My Grandparent's Wedding, or what we know of it

The story of their wedding day was one I never heard. I never thought to ask, either, and they're long gone now. I don't know the story of how my grandparents met, either. They never talked about it and I never asked, though now I wish I had! But I do have some parts of the story. The record of my grandparent's marriage is still around and we have a portrait that my grandmother always said was their wedding picture.

LeRoy Cobb and Nyleta Powell were married on 14 December 1944 in Kansas City, Missouri.

LeRoy and Nyleta Cobb Wedding Portrait, 1944

The laws at the time required a man to be age twenty-one or over and a woman to be age eighteen or over to be married. Nyleta was of age, being 18 years old, but her groom was just 17.

In order to marry, the groom's parents had to complete an affidavit to be filed with the marriage certificate giving their consent. LeRoy's parents, Kay and Hattie Cobb, agreed to the marriage and signed the affidavit on 8 December 1944. The affidavit lists Nyleta's address as 909 W. 14th St. in Kansas City. The Cobbs lived just a few blocks away at 606 W. 17th Street. 

The General Affidavit reads:

Kay Cobb and Hattie Cobb His Wife, of lawful age, being first duly sworn, deposes and says: That They Or[sic] The Father And Mother Of Roy Cobb, A Minor Son 17 Years Old, And That They Hereby Give Their Consent For Him To Be United In Holy Matrimony To Nyletta Powell Of 909 West 14th St. Kansas City Missouri

The affidavit signed 8 Dec 1944 by Kay and Hattie Cobb.
Jackson County Missouri Marriage Records,
Image from Ancestry.com.

The marriage took place less than a week later. On Thursday, December 14th, 1944, LeRoy and Nyleta stood before Justice of the Peace Bernard W. Gnefkow and became husband and wife. It's unknown where the wedding took place. Perhaps it was at Justice Gnefkow's office at 1627 Main Street. At that time, the fee collected by a Justice of the Peace was only $5.00, a much more affordable option than a big church wedding. Nyleta wore a skirt and jacket, LeRoy a suit. It was wartime, and money was tight.

Marriage License for LeRoy Cobb and Nyleta Powell, 14 Dec 1944.
Jackson County Missouri Marriage Records,
Image from Ancestry.com.

Just months before their 43rd Wedding Anniversary, Nyleta passed away. LeRoy followed a year later. 

LeRoy and Nyleta Cobb, the photo was taken about 1981.

They never talked about their wedding during those 43 years, at least not that any of us remember. They raised two sons and two daughters to carry on their legacy. Currently, there are seven grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren in this family that continues to grow. All because two young people went to the courthouse in 1944 and filed the paperwork to be married.