Phelps-Von Rottenburg Marriage
Mr. Phelps's Daughters Engaged
BERLIN, Oct. 20 -- It is announced that the eldest daughter of United States Minister Phelps is engaged to be married to Herr von Reuter and that the youngest daughter is engaged to Baron Witzleben. Both gentlemen are officers in the Imperial Guards.
New York Times, New York, N.Y., Oct. 21, 1890 page 1
[This is a very confused report. William Walter Phelps had only one daughter and she married Franz von Rottenburg]
MISS MARION PHELPS'S MARRIAGE.
The Ex-Minister's Daughter to be Wedded To-Day in Berlin to Dr. von Rottenburg.
The marriage of Miss Marion Phelps, daughter of W. W. Phelps, ex-Minister to Germany, to Dr. von Rottenburg, Secretary in the Department of the Interior, takes place at 11:00 this morning in Berlin.
The ceremony will be performed in the "Yellow Room" of the legation on the corner of Neu-Wilhelm and Dorotheen-Strasse, a beautiful and spacious apartment, well-known to American visitors to Berlin. It takes its name to the color of its exquisite furnishings. The wall hangings, ceiling decorations, and even the picture frames, consist of or covered with yellow damask. For the special occasion ex-Minister Phelps has placed in the room the valuable presents which his German friends sent to him on the eve of his departure for America.
Among them are a large and handsome portrait of Field Marshall von Moltke, presented to Mr. Phelps by Count Waldersee; a wonderful crystal vase, the gift of Gen. Verdy du Vernois, bearing his crest and monogram, and von Werner's painting, "Bismarck Reading the Proclamation of the Empire at Versailles."
The bride will be in traveling costume, and there will be as little ceremony as possible. But Chaplain of St. George's, the Anglo-American church of Mon Dijou Palace, will read the marriage ritual, and Mr. Elliott Schenck, son of the late Dr. Noah Schenck, will furnish the music.
The number of invited guess has been limited to twenty-four, among them being a brother and a nephew of the bridegroom, Mr. and Ms. Bennett Phelps, Chancellor von Caprivi, Gen. and Countess Waldersee, Herr von Bötticher, Minister of the Interior; the Minister of Commerce and Baroness von Berlepsch, United States Minister Runyon and Mrs. Runyon, and Mr. and Mrs. Poultney Bigelow.
The legation will be represented by Mr. Chapman Coleman, for 24 years First Secretary; J.D. Jackson, Second Secretary; Mrs. Jackson, and Mr. Evans, military attache.
After the service the doors will be thrown open and a party will be asked to partake of the wedding breakfast in the grand salon. There will be no speeches, except the toast to the bride and groom, proposed by Minister Phelps. At 1 o'clock the couple will leave for a brief honeymoon. The elections will require the speedy return of Dr. von Rottenberg to his duties in the Ministry.
The presents brought the bride and groom are very numerous, the gifts in silver and precious stones being of unusual magnificence. All the many branches of the Phelps and Sheffield families are represented among the donors, and the Dodges, the Jameses, the Stokeses, the Atterburys, the Boardmans, the Porters, and others.
The numerous political and social friends of the father had not forgotten Miss Phelps. Whitelaw Reid sent three beautiful punch bowls, Joseph Pulitzer a diamond star, ex-Speaker Reid a magnificent silver vase, Mr. George Bliss an emerald necklace, Mrs. Blaine a silver set, Gail Hamilton and Samuel Clemens a complete set of their works, and the Baroness von Bussen a valuable oil painting.
Ex-Minister Phelps and Mrs. Phelps will leave for New York on the steam ship Spree June 6. Mr. Phelps intends to preside at the opening of the Court of Errors and Appeals at Trenton June 20. Upon their arrival here are Mr. and Mrs. Phelps will go directly to their country seat, Teaneck, N.J.
New York Times, New York, N.Y., June 1, 1893, page 2
WEDDING OF MISS PHELPS
A Private Ceremony Witnessed by But Twenty-four Guests.
BERLIN, June 1. -- The marriage of Miss Marion Phelps, daughter of the Hon. William Walter Phelps to Dr. Franz von Rottenburg was solemnized this morning in private at the residence of Mr. Phelps. Twenty-four guests were present, including Minister Runyon and Mrs. Runyon, Mr. and Mrs. Poultney Bigelow, Herr Frederick Krupp, the great gun manufacturer; Herr von Bötticher, Mr. Chapman Coleman, First Secretary of the American Legation; Mr. J. B. Jackson, Second Secretary, and Mrs. Jackson, and Mr. Evans, Millitary Attache. Gen. Count von Waldersee was not present.
The only toast drunk at the wedding breakfast was to the health of the wedded pair. Numerous presents were received, consisting chiefly of valuable plate and jewelry. Mr. Whitelaw Reid sent three punch bowls, and Mrs. James G. Blaine sent a silver service.
Herr von Bötticher, Minister of the Interior and official superior of the bridegroom, signed the wedding certificate in behalf of Dr. von Rottenburg, and Mrs. Runyon in behalf of the bride. At the wedding breakfast Minister von Bötticher alluded to the warm regard entertained by German officials for ex-Minister Phelps.
The bride was attired in a dress of white silk covered with silk and mull. Her traveling gown is of blue cloth.
New York Times, New York, N.Y., June 2, 1893, page 12
