Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...

294
ANNALS OF OUR ANCESTORS
she was to become one of our own circle and bear the Watkins
name. Mary Ellen Heberling was the only daughter of wellto-do
parents, a bright, vivacious girl of twenty-three, who
always did her part in making a company lively. She had
several brothers, who were very fond of their one sister and
took pride in her bright social gifts.
Upon Brother Joe's return from Ohio there was a brisk
correspondence between Cadiz and Maine Prairie, and after a
while, though not at once, we knew that our deliberate and
cautious brother had found the girl of his choice; and he had
the fortune to win her, as they became engaged later. In the
early autumn of 1868 he went back to the Heberling home in
Cadiz, and on September 10, 1868, he was married to Mary
Ellen Heberling and brought her as a bride to Minnesota.
Mr. Frost and I were in Ohio at this time, nor were we at
home when Brother Joe introduced his young wife to the
family, but I heard how well pleased they were. Father wrote
me how bright and cheery she was, and of her ringing laugh at
his anecdotes, of which he had a varied store for almost any
occasion. Mother wiote, too, of the new daughter's kind and
helpful ways, and that she was well pleased with Joe's choice.
It must have meant much to her parents and brothers to see
this sparkling young member of their family go out from the
home and far away to a new country to reside. I think they
must have had confidence in our brother, and he was true to the
trust.
The same year in which he married he bought the right to
compound and manufacture Dr. Ward's Vegetable Anodyne
Liniment from Dr. Ward himself, who was an old friend of the
family. His home was in Harrison, Ohio, and they had met
him there. We had used this excellent remedy for years while
Dr. Ward was in the business, and well knew both the efficacy
and popularity of the medicine; it was afterward known as
Watkins' Liniment. It was only after brother had looked
on all sides of the enterprise that he decided to undertake it
and start out on his own account, whereupon he had a wagon
made in St. Cloud. It was just a long, covered box with compartments
and a high seat in front. I think the entire outfit,
horses and all, cost five hundred dollars. His first territory