A Moment in History A Wedding to Remember
Courtesy photos Above left, the Birdwell family were dressed and ready for the early morning wedding but first they posed for one last family portrait together. Back row; Daniel, Annabell, and Lillian; Front row: Maydell, Annabell (mother), Johnanna, John and Daniel Birdwell.
Above right, the Birdwells’ home, Redrock, had been completed a few short years before the wedding.
Right, Lillian Elizabeth Birdwell Mills
By TAMMY Thursday morning,
SCHRECENGOST twenty-sixth
Nineteen hundred and Four
At half after seven o’clock
July 26, 1904”
The formal invitation was sent to guests inviting the crème de la crème of Big Spring to this joyous occasion at Red Rock:
“Mr. and Mrs. John D. Birdwell
Invite you to be present
At the marriage of their Daughter
Lillian Elizabeth
To
Mr. Edward Sawyer Mills
July
The wedding announcement as it was printed in the Big Spring newspaper read:
“Forth from the curtain of clouds from his tent of purple and gold, issued the sun, the Great High Priest, his garments resplendent, blessing the world as he came,” and flooding “Red Rock”, the beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Birdwell with warmth and gladness, making a perfect wedding morn for Mr. Edward Mills, a prominent traveling man and Miss Lillian Birdwell, the eldest and stateliest daughter of the home.
“Promptly at 7:30 o'clock on the morning of July the twenty-sixth, two white clad little girls (sisters, Maydell and Johnanna) threw open the doors of the library in which stood the bride and groom, the maid of honor, Miss Annabelle Birdwell and the best man, Mr. Chas Wynne, of Fort Worth, before a drop curtain of feathery smilax and cedar, interwoven with pink, white and royal purple wild tulips.
“Reve. W.H. Sewell of Colorado City, with a ceremony as sweet and simple as that of Ruth and Boaz, pronounced them man and wife
and prayed fervently for the hearth and home that day founded in affection and for divine blessings on the young couple.
“After the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. Mills received the congratulations of a host of friends who had witnessed the ceremony. The guests were invited into the dining room to view the wedding gifts and the sheen of silver, and the glitter of rare cut glass held all eyes spellbound. Mrs. Birdwell, the mother of the bride assisted by Mrs. Claude Campbell of Thurber, and Miss Alice Lusk of Fort Worth served ice cream and cake to those present.
“At 8:30 o'clock the bridal party were driven to the train where they departed for the respective home midst a shower of rice. Mr. and Mrs. Mills will spend five or six weeks in the Indian Territory, close to natures bosom.
“The bride was beautifully gowned in a green cloth gown, made 1830 style, trimmed in linen and silk motifs and the lace and Oriental bands. She carried a bouquet of pink carnations.
“The groom wore a business suit of grey and tan mixture.
“Mrs. Birdwell's gown was a handsome black silk elaborate in lace and applique. Mrs. Claude Campbell wore a brown silk shirt waist suit trimmed in taffeta bands and oriental lace. Miss Lusk wore a white silk waist and black skirt.
“A list of presents received is so lengthy that we are compelled to omit it for want of space. Editor.”