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The Rev. Mr. Lawson, a Methodist minister, performed the first Marriage ceremony in Brandon.  
 
The first marriage was provoked by an offer from the Brandon Municipal Council of a building Lot to the first Bride and Groom to enter into Holy Matrimony. This led to rumours for some time, which amounted to nothing.  
 
Finally an announcement for an arranged marriage between a Mr, Robins and a woman named English Nell. No questions were asked as to whether it was a love match, but most folks agreed it was mainly to get their hands on the city Lot.  
 
The news of the wedding spread very fast through the tented town, and most of the boys were anxious to see the fun. The wedding was scheduled to take place in Barton’s City Hotel, on second Street and Rosser Avenue.  
 
The Best Man was a Dutchman who ran a Barbershop. As he was approaching the Minister and the bridal party he some how got mixed up causing him to be standing next to the Bride.  
 
The Minister laid hands on their shoulders with the intention of having them step forward a little. The Dutch Barber looked up and saw at once that he was in the wrong place, and as the Minister touched him, he said vehemently: “Not by a damned sight”.  
 
The right man then came forward and the ceremony was performed.  
 
The congregation began to sing: “The animals came in two by two”, and “One more river to cross.”  
 
After the ceremony the congregation followed the newly weds to the donated Lot, across the Assiniboine River, where the city council delivered the certificate of title to Mr. and Mrs. Robins.  
 
Reverend Lawson also officiated at the first Burial, and performed the Funeral Rites.  
 
Rev. Lawson named his son ‘Brandon’ because he was the first boy to be born in Brandon.  
 
The first female child born in Brandon was Ethel Mary Boydell, daughter of Rev. J. Boydell, a Church of England missionary appointed to the Brandon district.  
 
Source: Brandon A City By G. F. Barker.