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A Hectic Patoka Elopement

By Dr. George Ross

    Triumphant love is the theme of a romantic adventure involving a youthful Patoka couple who fled parental wrath, overcoming many obstacles to share their love. The story first appeared in the Chicago Cronicle and was reprinted in the Marion County Democrat Jan 19, 1897.

     The reason why the cows on the Lucas farm seven miles east of Patoka, were not milked Wednesday evening and why the farm hands were compelled to eat dry bread instead of hot biscuits was because Mollie Lucas 16, was on her way to Chicago to get married. The sheep on the Walker farm were not given their usual supply of salt on the same evening, and the tired farm horses went to sleep without a soft bedding of fresh straw because Isaac Walker 22 years of age, accompanied Miss Mollie to Chicago.

     Great was the excitement in the little village of Patoka, and it became even greater. Isaac and Miss Mollie laughed long and loud at the commands of stern parents. The ever living Cupid again proved that he had lost none of his power.

     As the Illinois Central train from the south pulled into Chicago yesterday morning at 7 o’clock, two young people quickly alighted and hastened from the station. A short time later the same couple boarded a train for Kenosha, Wis. where they were made man and wife. Yesterday Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Walker returned to Chicago and at 4 o’clock took the Illinois Central train for home to beg forgiveness of their parents.

     For many months Isaac had wooed Miss Mollie. She returned his affections, and soon they became engaged, although the matter was kept a secret. At last the news leaked out and then the romancing was stopped. Cupid was not to be balked, and with the assistance of Miss Lottie Brown the successful elopement was carried out.

     As Mollie left the Zion school, located east of Patoka, she bade Thomas P Walker, the teacher and brother of young Issac, good-bye with a suppressed air of excitement. Lottie Brown was waiting outside and soon the young girls were heading towards the Brown homestead. Isaac was at his brother’s farm busy getting the top buggy in readiness for the flight. Just as darkness was creeping over the quiet farms, Isaac was harnessing the old grey mare and driving within a short distance of the Brown farm. At a given signal, Miss Lucas hurried from the house and was soon seated beside her sweetheart. Then started the long drive to Odin, where they were to take the 9:06 to Chicago.

     Two miles were covered in good time, and the young couple were congratulating themselves on the success of their stratagem when the sound of a rapidly driven team was heard behind them. The faces of the youthful duo grew pale and their hearts fluttered with excitement. ‘Why did I bring the old grey mare?’ mourned Issac. ‘We’ll win we must, we can’t lose’ came the cheering response from Mollie. Urged with whip and voice, the old grey quadruped laid back her ears and started for Odin with racing speed. Fast and thick flew the mud, and the buggy swayed dangerously as it dashed over the rough road. Then the sound of the pursuit vehicle died away, and the old mare settled back into a country jog.

     Back again the pursuers drew near, and once again they shifted into a livelier speed. Soon the lights of Odin loomed up in the distance, and in a few minutes, the young couple were in town. Turning the foaming horse over to a boy for care, Isaac and Mollie ran to the train station. The train was due but the agent said it would be at least thirty minutes late. The situation was critical for the youthful couple. Thomas P Walker The young mans brother, had already arrived in town; and the young couple were warned that that he was on their trail. Isaac and Mollie hurried to a cowshed close by and concealed themselves. Mr. Walker made a diligent search for his brother and Mollie but could find no trace of them. After 35 minutes of anxious waiting the train pulled into the station, and Isaac and Mollie emerged from their hiding place and made a dash for the cars. Mr Walker spied them just as they were clamoring on the rear platform of the train, and he shouted for them to stop. The train was moving on its way to Chicago, and Isaac and Mollie waved a happy farewell while the older brother vented his anger and disgust. Arriving in Chicago had breakfast and then hastened to a northwestern train which carried them to Kenosha where they were made one. Then they returned to Chicago en-route to their native town.

     Isaac Walker remarked, “I guess everything will be alright. After all we are married and that’s all there is to it. The folks can’t do anything about it now. We had a hard time but we won, didn’t we, Mollie?” The bride nodded her assent. The only thing that seemed to worry Mr and Mrs Walker was the condition of the cows and the sheep, and how they would ever get the mud off their clothing.

     The young bride is a strikingly handsome girl with large brown eyes and dark wavy hair. The groom is boyish in appearance. They attracted much attention in the Illinois Central station, and as they left to take the train, a crowd gathered to bid them farewell and wish them a successful matrimonial career.