Abraham Lincoln, who served as the 16th U.S. President, was one of the most influential men in American history. During his term, he led the country through the American Civil War, abolished slavery, preserved the Union, and strengthened the nation’s economy and the federal government. Lincoln married Mary Todd on November 4, 1842, in a small, private ceremony with 30 guests. On the morning of November 3, one day before the wedding, Abraham had stopped at their Reverend’s home and said “I want to get hitched tonight”, to which the Reverend agreed.
As he left the home, he bumped into former Governor of Illinois, Ninian Edwards and told him about the plans. Edwards, who was Mary Todd’s guardian, said the ceremony should be held at their home. And since there were prior engagements that night, Lincoln and Todd got married the very next day, on November 4, at the Edwards’ residence. Mary, true to her simple nature, wore a white muslin dress and no veil or flowers in her hair. The two would have a happy marriage until Abraham’s tragic assassination in 1865.
William McKinley and Ida Saxton
In the photo below, we see 25th President of the U.S., William McKinley, posing next to his wife, Ida Saxton. They had two daughters, but unfortunately, both passed away at a very young age. Already having a fragile, nervous personality, this tragedy led to Ida's slow demise; shortly after their deaths, Ida started to develop epilepsy and became very dependant on William.
The couple had a strong bond. In fact, opposite to what was accustomed at the time, President Mckinley always insisted that Ida sit beside him at state dinners, instead of at the opposite side of the table. Sadly, McKinley was murdered in 1901, and Ida passed away 6 years later, in 1907.
Julia Gardiner and John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth president of the United States, from 1841 to 1845. Tyler became president sort of "accidentally", after being Vice-President to his predecessor, William Harrison, who passed away one month into his presidency. Tyler got married to Julia Gardiner in 1844, two years after the passing of his first wife, Letitia Christian. John Tyler had more children than any American president, fathering 15 children from both his marriages, seven of which were with Julia.
The engraved portrait above depicts Julia Gardiner Tyler posing for her White House portrait. The couple would remain together until John's death in 1862. Julia passed away in 1889 at the Exchange Hotel in Virginia, the same place her husband had died 27 years earlier.
Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman
Ronald Reagan was a famous Hollywood actor before becoming the 40th President of the United States. And before Nancy Reagan became First Lady, Reagan was married to fellow actress, Jane Wyman, for 9 years. The couple tied the knot on January 26, 1940, as depicted in the photo below, in their wedding ceremony in California.
True to form, the couple looks glamorous in the photo above, as was expected from Hollywood actors, especially during the Golden Age. Reagan and Wyman had three children; Maureen, Michael, and Christine.
Nellie Grant and Algernon Charles Frederick Sartoris
The photo below shows Nellie Grant, the only daughter of the 18th U.S. President, Ulysses S. Grant, and her husband, Algernon Charles Frederick Sartoris. The couple got married on May 21, 1874, and had a lavish wedding ceremony at the White House. The young couple (Nellie was 18 years old and Algernon, 22). The couple moved to England shortly after and had four children together.
Unfortunately, by 1889, Nellie was granted a divorce after Sartoris had clearly proved to have an irremediable drinking problem that spiraled out of control. Nellie went back to the U.S. and took the kids with her. She remarried in 1912.