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Joe and Agnes
And now it was Joseph's turn. On that very day during Paul and Minnie's wedding, Joe met a lovely young guest, Minnie’s first cousin Agnes Gamroth, also of North Prairie, and, after what for this shy man
must have been something of a whirlwind courtship that surprised everyone, married her in the same church only five months later, on November 5, 1913. Joseph was then 32 years of age. It is likely
that Joe especially had caused his ailing mother some concern, for, as her firstborn, he was even older than Paul, and should have been married long before this. But he was an extremely serious and timid
person. As the eldest, he had been first to share the filial burden of his mother's widowhood. From the time he was ten years old, he helped Julia support the family by working at such odd jobs as he could
find. He had worked the longest and hardest, and Julia knew that Joe, unlike his fun-loving brothers Paul and John, had not bothered to enjoy much of the pleasures of youth ... and now, youth was rapidly passing
him by. It is quite possible that Joe might not have married at all, or at least not so suddenly, had not a fortuitous combination of circumstances served to whet his courage and incentive: (1) He must have
heard often the strong maternal insistence of Julia that he find a good woman and settle down; (2) his deep concern for his mother must have strengthened his resolve to please her in her final days; (3) and, finally,
one of those unexplainable little accidents of fate that sets up the chain reaction of events that change our lives, came in this chance meeting of these two persons who seemed somehow almost miraculously meant for each
other. Joe and Agnes seem to have fallen in love at first sight ... and within only five months thereafter this pretty and vivacious little woman became his bride. Agnes must have shrewdly
detected the special quality in this man not readily visible to any but those close to him who knew him intimately, a quality that mingled the deep kindliness and sensitivity of a shy and gentle man with a great,
rare sense of humor which when he chose to express it, could evoke laughter from a sphinx. She seems to have ignited him somehow, given him the confidence (and the courage) to ”pop the question.” Also, she
brought out that ”funny” side of his personality which would thenceforth restore so much sparkle and warmth to his household. Since Agnes was not only a cousin of Minnie's but a childhood chum as
well, the Thomallas and Sakrys joined the Gamroths of North Prairie at the wedding in Holy Cross Catholic Church. But now, though the festivities were as gay and lively as ever, the day was not without
apprehension and concern for the Sakrys ... for their mother Julia had taken a turn for the worse, and they must have known she was dying. Be that as it may, Joe and Agnes became a most devoted and loving
couple and ultimately gave the world a fine family of seven children ... of whom we shall hear more elsewhere in this narrative. |
