Stikus/Barkus wedding, Batavia, Ill., 1904
Batavia Herald, 1 Sept. 1904
A Russian Wedding in Batavia
Batavia was the scene of a Lietuvian wedding, the festivities commencing on Saturday night at the humble home of the bride, Odnoi Stikus on Harrison Street, and culminated Sunday evening after the return of the bridal party from Chicago, where they journeyed Sunday afternoon to the Russian church where the nuptial rites and ceremonies of the Greek church were impressively solemnized before the serious and reverential friends of the contracting parties.
The wedding was especially interesting on the account of the international aspect of everything in connection with the event, which was to determine for all time the paths that Odnoi Stikus and Oldmi Barkus were to pursue. At the pre-nuptial party held Saturday night, the guests were welcomed by the blushing Lietuvian bride who is hale, fat and of the necessary age to unhesitatingly secure a marriage license with the consent of her parents. The groom, Oldni Barkus, a Russian of good intentions, conscious of his importance on such an occasion, invited the Americans standing without the home, that was son to become “the house that was built for ,” to enter and join in the merry making.
Within the home were gathered the friends who, away from their native land, and the amusements and past-times so dear to their hearts, gladly came from near and far to be among friends again and with those whose hearts were thrilled by the same national song, whose thoughts were of those in a distant who were about to pass into eternity, that the Czar “might be ruler of all he surveyed.”
A Chicago orchestra of five pieces, with a reputation for never getting exhausted, sawed away and the night winds were rent asunder by an ear splitting harmony that seemed to bring cheer to the Russians and made the younger ones glide over the floor in waltzes and two-steps without their feet even touching the floor. The scarcity of the fair sex necessitated the men dancing with each other and they proved themselves equal to the occasion. There was liquid refreshments from Kentucky, a Dutch lunch and the stuff that made Milwaukee famous, flowed free and easy for al who wished to refresh their inner man.
Many Bataviaites who had noticed the musicians and guests making their way to the foreign settlement, visited the home late in the evening and received a hearty welcome to take part in the festivities, but all were timid, and after a peep through the open doors and windows, and a stay of a moment to shake hands with the bride and groom, the Americans departed and the scene of happiness was lost in the darkness, though the efforts of the musicmakers was wafted on the cool air to lull to sleep a tired community.
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I am not related to nor researching this family and have no further information.