July 17, 1885: Scandalous Marriage of Runaway Teen Girl Rocks Quiet Village

By Margaret Leidy Harner from her book One Day at a Time: A Social History of Boyertown, PA.

July 17, 1885: Scandal in the usually quiet little village of Morysville, where Henry Gresh of Greshville was “paying attention” to Miss Mame, the 13-year-old daughter of Len Mock. Early this morning, she put on her best dress, covered it with an old one, and told her parents that she was going to her sister’s house.

Instead, she met Gresh in his carriage and they drove to Pottstown, where they were married. They returned in the evening, and she told her parents that she did it because she was not treated well at home. Editor Spatz advises “Pa" to take his truant daughter over his knee and administer “a bit of rod music” and do the same to Gresh.

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