Clara Elizabeth Simmons Crawford v Samuel T. Crawford
I Was a Fool For Ever Getting Married; Divorce in Wms Co, OH, 1886
By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 29 October 2021)
He told his wife on 17 Aug 1883 that he was a “d***d fool and unable to support a wife.” He advised her to go home and live with her father. She could not live with him and she would not receive any support. Such was the life of the young bride in Wms Co, OH.
Samuel Crawford, born on 28 January 1858 in Bryan, was the son of Matthias and Sarah A. Meek Crawford, who were married in Wms Co on 3 Apr 1855 (Marriage V2 p154). The family was enumerated in the 1860 Bryan, Pulaski Twp, Wms Co, OH federal census p65, as Nathan Crawford 27 PA carpenter, Sarah A 22 OH, Clara 4 OH, Samuel 2 OH, and an unnamed female 1/12 OH. Note Mathias was listed as Nathan.
The Crawford family was listed in the 1870 Bryan, Pulaski Twp federal census p57 as M. Crawford 38 PA, Sarah A 31 OH, Clara 14 OH, Samuel 12 OH, Cecelia 10 OH, Wilis 8 OH, Milla 6 OH, Alta 4/12 OH. Matt Crawford became a building partner of John Parcher and together they helped to construct the South School in Bryan in 1880. In the 1880 Bryan Federal Census Samuel was enumerated as Samuel Crawford 22 OH carpenter.
On 1 Jan 1883 in Bryan, Wms Co, OH Samuel Crawford married Clara E. Simmons (Marriages V4 p277); Rev. Thomas Doggett officiated. Clara, b 13 Aug 1864, Delta, Fulton Co, OH, was the daughter of Nicholas and Julia Ketchum Simmons. In the 1870 Delta, Fulton Co, OH federal census p211, the Simmons family was listed as NH 38 NY egg packer, Julia 30 OH, Clara 6 OH, Leon 4 OH, and Arthur 1 OH. Again the family was listed in the 1880 Delta, York Twp, Fulton Co federal census p205, as Nicholas Simmons 43 NY produce dealer, Julia A 40 NY, Clara 15 OH, Leon E 13 OH, and Julia C 8 OH.
Clara appeared in the Williams Co, OH Civil and Criminal Court (Journal 13 p499 – 4 June 1886; Roll 43 Box 144 case number 1631 – 19 Apr 1886) requesting a divorce from Samuel on the basis of gross neglect of duty. She stated that Samuel was cross and violent in his words to her and made the statements that introduced this piece. Samuel was living in San Francisco, CA at the time of the divorce. A notice appeared in the Bryan Press, 1 June 1886, informing Samuel and any creditors of Clara’s intent to divorce him and be restored to her maiden name of Simmons. A divorce was granted.
Bryan Democrat, 26 Apr 1888
In San Francisco on 22 Apr at residence of bride, Samuel T. Crawford of Bryan married Miss Effie DePuy of San Francisco. Nothing is currently known of this marriage or the bride.
Clara married Clement V. Lash on 12 Nov 1892 in Wms Co (Marriages V5 #810). Clem, the son of James and Julia Davis Lash, was born in Florence Twp on 15 Nov 1863. Clara Simmons Crawford Lash died on 15 Aug 1899 in Edon, OH and was buried in the cemetery there. Clem next married Mary Isora Toner, daughter of John Milton and Elnora Matthews Toner, on 21 Sept 1901. Clem and Mary Lash were buried next to Clara upon their deaths on 20 Oct 1929 and 14 Apr 1968, respectively. Clara although married twice did not have any known children.
Samuel Crawford died on 4 May 1934 In Defiance at the Defiance County Home where he lived according to the 1930 Federal Census as Samuel 72 OH inmate/carpenter, widower. He was buried beside his parents and sister Clara in the Bryan Fountain Grove Cem, but there is no existing tombstone to mark his death.
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