Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - McDowell

Hannah Mattics Tingley McDowell v Thomas Jefferson McDowell (Journal 8 p249/273 - 26 May 1874; p340 - 11 Mar 1875; p373 - 22 May 1875; p505 - 21 Mar 1876)

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 2010)

The couple was married in Wms Co on 16 Apr 1871 (Marriage V4 p168).  Hannah was the widow of Allen Tingley, whom she may have married in the Mercer Co, PA area. From the 1860 Superior Twp federal census, PO Montpelier p196, the Tingleys were enumerated as Allen 48 PA, Hannah 46 PA, Sarah 18 PA, Allen 16 OH, Jane 11 OH, John 8 OH, Henry 6 OH Andrew 21 PA, Rebecca 17 OH. In the 1870 Superior Twp federal census, p25, Hannah 53 PA was head of house with children John 20 OH, Jane 21 OH, and Henry 14 OH.  Allen had owned property in Sec 34N in Superior Twp at least by the 1850 federal census. 

Thomas J. McDowell, born on 29 Aug 1820 in OH, son of John and Jean Hogeland McDowell, was a voter in Pulaski Twp c1842. In the 1850 Adams Twp, Defiance Co, OH federal census p36, the McDowell family was enumerated as Thomas J 29 OH, Priscilla 20 OH, Mary Ann 2 OH, and Serene M 4M OH.  According to the 1860 Adams Twp, Defiance Co, OH federal census p329, Thomas Mc Dowell was listed as 39 OH along with Percilla 30 OH, Mary A 12 OH, Serena M 10 OH, Franklin P 8 OH, Malinda E 6 OH, and Hannah E 1 OH. He was a widower when his wife Fanny or Priscilla Kimmel died on 3 Aug 1870; they were married on 8 Mar 1846 in Williams Center, Williams Co, OH.

Hannah charged that Thomas was willfully absent for three years or more.  He abandoned her without any support.  She initially sought $50 which the court gave her but not a divorce; she later requested a divorce two more times plus another $50.  Thomas turned around and sued her for a divorce stating she had abandoned him. A divorce was finally granted.

In the 1880 Farmer, Defiance Co, OH federal census p228 Thomas was a day laborer and “widower” who lived with the Peter Culler family.  Online sources believe he married Sarah M. Thompson in Cuyahoga Co, OH on 10 June 1879 and that he died in May 1903.

In the 1880 Bridgewater Twp federal census, p455C, Hannah Tingley was listed as 60 PA widow along with her son Henry 23 OH.  She died on 25 Jan 1900 @85Y 3M 18D and was buried in the Heritage Cemetery.