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The newspaper notice reads: (October 1947) Rev. Earl Butz officiated at a quiet ceremony at the Ripley home at six o'clock Wednesday evening of this week, which united in marriage Wm. Ripley and Mrs. Katie (should have been spelled KATTIE) Bramblee. Present were George and Bill Bramblee, sons of the bride and Mrs. Maggie O'Brian, a family friend. A wedding dinner had been prepared for serving immediately following the ceremony.

The story as I remember it was that my grandmother (Kattie Bramblee) cared for "Mr. Ripley" and lived in his house. They were worried about propriety, so married in name only. Mr. Ripley had arthritis and was confined to a wheel chair. By that time they lived in Gettysburg.

Photo and commentary courtesy of Mary Boucher