This lovely bridal portrait of Miss Anna Laura Gibbon came home to Chariton on Monday, brought to the Lucas County Historical Society Museum by her great-granddaughter, Laura Ann Schlegel Huber, now of Arkansas, and given in memory of her mother, Mary Marr Vaughn.
The portrait was taken in Chariton during late summer 1884. Anna married Ralph Ferree McCollough at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on Sept. 4 of that year, and this portrait was among the results. The portrait was accompanied by a tray with a glass base that covers a square of brocaded silk taken from the dress.
Regrettably, the photo here is not the best. But the portrait is sealed in its frame and there is no reason to disturb it. That means reflective glass is an issue and this was the best I could do --- outside, in the shade on the museum lawn.
Here's a report of the wedding, taken from The Chariton Democrat-Leader of Sept. 10, 1894. The Wormley House also was known as the Depot Hotel --- waiting rooms, dining rooms and ticket office on the first floor, parlors and lodging above.
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Wedding bells! They rang out merrily, joyously, on last Tuesday evening, at which time Miss Anna Gibbon and Mr. Ralph Ferree McCollough uttered the vows that henceforth they would maintain to each other the sacred relationship of husband and wife. Shortly before 8 o'clock, St. Andrew's church was filled with invited guests to the number of about two hundred. The first thing to attract attention was the magnificent floral decorations chief among which were a large arch of evergreens, covered with bright-hued geranium blossoms, suspended from the center of which was a true-love knot. In front of the chancel arch was a large monogram M-G. On the right and left of the arch were two columns, one of nasturtiums, the other of dahlias. The corners were filled with large bunches of brilliant wild flowers, the whole making a very pleasing effect.
Promptly as the finger on the dial pointed to eight o'clock, the organ pealed forth the Wedding March and the attendants, ten in number and consisting of Misses Lucy McCollough, Zora Stewart, Berta Briggs, Alice Rea and May McCormick and Messrs. Clark Duncan, Oscar Israel, Laird Wallace, Will Dungan and Harry Mooney, marched down the aisle and took their positions on either side of and in front of the chancel. Immediately following and leaning on the arm of her father came the bride, dressed in a superb suit of brocaded cream satin, Princess style, with the bodice formed of Duchess lace, and drawn with silk cord, elbow sleeves with edge of Duchess lace, train of knife plaiting, and veil of silk tulle. On arriving at the altar they were met by the groom and the ceremony was performed by Rev. Geo. F. Degen, the beautiful and impressive service of the Episcopal church being followed.
The bride is the only daughter of Dr. and Mrs. W. H. Gibbon, and as she has resided here all her life, her sterling qualities are so well known that to speak of them in this community would be almost like using words without an object. The groom has been a resident of this city for only two years, but in that time he has won hosts of friends and convinced all with whom he came in contact that he is a true gentleman. The union is a happy one and they are both to be heartily congratulated on their choice of a life companion.
The ceremony at the church being over, the guests repaired to the Wormley House, which had been secured and specially prepared for the reception. Notwithstanding the large number of guests, everything moved like clockwork, and the spacious parlors afford ample accommodations for all. Promptly at 9:30 the guests descended to the dining hall, where a tasty and elegant repast was spread. Covers were laid for two hundred and every seat was filled. The dining hall had been specially arranged for the occasion, and the wedding feast, under the personal supervision of the Wormleys, was everything that could have been desired.
The guests were loth to go, and as it was known that the new man and wife would not leave until one o'clock, may tarried until near the time for their departure. They go to Chicago for a couple of weeks and soon after their return will settle down to the comforts of domestic life, which they are so well fitted to enjoy.
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Anna, 19 at the time of her marriage to Ralph, had three children during the nine years that followed: Clement, Dorothy (Vaughn) and Henry McCullough. But Ralph, who was 10 years older, died at the age of 39 on the 4th of February 1894 leaving her a widow with three young children.
Two years later, on Nov. 26, 1896, she married Josiah Carey Copeland and they had three children, Lawrence, Anna Laura (Piper) and Kathryn (Norton) Copeland.
Josiah Copeland died during September of 1916 at the age of 61. Anna died 12 years later, on the 8th of April 1928 at the age of 63. Anna, her husbands, her parents and a majority of her children are buried in the Chariton Cemetery.
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