01 March 2011

Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Knight (Roll 47)


Matilda Albright Knight v Ezra O. Knight (Roll 47 Box 157 case number 2064 – 10 Apr 1889) – see Albright divorce action

By Pamela Pattison Lash

The couple was married on 17 Aug 1871 in Williams Co, OH (Marriage V4 p185).  Matilda charged Ezra with being willfully absent for more than three years.  He gave her no support for food, clothing, etc.  On 27 Dec 1888 he was a non-resident of San Pedro, CA where he is said to have obtained a divorce from her.  They have a son, Charles, now 16 who lived with his mother.  Matilda “Tillie” Knight was given clear title to Lot 36 Allen’s Addition, Bryan, OH as alimony.  A notice of divorce was posted in the Bryan Democrat, 18 Apr 1889, which ran for six consecutive weeks.  The divorce was granted.

Matilda Albright, (Aug 1852 Williams Co, OH – 24 Jan 1939 in Williams Co, OH; buried in Fountain Grove Cem, Bryan, OH as Matilda Marsh), was the daughter of Gideon and Catherine Deatz Albright. The following is found in my detailing of the Albrights in another post:

The Albrights were enumerated in the 1860 Pulaski Twp, Wms Co, OH federal census p43 on 28 June 1860 as follows: Gideon 32 PA, Catherine 25 OH, Matilda 7 OH, William 6 OH, Jemima 3 OH, and Mary 1 OH.  This couple would eventually have a total of six children all born in this county: Matilda (Aug 1852-1939; m1 Ezra O. Knight, 17 Aug 1871; divorced 1888; m2 William Ervin Marsh, 7 May 1899); William (1854-pos bef 1870); Regena/Jennie (Nov 1856-aft 1930, Cumberland MD; m. Joseph Lippold c1879); Mary (1858-Jan 1882; m. **Wilcox); Benjamin F. (May 1861- cNov 1938; m. Gertrude Kampf, 4 Mar 1886); Anna Florence (1863-8 June 1938; m. William S. Stackhouse, 30 Jul 1888).

The Albrights were again found in the federal census records for 1870 Bryan, Pulaski Twp p17 with five of their children, as Gideon 40 PA, Catherine 38 OH, Jennie 13 OH, Mary 12 OH, Benjamin 9 OH, Anna 7 OH, and Matilda 18 OH domestic servant.

Ezra was the son of Samuel and Amanda Jane Johnson Knight who were listed in the 1870 Bryan, Pulaski Twp federal census p18, as Samuel 45 PA carpenter, Amanda 41 OH, Alwilda 22 OH, Ezra O 19 OH works in stave factory, Joe P 16 OH, Milo O 13 OH, Emma L 11 OH. Samuel D. and wife Amanda were married in Wayne Co, OH on 25 Oct 1847.

The Knight family was enumerated in the 1880 Bryan, Pulaski Twp federal census p632 and 655B as Ezra Knight 28/29 OH brakeman, Matilda 26/27 OH, and Charles 7/9 OH.  The census taker possibly made some mistakes and returned to the neighborhood as several surrounding families were listed twice with different particulars.  According to The Bryan Press, 15 Dec 1881 p5 c1, Ezra Knight and partner Frank M. Wise had opened up a neat little meat market in JW Smith’s wareroom and were selling best cuts of meat for only ten cents.


After the divorce on 7 May 1889 Mrs. Tillie Knight married William Irvin Marsh in Williams Co, OH (Marriage V8 p28). 

William had been married before to Lanetta T. Altaffer who died on 2 Oct 1896.  The Marshs were listed in the 1900 Bryan, Pulaski Twp federal census p161 East Mulberry St as Irwin W Dec 1847 (52) OH house carpenter, Tillie Aug 1852 (47) OH, Dessey Jan 1884 (16) OH.

In 1910 William E. Marsh and wife Tillie lived on Walnut St according to the 1910 Bryan federal census p173 and by 1920 p140 Tillie Marsh 67 OH widow was still residing on Walnut St. William died on 16 Mar 1916 and was buried in Shiffler Cem, Jefferson Twp, next to his first wife.  

Matilda died on 24 Jan 1939 and was buried in the Bryan Fountain Grove Cem as Matilda (Knight) Marsh.

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