Three friends went beyond making a simple bet with each other.
They put the bet in writing, and the document survived. With permission from
the History Center of SLO County which received the document from Elaine S., a
descendant of Lazare Landeker, here is the agreement. A transcription follows at the end.
If you can't read the actual document, read the transcription below before reading the rest of this paragraph. Lazare Landeker married Alice Hirsch on 14 April
1870 in New Orleans, LA. Ernest Cerf married Bobbette Hirsch on 6 September 1874 in San Francisco, CA. Alice and Bobbette
were sisters. By the way, Moses Cerf married Fannie Landeker, Lazare’s sister,
in 1867. It is unknown when Lazarus Kaiser married, but his first child was
born in 1874. Ernest was the last bachelor to get married. Lazare Landeker sure
didn’t waste any time.
Transcription:
Memorandum of agreement made and entered into at the town of
San Luis Obispo, County of San Luis Obispo, State of California this 20th
day of January A.D. 1870 between Lazare Landeker, Ernest Cerf and Lazarus M.
Kaiser of the town and state aforesaid witnesseth:
That the parties aforesaid shall decide by lot in a manner
agreed upon and the party elected shall abide by the decision, the party
elected binds himself within the space of Fifteen (15) months from date of this
instrument to quit a Bachelor’s life and become a Benedict that is to marry
some respectable female, and in case he does not marry within the time
specified that he shall make forfeiture as follows to wit:
If not married within six (6) months from date of this
agreement he shall forfeit One Hundred and Sixty Six Dollars ($166.66/100) and
Sixty Six cents—if not married within twelve (12) months from date of this
agreement he shall forfeit an additional One Hundred and Sixty Six Dollars
($166.66/l00) and Sixty Six cents and if not married within the space of
Fifteen (15) months from the date of this agreement as per its times he shall
forfeit an additional amount of One Hundred and Sixty Six ($166.66/100) Dollars
and Sixty Six cents and or all of which forfeit moneys shall [from is changed to on] on the day
of such forfeiture without grace be paid in Gold Coin of the United States into
the hands of A. Blochman and Co. of San Luis Obispo to be kept by them as a
fund and shall be paid over by them to the first party of this instrument who
shall thereafter marry—upon his wedding day, and we furthermore agree that the
two who shall remain unmarried shall between them defray two thirds (2/3) of
the legitimate expenses incurred by the marriage of the elected party and that
the name of the elected party shall be inserted in this instrument in the line
following.
Elected Party Lazare Landeker.
On line eight (8) of this instrument the word “from” has
been erased and the word “on” inserted. Witness our hands and seals this 20th
day of January 1870
Lazare
Landeker [seal]
Ernest
Cerf [seal]
L.
M. Kaiser [seal]
Witness
Richard J. Ford
[End of transcription]
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