The following are the rest of the list of eligible bachelors in Monroe who were featured in two Monroe Sun articles on January 30 and February 13, 1892.
“Geo R. South (ahem!) is a bachelor, confirmed for obvious reason, and should not be included in the list of eligibles. However, it has been intimated to him a number of times that he wouldn’t be a bad catch for some made [sic] all forlorn of ripe years who has got over thinking life was all rosebuds, ice cream and taffy and complimentary tickets. He may be a trifle ancient to be sure, but he is tolerably well-preserved, and with careful handling might last for years. Anyone having designs upon him, however, will have to see his ma.
“Orrin Studley is a boy of whom a wife might be proud, and it is about time some nice girl took him in charge and leave no more of precious time to go to waste. He is steady and industrious and possesses all the requisites for making home happy.
“George Symonds would make a good husband for some girl who does not mind being alone nights. His duties are of an active nature and frequently calls him to hold the throttle of his engine on a night run.
“Gus Carpenter is ripe for the (h)alter and should be reminded of bissextile privileges and ‘gather in.’ He has good trade and is ‘straight as a string’ barring a slight tendency to ‘mash’ which would soon wear away under the sobering influence of matrimony.
“Tim Zweifel and brother Pete are two jolly bachelors and both are old enough to ‘quit fooling’ and settle down into the most exemplary type of sedate married men. Tim is fat and good-natured and both are O. K. boys.
“There’s Ed Scoville, who, having a house of his own already ‘well filled’ only requires a little wife welled willed to make him contented and happy, Ed’s a little shy of the sex, if caught would soon settle down to be a model Benedict.
“Dr. Roub, also has, a handsome cage ready for his ‘bird’ but seems to be too busy attending to calls for his professional services to entrap her. The doctor is amiable and tolerbly [sic] well fixed. Don’t let him linger long girls — he’s on the ragged edge, now.”
The editor added a second paragraph about Dr. Roub. “P. S. Later, Since the above was put in type we have learned that the doctor has found a heart to beat responsive to his own and a Kansas young lady is the happy bird to occupy the cage aforesaid. THE SUN extends heartily good wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Roub.” The Roubs’ oldest son, the Doc Roub that many of us remember, was born later that year, on November 25.
“Rob. Harper is a young man of many good points who should be looked after. He would be a desirable partner for a lady fond of church society.
“Ed. Hanson is perhaps ‘o’er young to marry’ yet, but still, we think Ed. ‘shows symptoms.’ He is a boy of exemplary habits, straight as a string has lovely burnsides, and should not be slowed to postpone the ‘inevitable’ over leap year.
“Jimmy McPhillips will get beyond the reach of our girls, we are afraid, if not captured soon. Just now he ‘hangs up his hat’ in Beloit, as he makes a regular visit to his mother he should be ‘gathered in’ if some fascinating Beloit damsel has not already ‘sealed his fate.’
“To neglect to mention Milt Hoesly among the eligibles would be unjust indeed. He is engaged in a paying business, is kind and gentle, has an eye for beauty and is not above flirting, but might be induced to ‘quit fooling’ and marry if the subject was presented by a pair of bright eyes.
“John Jennings is no ‘spring chicken,’ but has steeled his heart against the blandishments of the sex too long and ought to be heartily ashamed of himself. John is wary and clever, and should be approached cautiously so as not to frighten him.
“Nick Dowling is a thoroughly good, square boy and would make a fine husband for some girl of good taste and now that he is settled in business some good girl should attend to him.
“Billy Riggles for so riggling in single blessedness so long because of his being the main support of his mother. But Billy is ask ‘wool and yard wide’ in principle and possesses the raw material out of which model husbands are evolved.
“Among the eligibles dead ripe for the (h)alter Henry Voglie should be on the list first and foremost. Henry’s personal attractions and business qualifications are first-class. He is a versatile genius in the art of ‘turning an honest penny’ and to find a heart to beat responsive to his own has been the one great anxiety of his life. He is well-to-do, girls, and not half so fierce as he looks when he thinks he is the victim of ‘fowl’ proceedings, and furthermore, let us whisper in your off anricular [sic] appendage, a girl with mismated feet who can wear No. 8s on one foot and a No. 7 on the other should waste no time in letting the fact be known.
“Pet Tuller is a modle [sic] young man in some respects and has in him the making of a faithful husband for some girl who could talk horse and be companable [sic] and she will never have to get up in the morning to build fire.”
“There’s Jesse Patterson, too, who is old enough to ‘hop the twig’ — to speak in common parlance. Jesse is an all-round every day good boy. He is not very rich, but has a good business. Take him out in the cold.”
I’d like to hear from you if any of your relatives were featured in these two columns or if you can provide any photos of the men named here. Did any female propose on leap day this year?
— Matt Figi is a Monroe resident and a local historian. His column will appear periodically on Saturdays in the Times. He can be reached at mfigi48@tds.net or at 608-325-6503.
