Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Pew (Roll 48)

Estella “Stella” May Pierce Sutliff Pew v Harlon J Pew (Journal 15 p214 – 6 Mar 1890; Roll 48 case number 2185 – cMay 1888)

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 25 December 2011)

The couple was married on 4 Mar 1883 in Lansing, Tompkins Co, NY.  On 26 May 1888 Harlon was tried, found guilty, and sentenced by the court to the State Prison in Auburn, NY for six years.  His crime was arson and his prison term began on 29 May 1888.  Stella wanted a divorce and restoration of her maiden name, Sutliff.  Note that this is not her maiden name but her first husband’s surname. 

There is no notation on the divorce record as to an actual decree being granted; however in the Journal p214 it does state that Stella received a divorce on 6 Mar 1890.  The bigger question is why would someone from NY travel to Williams County, Ohio for a divorce? 

Harlon J. Pew, the son of Thomas and Caroline Dodge Pew, was born in Etna, Tompkins Co, NY c1854.

1870 Dryden Districts 2 and 3, Tompkins, New York; Roll: M593_1104; Page: 98B; Image: 202; Family History Library Film: 552603.

h/h 256/271 Pew, Harman 18 NY living with his mother Caroline and his siblings

1880 Groton, Tompkins, New York; Roll: 938; Family History Film: 1254938; Page: 151A; Enumeration District: 231; Image: 0305.

h/h 134/155 Pew, Caroline 49 widow/divorced NY-VT-NY farmer

Harlan 27 son laborer NY-NY-NY

James H 23 son laborer NY-NY-NY

Harry E 15 son NY-NY-NY

Minnie E 13 dau NY-NY-NY

Note – There are Sutliff families listed down the page.

Estella May Pierce Sutliff was born on 1 Sept 1857 in Peruville, Tompkins Co, NY; her maiden name was Pierce and her parents were Stillman and Emeline Underwood Pierce; her mother Emma/Emeline married James Hoffman, Stella’s stepfather.  Stella married Rufus Sutliff on 21 Oct 1874 who died sometime before 1880.  Stella had three children, Ray C, Emma M, and Rua Eliza.

1860 Groton, Tompkins, New York; Roll: M653_868; Page: 7; Image: 11; Family History Library Film: 803868.

h/h 50/50 Pierce, Stillman E 27 farmer NY

Emeline 26 NY

Stella 3 NY

George 1/12 NY

Many lodgers and what appears to be Stillman’s mother, Hannah, 50 MA

1870 Dryden Districts 1 and 4, Tompkins, New York; Roll: M593_1104; Page: 58B; Image: 122; Family History Library Film: 552603.

h/h 42/42 Hoffman, James 33 farmer NY

Emeline 36 NY

Maggie 4 NY

Pierce, Stella M 12 NY

Edgar 9 NY

1880 Dryden, Tompkins, New York; Roll: 938; Family History Film: 1254938; Page: 79A; Enumeration District: 227; Image: 0160.

h/h 41/43 Hoffman, James 43 NY-NY-NY farmer

Emma 46 wife NY-NY-NY

Maggie 14 dau NY-NY-NY

Sutliff, Stella M 22 widowed/divorced step dau NY-NY-NY

Ray step grandson 4 NY-NY-NY

Emma step granddau 3 NY-NY-NY

Rua step grandau 5/12 Jan

Stella died on 9 Dec 1943 in Tompkins Co, NY according to data from online source.