The Visayan Couple Who Got Married During the 1904 World’s Fair

Ignacia Osano and Emilio Sornillo on their wedding day in St. Louis.
Clipping from the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 17, 1904.

On October 16, 1904, a young Visayan couple was married in St. Louis. Their names were Ignacia Osano and Emilio Sornillo. Ignacia was a hatmaker and Emilio a washerman. They had been sweethearts in the Philippines before traveling to the United States and were determined to get married, even in a foreign country during the World’s Fair.

World’s Fair Alias

For many months since coming to St. Louis, Ignacia assumed the identity of a deceased friend who had been supposed to go to the fair but had died just prior to leaving for the United States. Ignacia took her friend’s place in order to travel with Emilio and did not reveal her own name publicly until the wedding ceremony when her initials were to be engraved on a ring. Apparently many of her friends in the Visayan Village were also in on the secret. Her alias and name of her deceased friend is unknown.

Iglesia Catolica de Santa Rosa de Lima in the Visayan Village.
Photograph by Jessie Tarbox Beals.

Getting Married in St. Louis

Ignacia and Emilio first tried to get their marriage license in Clayton, but were denied because Emilio was only 20 years old. According to Missouri law in 1904, a man had to be at least 21 years old to obtain a marriage license without parental consent. Since Emilio’s parents were in the Philippines, he tried to offer the consent of the Visayan Village manager, M.R. Healy, and was still denied. Frustrated, he explained the situation to the director of the Philippine Weather Bureau on the reservation, Dr. Lacson, who studied law. Dr. Lacson accompanied Emilio and Ignacia to city hall, where he acted as guardian, and the couple was finally able to secure their marriage license.

Emilio and Ignacia’s marriage license, from “Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records,” 1800-1991, Missouri State Archives.

Emilio’s name listed in “Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991,” Missouri State Archives.

Wedding

Ignacia and Emilio’s wedding took place at the Catholic church in the Visayan Village on Philippine Reservation grounds. They were married by Father Manuel Peypoch at 8 o’clock in the morning. A pig was roasted at noon for the celebration, and festivities into the evening included dancing among the Visayans, Filipino soldiers, and some Americans. Juan Deloso, the director of the Visayan orchestra, also sang for the guests.

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Anyone who may be a descendant of Ignacia Osano or Emilio Sornillo, or has more information about them, please contact me at langholzjanna@gmail.com

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Sources

“Law’s Delays May Defer Filipino Wedding,” The St. Louis Republic, October 12, 1904

“Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991,” Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City

“Missouri Law Aids Filipino Lovers,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 13, 1904

“Romance Figured in Filipinos’ Marriage,” The St. Louis Republic, October 16, 1904

“Visayan Bride and Groom in Raiment of the Occident,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 17, 1904

“Visayan Couple to Be Married To-Day,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 16, 1904

“Visayan Wedding at the Fair,” The St. Louis Republic, October 17, 1904