Missoula’s 1st Recorded Marriage – 1883
County’s History Revealed Through Marriage Records – 1938
A wealth of interesting information and history can be obtained through a glimpse of marriage records on file in the clerk of court’s office, compiled during the past 60 years or so.
For instance, the books show that more than 12,000 marriages have been performed in this county since the white man first came here. Yet they are not complete and the exact number can never be determined.
Until the fall of 1887 licenses to wed apparently were neither available nor necessary. Couples needed only to apply before a justice of the peace, minister or priest who, if he thought of it after the ceremony, sometimes filed records of the marriage with the county recorder.
What is believed to be the first marriage recorded in Missoula county was written in a small notebook November 20, 1883, by W. J. Stephens, county recorder at that time. It is interesting to note that although the couple, William J. Stephens and Emma Tibeau, had been married for 15 years when the entry was made, the official, making a record of what apparently was his own wedding, had the foresight to note that the certificate was entered into the books at exactly 10 o’clock. W. J. McCormick, Sr., was one of the witnesses, according to the record.
Then four years later, on September 3, 1887, Alvin Lent, county clerk, issued what is thought to be the first marriage license. On page one of book A is the record of a marriage license being issued to Edward D. Anderson to Jennie Sewell.
For nearly three years the licenses were tabulated in books, though not numbered. In the second volume containing license records, it is noted that on November 6, 1889, Montana was a territory, according to the printed page.
Twenty-three days later when the next license was issued, the word “territory” was scratched out and the word “state” proudly written in with pen. The next book, as well as all the rest up to X, the present volume, were printed so as to give Montana credit for being a state.
Yet, through all those years, the area was always Missoula county.
First license to be numbered was issued July 24, 1901, to William Clarke Morgan and Mrs. Annie Johnson. It was marked No. A, 78.
During the years that followed more then 20 volumes were used for recording the marriages, which were numbered thereafter.
Until June 17, 1935, the number grew larger and larger. On that day, a license was issued to Simon Martinez of Bonner and Kathleen O’Conner. It was No. 10,000.
The next day No. 1 was used a second time. Albert Hildebrandt and Katherine De Tonaneaur getting the license. Since that time the number has grown constantly until at the present time it is near the 1,400 mark.
The above article is from the September 12, 1938 Daily Missoulian.