bridal party] and other relatives proceeded from church to carriages and drove to the home of the bride's parents, 1210 First avenue, where a wedding feast was served and a reception took place. Only the relatives and most intimate friends of the family were invited to the house.
The list of presents was brilliant and elegant as it was lengthy in number and appropriateness, and Lieutenant Garlington and bride were the recipients of many congratulatory letters and telegrams. Lieutenant and Mrs. Garlington, accompanied by Lieutenant and Mrs. J. F. Bell, leave tonight for Niagara Falls, the St. Lawrence river, and after spending a month at the eastern cities and watering placdes, will proceed to their home at Fort Buford, D. T.
The bride is one of the best known young ladies in Rock Island. She was born, reared and educated here, and by her accomplishments and culture, her charm in manners and appearance has won hosts of friends, and in her departure the society circles of the three cities lose a prominent and esteemed member. The groom is a lieutenant in the cavalry service of the army, with present headquarters at Fort Buford, D. T. He is not the rescuer of Lieut. Greeley's arctic expedition party, as has been stated, but he won distinction by his perilous attempts to rescue the party and supply it with provisions. He was acting in the navy at the time as volunteer from the cavalry. Mrs. Lieut. Bell is a sister to the bride, and it was on a visit to her at Fort Buford that she met LIEUT. garlington. The lieutenant has acquired fame through his gallantry and bravery. His home is at Newberry Court House, South Carolina.

From the Rock Island city directory, 1886:
Buford, J M 121 E 17th St Ins Agt & City Treasurer
Buford, Thomas J 1210 first ave
Buford, Tom J insurance clerk, bondsman

Earlier directories list Thomas J as an agt. Apparently he had retired prior to the marriage. I do not know the relationship to J M, but Tom J is obviously T. J. Jr., and J M apparently related. The 17th St address is five blocks from the Buford home.
The area of First Avenue where the Bufords lived no longer exists. It was consumed by the need of the city to build a Western approach to the bridge that crosses the river three blocks East, and to provide an easy way to get to the downtown business district. In Buford's day the West end of Rock Island was one of the better places to reside.
Judging by the mansions that remain on Second Avenue, the Buford home must have been suitable for a person of success and standing in the community.
His position in the community is especially notable because local papers did not ordinarily cover weddings, and the Argus was a blatantly Democratic newspaper, and T. J. was certainly a Republican.

[elisabeth]

Wow, D.O. -- that is fascinating. So the notorious Mrs. Emily or Emiline Bell was a Buford?!! I had no idea.

This is the lady who got Reno into so much trouble post-LBH; and who, in 1874, had allegedly been up to no good with Merrill in Shreveport. An outrageous woman, by all accounts. Let's hope Garlington fared better with his choice than poor long-suffering Bell did with his own!

[d o harris]

Elisabeth---It isn't the same Bell. Emily was married to Captain James M. The Buford daughter was married to Lieutenant J. F. Bell. This Lt. Bell, I believe, is the adjutant who solicited subscriptions for a history of the 7th, as you mentioned in your post.

[elisabeth]

Oops -- thanks for the correction!