There are many good reasons to get married. Love is one that is on top of that list. And if the marriage is based on good reasons, then it has a higher chance of lasting. Being forced to be married because you started a relationship with your bunkmate, probably isn’t one of those long-lasting reasons.
For Clyde Briggs, his romance began in the winter of 1908, in Hot Springs, S.D. As a young man of 20 years, Clyde would live with his grandparents, helping on their large ranch a short way out of town.
Around February of that year, a young man named Michael Harmon would be hired by Clyde’s grandfather, a Mr. L.T. Smith, a Civil War Veteran, as a chore boy. Smith would notice that Michael would tend to perform their work in a more feminine manner, which he noted was strange, but it wasn’t enough to raise any suspicions.
Clyde and Michael, working together, would develop a “chumminess.” As two young men, their closeness was deemed as boyhood companionship. Work continued to be done, so there wasn’t any issue.
As winter turned to spring, additional hands were needed around the ranch. As Michael had been given the last vacant room, and room was needed, it was decided that Clyde would begin to bunk with him. This is when some eyebrows would be raised.
The closeness that Clyde and Michael had began to appear to be more than what would be standard among just boyhood companions. The intimacy the pair shared had raised suspicions. That suspicion would be confirmed when Mrs. Smith accidently discovered that Michael was actually a woman.
Michael would quickly come clean. He was a she named Dela Lahmon. Before being hired by the Smiths, Dela had looked everywhere for work. After being turned away time and time again because she was a woman, she made the decision to hide her sex, and disguise herself as a man.
In order to pose as a man, Dela had cut her hair short, wore male clothing, and tanned her face “with a preparation.” Doing so landed her job right away, as no one seemed to take notice of her looks, especially those who were older.
That a relationship would bloom between her and Clyde was unexpected.
Upon finding out about the news, Mr. Smith was horrified. Clyde and Dela would be threatened that if they didn’t agree to be married immediately, he would take steps to make sure both were punished. The couple agreed.
Mr. Smith would take the couple down to the courthouse that night, to procure a marriage license, and Reverend Lolin Eaton would marry the two at 8pm on May 27th. It would be noted that Dela was still wearing her male attire when she was married to Clyde.
The marriage wouldn’t be one for the ages. While it appears Clyde and Dela would have children, the marriage would end in divorce. Both would eventually remarry. Those are stories for another time.