Today we take a short trip across the Ohio River to Jeffersonville, Indiana – Clark County.  In 1884 Burdette Clifton Pile and Mary Ann Cunningham celebrated their golden wedding anniversary – 50 years together.  They were married January 29, 1834.

Burdette was the son of Richard Pile (1761-1816) and Mary Clifton (1772-1858).  Mary Ann was the daughter of David Cunningham (1784-1835) and Anna Jennison (1782-1860).

From the census records of Clark County, Indiana, we find the names of the children born to Burdette and Mary:  Maria Theresa, 1835; Mary Ann, 1836; Lucinda Amelia, 1838; Rebecca Virginia, 1840; Sarah Elizabeth, 1842; Rufus Moody, 1844; William Clifton, 1847; Charles Burdette, 1851; Fannie Belle, 1856.

In 1860 Mary Ann’s mother, Anna Jennison Cunningham, was living with the couple.  Anna was 79, born in Massachusetts.  Mary’s brother, Charles Cunningham, 52, also born in Massachusetts, lived with the family; he was a boatman.  The above picture, taken from The Courier Journal of Louisville, Sunday, June 22, 1902, (as well as the following one), is of Anna Jennison Cunningham – Mary Ann looked very much like her mother.

Burdette was a man of several occupations.  In 1850 he was a stoneman.  In 1860, a merchant.  At the age of 65 in 1870 he was listed as ‘out of business,’ evidently retired.  And in 1880 he was an ex-mayor.

The Courier Journal, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky

Wednesday, January 30, 1884

Across the River

A Golden Wedding in Jeffersonville

Yesterday Mr. and Mrs. Burdette C. Pile celebrated their golden wedding at their residence on Pearl Street, Jeffersonville.  Golden weddings are unusual occurrences, and this one was particularly interesting.  Fifty years ago yesterday in that city, Burdette C. Pile and Miss Mary Cunningham were united in marriage by Squire Thomas Wilson.  Their attendants on that occasion were Robert Heiskell and Miss Elizabeth Welch, both of whom were present last night to participate in the golden anniversary of the happy marriage of half a century ago.  Mr. and Mrs. Pile are both sprightly people, and bid fair to live many more years.  Mr. Heiskell, who is now a resident of Indianapolis, is one of the liveliest business men in the state.  Miss Welch, now Mrs. Fisher, of this city, is also a lively old lady.  All the members of the family were not present, but there were about 20 children and grandchildren to congratulate the old folks.  The children present were Mr. R. M. Pile, of Philadelphia; Mrs. Kingsbury, of New York; Mrs. N. T. Sparks, Mrs. Buckley, Mrs. Conway and Mrs. Gilbert, of Jeffersonville.  Several hundred people called during the day and afternoon to extend their congratulations, and last evening the City Council and officers called in a body.  Mr. Pile has served as Mayor of Jeffersonville and as Councilman, and in all his public relations was zealous in promoting that which he thought to be to the city’s best interest.  His many friends and those of his wife will wish that they may live to celebrate their diamond wedding twenty-five years hence, when Mr. Pile will be 100 years old.

Unfortunately, Burdette Pile did not accomplish the goal set for in the above newspaper article. He died March 17, 1885, slightly more than a year after the golden wedding celebration.

Mary Ann lived another five years after the death of her husband.  In 1898 she was found by an advertisement in the newspaper.

The Courier Journal, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky

Tuesday, May 24, 1898

Mrs. Pile Located

Through the agency of an advertisement in the Courier-Journal, a law firm at Belton, Texas, has located Mrs. Mary C. Pile, wife of Burdette C. Pile.

Mrs. Pile lives at 421 East Maple Street, in Jeffersonville, and is the oldest woman in that city.  Her husband was at one time Mayor of Jeffersonville.  Mrs. Pile has not seen the advertisement and has no idea why knowledge is sought concerning her location along with William Cunningham and Eliza C. Jackson, wife of D. E. Jackson, brothers and sisters of Robert Cunningham, who was killed at the Alamo.

Mrs. Pile says that her brother left Jeffersonville in 1835.  He went to New Orleans and from there to St. Louis.  He enlisted in the Mexican War, and for eighteen years nothing was heard from him.  Then it was learned that he was one of the brave martyrs at Alamo.

Mary Ann Cunningham Pile died October 19, 1900.  Daughter Lucinda Gilbert, a widow, and grandson Clifton S. Gilbert, born 1878, lived with her.

The Herald, Jasper, Dubois County, Indiana

Friday, October 26, 1900

Mrs. Mary A. Pile, a pioneer of Jeffersonville, died on the 19^th at her home in that city, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years.  She was the widow of Burdette C. Pile, former Mayor of Jeffersonville.  – New Albany Ledger.

Burdette and Mary lived a long life together, filled with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, I’m sure.  Wish that all couples could have such a life.