McCaskey - Conklin Wedding at Fort Sheridan

On August 26, 1903, Miss Eleanor McCaskey married Captain Arthur Stewart Conklin at the U.S. Army post at Fort Sheridan.

The wedding was big news on the society pages of the Chicago papers, evoking a bygone age of knights in shining armor and fair maidens.

Chicago Tribune, August 26, 1903.

Miss Eleanor "Dottie" McCaskey was known as the "daughter of the regiment." Her parents were Colonel William S. McCaskey (1843-1914), commander of the 20th Infantry, and Eleanor "Nellie" Garrison McCaskey. The bride's father and the groom, Arthur S. Conklin, served together in the Philippines in the 20th Infantry.

A bugle sounded the beginning of the wedding procession, followed by the 20th Infantry Band playing the wedding march from "Lohengrin."

From left to right are the bridesmaids (background); father of the groom and Mrs. McCaskey; bridegroom Arthur Conklin with his mother; William Reed and John McLeary; C.I. McCaskey and William Morris; Garrison McCaskey and H.D. McCaskey. Dunn Museum 2009.2.6.1

Captain Arthur S. Conklin (1872-1960), dressed in the red trimmed suit of the artillery, with his mother, Mrs. Conklin, of Elmira, NY on his arm, and behind them the bridegroom's father and Mrs. McCaskey, walking from Colonel McCaskey's residence at Fort Sheridan to the lawn where the wedding would take place. Dunn Museum 2009.2.2

View of the bridesmaids and bride with her father coming out of the Colonel's home and walking along a fabric path lined with evergreen boughs. Dunn Museum 2009.2.8

The bride, Eleanor McCaskey (1881 - 1958) escorted by her father, Colonel McCaskey, as they leave the family's home at Fort Sheridan for the wedding ceremony on the lawn under the oak trees. Also in view are the flower girls, Frances and Helen Meacham. Dunn Museum 2009.2.4

The Chicago Inter Ocean, August 27, 1903.

The ceremony was interrupted by the Second Cavalry's mascot dog. Depending on the source, the dog was either Bruno, the St. Bernard, or Bolivar the Mastiff. In either case, all agreed that the dog caused a bit of a stir as it wandered about the scene. According to the Chicago Record Herald newspaper, there was "intense resentment in the ranks of the blue-clad privates when a 'cavalry dog' tried to interrupt the wedding."

The happy bride and groom following the wedding ceremony. Dunn Museum 2009.2.1

The Chicago Inter Ocean reported that, "The gloomy skies and the dark shadows of the surrounding trees were in strange contrast to the bright uniforms and white dresses of the bridal party and the ecclesiastical attire of Bishop Millspaugh," the officiant.

The newlyweds honeymooned at Yellowstone Park before making their home at the Presidio in  San Francisco, California where Captain Conklin was stationed with the Pacific Coast Artillery. Arthur Conklin was eventually promoted to Brigadier General and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.