Henry Clay Dean & the Ryun-Burley wedding dress

Silas W. and Laura Dean (Ryun) Burley are looking a bit distracted in this image that dates from midway through their marriage --- a marriage that generated 13 children, 12 of whom survived to become adults. And I'd guess if you had that many small children to manage 24 hours a day you'd look a little distracted, too. Kathy Jerrow posted the photo to Find A Grave, so the credit for it goes to her.

The Burleys, who married on Oct. 19, 1882, were residents of the Freedom neighborhood southwest of Chariton. Laura (1863-1906) died when the youngest of her children were very young. Silas (1860-1939) was a single parent for 10 years after that and moved eventually into Chariton. Both are buried in the Freedom Cemetery. One of their daughters, R.G., was my great-aunt --- married to John Myers and the mother of Cleo (Shore) and Frances (McNellis).

But this is about a footnote to the Ryun-Burley marriage, as reported as follows in The Chariton Patriot of Nov. 2, 1882:

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Married --- At the residence of the brides parents in Wayne County, Iowa, Miss Laura Dean Ryan to Mr. Silas W. Burley of Lucas County, Rev. Shifflet officiating.

A few days prior to the wedding, the bride elect was made the recipient of an elegant wedding attire, being a present from Hon. Henry Clay Dean, in accordance with a promise of histo purchase her wedding dress, she being christened after him.

The ceremonies were numerous and enjoyable. The wedding was held Oct. 19th, the in-fair at Jas. Burley's the day following, and finally closed by a goose-quill charivari on the evening of the twentieth.

Many guests were present at the several occasions, and all joined in wishing the happy couple a brilliant future.

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I have no idea of the circumstances that caused Mr. Dean (left) to pledge a wedding dress --- or Mr. Ryun to give his daughter "Dean" for a middle name in return --- but Henry Clay Dean (1822-1887) certainly was an interesting character of the latter half of the 19th century in Lucas County and elsewhere.

Methodist preacher, orator and author, he earned the title Copperhead for his bitter opposition to Abraham Lincoln and the Lincoln administration's conduct of the Civil War and the aftermath that resulted. His home was Rebel Cove, located alongside the Chariton River not far south of the Iowa line in Putnam County, Missouri, and he was a frequent speaker in Chariton, noted for both the eccentricity of his dress and the compelling nature of his oratory.

Presumably the wedding dress he provided for the Ryun-Burley nuptials was considerably more stylish than his usual raggedy attire.