The marriage that shocked a nation and prompted legal changes to prevent its recurrence was between a six-foot 22-year-old farmer and a nine-year-old girl.
Charlie Johns and Eunice Winstead tied the knot on January 19, 1937, in rural Tennessee, officiated by Baptist preacher Walter Lamb. At the time, there was no statutory minimum marriage age, making their union, although widely criticized, technically lawful.
Johns paid Lamb a dollar to perform the ceremony, while Winstead misled her parents by claiming she was going to buy a doll.
To secure a marriage license, Johns misrepresented his young bride’s age, later revealed to be only nine years old. Historical records indicate that her mother wed at 16, and her sister at 13.
Despite initial reservations, Eunice’s mother, Martha Winstead, eventually approved of the marriage due to Johns’ property ownership and reputation as a successful farmer with substantial land and livestock.
Martha defended her son-in-law, describing him as hardworking and having recently purchased land for their future home. She emphasized the importance of love in marriage, aligning with biblical principles.
Eunice, a shy young girl, spent time with her sister during a journalist’s visit, showcasing her alleged maturity in domestic skills like sewing and cooking.
News of the controversial marriage spread nationally, sparking outrage and calls for reform from women’s organizations across the country, viewing Eunice’s case as emblematic of widespread child marriage issues in the US.
In response to public outcry, Tennessee swiftly enacted a law later in 1937 establishing 16 as the minimum marriage age with a mandatory waiting period for girls under 18. Despite the controversy, the couple remained together for many years.
In 1937, Eunice briefly attended elementary school but soon left due to disciplinary problems. The couple resided with Johns’ parents in Sneedville for an extended period.
In December 1942, Eunice gave birth to their first child at the age of 14, eventually having a total of nine children. Strikingly, Johns objected when their daughter Evelyn, at 17, married a 20-year-old man, alleging falsification of her age for the marriage license.
In a surprising turn of events, the couple stayed married for over six decades, with Johns passing away in February 1997 and Eunice in August 2006.