Now for something truly different and not related to family.  Just a fun find.  I was perusing old newspapers for a project I'm researching and noticed this ad for the Central Mississippi Matrimonial Aid Association. "The only plan that allows a member to marry when he pleases."

 

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038603/1882-06-10/ed-1/seq-3/

I was intrigued, so I looked closer and found the association's charter in an adjacent column. In case you cannot read the print, the association's purpose was to "fraternally unite all acceptable unmarried white male and female persons, and to establish a benefit fund" for members.  Just in case you were thinking that Tinder, OKCupid, match.com, etc. were a new concept...they are not.

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038603/1882-06-10/ed-1/seq-3/

I read in other, later editions of the papers that these were a version of get rich quick schemes. You can view these directly at https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038603/1882-06-10/ed-1/seq-3/