Ann M Sullivan (1861 - 1904)

Born Nov 1861 in Pennsylvania

Wife of Daniel Francis McMahon — married 28 Apr 1877 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey

Descendants

Died 15 Feb 1904 at age 42 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey

Problems/Questions Profile manager: William Wires [send private message]

Biography

Widow's Practical Joke

Invited 30 Importunate Friends to Her Wedding to "Mr. Wydemann," a Tailor's Lay Figure

"I was tired of being ridiculed by my friends because I did not remarry," said Mrs. Annie McMahon of 44 Bleecker Street, Jersey City, yesterday, in explaining a practical joke she had played on thirty of her friends last Wednesday night. "I have been a widow several years and my kind friends thought it time I provide my three children a second father. I thought differently, but they persisted, and I resolved to teach them a practical lesson, if possible. They call it a practical joke, I believe."

"I sent out thirty invitations to my wedding, which I set for 7:30 o'clock P.M. Wednesday, Feb. 18. I called the bridegroom "Henry Wydemann." I knew no one of that name, neither did any of my friends. For that reason my announcement caused a commotion among them. They were on hand promptly at the time named- some of them came earlier, in fact. Naturally, they were all anxious to see "Mr. Wydemann". I told them he lived in the West and had sent me a telegram saying his train was delayed and he would not arrive until 8 o'clock.

"When the time came I had the servant ring the door bell. Closing the parlor door I hurried to the street door where I pretended to meet "Mr. Wydemann," rather effusively, and smuggled him in by a side entrance into an alcove at the rear of the parlor across which I had drawn a heavy curtain and announced "Mr. Wydemann."

"For reasons I will explain presently "Mr. Wydemann" did not advance to meet my friends. He remained silent and motionless. For a moment the silence was fairly oppressive. Then curiosity got the better of my friends and two or three of them cautiously stepped forward for a nearer view of the bridegroom. When they got near enough to see him distinctly there was a roar of laughter, and two them unceremoniously dragged "Mr. Wydemann" out under the chandelier. Poor fellow! he made no objection, for he was simply a wax figure attired in evening dress, a bogus bridegroom I had hired from a nearby tailoring establishment.

"I think my friends felt the rebuke, for after the first burst of laughter a deep stillness prevaded the room. It was not broken until I told them that I had evoked Mr. Wydemann" solely to please them; that I did not want him or any other husband, and if any other unmarried woman wanted "Mr. Wydemann" she was welcome to him. Then I appeased them by inviting them to a "wedding supper" in the dining room. After that they went home.

"I think the lesson was effective for not one of them has since asked me why I don't get married again." (NYTimes Feb. 21, 1903)

BOGUS WEDDING FOOLED FRIENDS Sister in Law of Jersey City's Fire Chief Played Practical Joke on Fifty Guests Invited to the Ceremony

BRIDEGROOM WAS A DUMMY

She Got Up the Affair 0 Quiet Talks tlve People Who Had Been Jollying Her and Making Life Miserable for Her.

My friends jollied me so much every time they saw me in the company of a young man and kept asking me when I was going to get married that I just made up my mind to play a practical joke on some of them. l invited them to my wedding, said Mrs Annie McMahon, sister-in-law of Fire Chief John Conway of Jersey City who lives with her three children at No 44 Bleecker Street, Jersey City.

The Invitation read as follows: You are requested to attend the marriage of Mrs Annie McMahon to Henry Wydemann Wednesday evening Feb 18 1903 at 7:30 o'clock at her residence No 44 Bleecker Street, Jersey City, NJ.

Mrs McMahon sent out fifty of them announcement cards and the fifty guests responded. Not only did they gather at the scene of the wedding dressed in their best garments but they also carried along or sent handsome presents for the bride and bridegroom. As each of the guests entered the front door they were greeted by the bride tolw who in order to carry out the joke as far as possible was dressed in a white gown.

Of course they began to jolly her again about her delay in getting married and they said such things as it is about time you got married. Well for pity's sake Mrs McMahon are you really going to got married? And we were only wishing yesterday that some one of our friends would get married so we could have a good time.

The bride was asked by several of the guests where her intended husband was and she replied that she had just received a telegram to the effect that he was delayed on account of the train being late but that he would arrive to make her his partner in life about 8 o'clock That hour arrived In the mean time Mm McMahon begged to be excused a few minutes and slipped out of the kitchen door and went down the stairs leading to the street. Going to one corner of the hall she says she threw her arms around a figure and said, Oh darling you have come at last. The guests upstairs thought that the groom had arrived. Not waiting for an invitation to see him the anxious folk ran out and down into the hall to greet him. Imagine their surprise when they found the groom to be only a dummy figure. Mrs McMahon had her revenge. (The evening world. (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, February 21, 1903, Night Edition)

The story was also printed in the The Palatka News and Advertiser (Florida), April 10, 1903, page 2

JERSEY CITY. Feb. 27 - Two children of Mrs. Mary McMahon, of 44 Bleecker street, were romping about the rooms on Saturday night when they upset a kerosene lamp, which exploded and set fire to the furniture. Fortunately neither child was hurt. The fire was extinguished without an alarm.

February 27, 1899 The Daily Times from New Brunswick, New Jersey · Page 7

Sources

• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK1G-3YHF : 12 December 2022), Annie McMahon, ; Burial, Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, United States of America, Holy Name Cemetery and Mausoleum; citing record ID 146532342, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey City, New Jersey

Anna McMahon N R 63 1862-15 Feb 1904

Thomas McMahon N R 63 1853-May 1918

Thomas McMahon N R 63 -1896