It’s a Pick-A-Book Giveaway.
This month enter to win any book from the catalog of books I’ve pinned.
Winners will be announced April 30.
The Matrimonial News, a San Francisco matchmaking newspaper, was dedicated to “promoting honorable matrimonial engagements and true conjugal facilities” for men and women through personal advertisements and was a forerunner of the matchmaking clubs and personal ads in newspapers today. Not all the matrimonial bureaus and agencies were legitimate, however, and many a disappointed bride or groom was left with empty pockets after contracting for a mail-order mate.
Here are a few of the ads posted in the January 8, 1887, edition of Matrimonial News.
283 – A gentlemen of 25 years old, 5 feet 3 inches, doing a good business in the city, desires the acquaintance of a young, intelligent and refined lady possessed of some means, of a loving disposition from 18 to 23, and one who could make a home a paradise.
287 – An intelligent young fellow of 22 years, 6 feet height, weight 170 pounds. Would like to correspond with a lady from 18 to 22 years. Will exchange photos: object, fun and amusement, and perhaps when acquainted, if suitable, matrimony.
245 – I am 48, fat, fair, and plan on losing no weight. Am a No. 1 lady, well fixed with no encumbrances: am in business in city but want a partner who lives in the West. Want an energetic man that has some means, not under 40 years of age and weight not less than 180. Of good habits. A Christian gentleman preferred.
241 – I am a widow, aged 28, have one child, height 64 inches, blue eyes, weight 125 pounds, loving disposition. I am poor; would like to hear from honorable men from 30 to 40 years old: working men preferred.
To learn more advertisements from frontier women seeking men read
Hearts West: True Stories of Mail Order Brides on the Frontier.
