Edward Kent Chesney and Alwilda "Wilda" Mize were both born September 19, 1869. They met while they were attending Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas. They reportedly called each other their "Valentine", undoubtedly because of choosing Valentine's Day in 1893 as their wedding date.
This is their wedding picture from family memorabilia, 14 February 1893.
Edward Kent and Alwilda Mize CHESNEY, probably in the late 1920's. My mother and Evelyn Mae Chesney Baumer often said that when they looked at this photo they see that "Papa was already showing signs of his illness." They were referring to the mental illness which incapacitated Edward in the last years of his life, the result of a horse kicking him in the head several years prior. In the days of no treatment for such severe head trauma, the family had few options other than to institutionalize him as his condition worsened, leaving 'Wilda" as a virtual widow. He died at Larned, KS, the location of the state's "insane asylum". This piece of history was a constant source of shame, embarrassment and pain for the family all of their lives and they did not often speak of it except among themselves.
