Julia Ann Stinkney Havens v Daniel David Havens
Custody of the Brown Mare, Divorce in Williams County, Ohio, 1881
By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 2010)
Divorce proceedings may tell a great deal about the living conditions of the couple, their real estate description, the date and place of their marriage, and the birthdates of their children. Such is this example gleaned from the divorce records.
Daniel David Havens, born on 31 Aug 1842 in Brookville Twp, Steuben Co, IN and son of Sheldon and Fannie Dean Havens, married Julia Ann Stickney on 7 Jan 1864 in Reading Twp, Hillsdale Co, MI. Julia, born 31 Aug 1845 in Williams Co, OH, was the daughter of NY natives William and Harriet E. Smith Stickney. The Stickneys came to Wms Co c1844 and were enumerated in the 1850 NW Twp federal census, p51B, as William 31 NY carpenter, Harriet 24 NY, Louis 11 OH, Julia 6 OH, and Benjamin 1 OH. They appeared in the 1860 NW Twp federal census, p8, as William 44 NY, Harriet 33 NY, Julia 16 OH, Edward 8 OH, Elephalet (m) 6 OH, and Frances 1 OH.
The Havens family appeared in the 1870 and 1880 NW Twp federal census, p4 and p447D, respectively, but the divorce proceedings told the specific dates for the birth of the five children (Journal 11 p321 - Dec 1881; Roll 37 case number 923 - 25 July 1881. These children were Norman W. (13 Nov 1864), Alpheus R (6 Aug 1867), Sherman (15 Oct 1870), Jennie V. (13 Aug 1873), and Charles H. (1 June 1876).
From the above-cited divorce record one learns that Julia sued her husband, charging gross neglect and cruelty. She said Daniel transferred her real estate to John F. Carl without her knowledge and the income from this property, deeded to her by her mother, Harriet Stickney, in 1872 was hers. She stated that on 1 June 1878 Daniel kicked and struck her; he provided no food or clothing for the family. This physical abuse stemmed from an argument over a brown mare. The court awarded her a divorce, reasonable alimony, and visitation rights so Daniel could see the children for two hours every Saturday. In addition to this Julia was awarded custody of the mare in question. Prior to the divorce the county sheriff arrested Daniel, but the record did not state the reason, (Probate #2342).
In 1883 Julia married William Hand, born May 1847 in MI and resided in NW Twp, Williams Co, OH according to the 1900 federal census p3B. The Hands had two sons together making Julia the mother of seven, all living as of 1900. Julia, a widow, died in Camden Twp, Hillsdale Co, MI on 7 Jan 1929 and was buried there. Daniel, a mill sawyer, died on 8 June 1884 in Paradise Twp, Grand Traverse Co, MI.
No comments:
Post a Comment