Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Abraham

Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Abraham


By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 2011)

John Quinn Abraham v Mary Louisa McLaughlin Abraham (Journal 14, Roll 61 case number 4341) – 1899-1900; “Bryan Democrat”, 22 Feb 1900 p4 – dismissed at plaintiff’s cost

The couple was married in Columbiana Co, OH on 9 May 1867.  John Q. Abraham, the son of Thomas B. and Elizabeth Quinn Abraham, was born in Feb 1843, Columbiana Co, OH. Mary Louisa McLaughlin, the daughter of George and Susan Hamilton McLaughlin, was also born in Columbiana Co, OH on 17 Sept 1847.

The Abrahams were the parents of the following children:

1. Susan, 2 Jan 1868, Lisbon, Columbiana Co, OH – 18 Feb 1897, Van Wert Co, OH; mar Arthur Wilkinson, 2 Oct 1890, Williams Co, OH (Marriage V6 #315)

2. Minnie May, 13 Dec 1869, Lisbon, Columbiana Co, OH – 10 Sept 1951, Alameda Co, CA

3. Eleanor (pos 11 Apr 1872 under John Abraham, Male birth), 1872, Lisbon, Columbiana Co, OH – aft 1880

4. Georgia Anna, 26 Aug 1874, Lisbon, Columbiana Co, OH -; mar George O.Palm, 17 Oct 1899, Williams Co, OH (Marriage V8 p67)

5. Laura Hamilton, 11 Jan 1878, Bryan, Williams Co, OH – 27 May 1948, Mansfield, Richland Co, OH); m2 – Arthur L. Wilkinson, Jr., 2 Apr 1899, Richland Co, OH

6. Harry Q, Feb 1879 OH – aft 1930

7. Elizabeth, 24 Dec 1882, Bryan, Williams Co, OH (Birth V2 p44) – 3 Oct 1900, Williams Co, OH (Death V3 p2); bur Fountain Grove Cem, Bryan, OH

8. Helen, 7 Aug 1885, Bryan, Williams Co, OH (Birth V2 p80) -; mar Willis S. Bauserman, 3 June 1921, Williams Co, OH

US Civil War record – John Q. Abraham, Co I 65^th Indiana Infantry; Rank IN – Captain; rank out – Corporal

1870 New Lisbon Center, Columbiana, Ohio; Roll: M593_1183; Page: 47A; Image: 98; Family History Library Film: 552682.

h/h131/148 Abrahams, John 27 OH shoemaker

Mary 22 OH

Susen 3 OH

Minnie 6/12 Feb OH

Civil War Pension Index for 1879 invalid – John Q. Abraham

1880 Bryan, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 1078; Family History Film: 1255078; Page: 650D; Enumeration District: 12; Image: 0162.

h/h426/449 Abrams, JQ 37 OH-OH-OH commissary agent

Mary L 33 wife OH-OH-OH

Susie 12 dau OH-OH-OH

Minnie 10 dau OH-OH-OH

Eleanor 8 OH-OH-OH

Georgianna 5 OH-OH-OH

Laura H 2 OH-OH-OH

Harry Q 8/12 Feb son OH-OH-OH

Several homes away from Abraham, Hudkins 20 boarder laborer OH-PA-PA

Abraham, James 18 boarder OH-PA-PA, living with OA and Mary A Whitney family

1900 Bryan, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T623_1332; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 111.

South Main St

h/h 349/368 Abraham, John Q (Feb 1843 57 OH-OH-OH mar 33Y  not employed, living with Henry and Celila Shawley as boarder

1900 Bryan, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T623_1332; Page: A; Enumeration District: 111.

East High St

h/h247/257 Abraham, Mary (Sept 1847) 52 married 38Y 8/7 ch  OH-unk-OH

Mamie dau (Dec 1869) 30 single OH-OH-OH school teacher

Elizabeth dau (Dec 1882) 17 single OH-OH-OH operator in telephone office

1901 Dayton, Montgomery Co, OH – John Q Abraham 58 OH admitted 1901 US National Home for Disabled Vets; Co I Indiana Infantry, Aug 1862

1901 Marion, Grant Co, IN – John Q Abraham, born Columbiana Co, OH, age 58, Co I Indiana Infantry; medical disability, premature senility; residence subsequent to discharge – Bryan, Williams Co, OH; occupation – salesman; 5’9” fair complexion, gray hair, blue eyes, can read and write, Protestant, name of nearest relative -  Rebecca M Cord ? of Cleveland, daughter, he died 6 June 1915, dementia; looks like he was in hospital 1901; then 1908 readmitted, then readmitted 25 Jan 1915

1910 Kendallville Ward 4, Noble, Indiana; Roll: T624_372; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 125; Image: 1383.

208 East Diamond St

h/h 335/342 Abraham, Mary L. 62 mar 41Y 8/6ch OH-PA-OH no occup

Minnie M dau 40 OH-OH-OH public school teacher

Helen L dau 24 OH-OH-OH trained nurse for private family

Mary L. Abraham died on 18 Oct 1913 in Bryan, Williams Co, OH @66Y 1M 1D (Ohio Death Certificate); she was buried in the Fountain Grove Cem, Bryan, OH; her death certificate stated that she was married.

John Q Abraham died on 6 June 1915 and may have been buried in the Marion National Cemetery, Marion, IN.

1920 Smead, Sanders, Montana; Roll: T625_975; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 191; Image: 536.

h/h 4/4 Wilkinson, A L 28 single, farmer OH-OH-OH

Abraham, Harry uncle 39 single, farm partner OH-OH-OH

Minnie aunt 50 single, public school teacher OH-OH-OH

1930 Piedmont, Alameda, California; Roll: 110; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 337; Image: 251.0.

319 Magnolia Ave

h/h 113/113 Abraham, Harry 51 OH-OH-OH broom salesman

Minnie M 61 sister OH-OH-OH no occup

Sensitive Subject - Insanity in Williams County, Ohio - Swisher

Sensitive Subject - Insanity in Williams County, Ohio - Swisher

By Pamela Pattison Lash 

Bryan Democrat, 6 Oct 1908 p1

Another Insanity Case

John Swisher, 62 years old, living near West Unity, was adjudged insane in probate court last week and committed to the state hospital at Toledo.  The physician’s certificate in the case says that at times Swisher tears up his bed clothes and scattered them about the room and also tries to run away from home.  Mr. Swisher is the fifth insane patient committed to the state hospital from this county within two weeks.

John Andrew Swisher (2 Apr 1846 Crawford Co, OH - 7 May 1909 Toledo, Lucas Co, OH @62Y; buried at West Unity, OH – no cemetery found; single)

Williams Co, OH Probate – John A. Swisher, 2 October 1908, case number #5115 misc; this would be the “sealed” case file of John’s commitment to the Toledo State Hospital.

John Swisher was the son of William Alfred Swisher and wife, Rebecca Knisely.

William Swisher was born on 8 May 1819 Cumberland Co, PA; he died on 7 Dec 1906 Brady Twp, Williams Co, OH (Deaths V3 p127); he married Rebecca Knisely on 6 Oct 1840 Crawford Co, OH.  Rebecca was born on 14 Feb 1820 Tuscarawas Co, OH and died on 10 Aug 1910 Brady Twp, Williams Co, OH.

The couple with their children moved from Crawford Co, OH to Williams Co, OH c1865.

Children:

1. Samuel Knisely Swisher 24 July 1844 – 5 Jan 1923 Bryan; mar Susan Kunkle, 15 Oct 1867 – 1^st public auctioneer in Williams Co, OH; CW Vet

2. John Andrew (see above)

3. Mary Elizabeth 20 July 1847 – 14 Sept 1909; mar William Clark

4. William Alfred 30 Jan 1850 – 11 Mar 1927; mar Abigale Strawswell 1876 MN

5. Joseph Urey 1 June 1851 – 12 Feb 1914; mar Mary Burns

6. Adolphus Irving 10 May 1853 – 1933 Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, MI; mar Julia Hungerford, 1880 Paola, Miami, KS

7. James Oliver 12 July 1855 – 9 Oct 1921 Archbold, Fulton Co, OH; mar Ida Jane Spencer, 25 Oct 1882 – (see Fern Beatrice Acker write-up)

8. Rose Eugenia 16 June 1860 – 10 July 1942; mar Laurel D. Gotshall, 21 Sept 1880

9. Jackson Theodore 2 June 1863 – 13 July 1940; mar Mary Ann DeGroff, 3 July 1884

1850 Sandusky, Crawford, Ohio; Roll: M432_671; Page: 391B; Image: 150.

h/h 907/921 Swisher, William 30 PA farmer

Rebecca 29 OH

Samuel K 5 OH

John 4 OH

Mary E 2 OH

William A 6/12 OH

Moneysmith, Ann 22 PA

1860 Sandusky, Crawford, Ohio; Roll: M653_951; Page: 348; Image: 352; Family History Library Film: 803951.

h/h 23/23 Swisher, William 48 PA farmer

Rebecca 39 OH

Samuel K 16 OH

John A 14 OH

Mary E 12 OH

Cole, Rebecca 19 OH servant

1870 Brady, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M593_1282; Page: 14B; Image: 32; Family History Library Film: 552781.

h/h 217/222 Swisher, William 50 farmer PA

Rebecca 49 OH

John 23 farm laborer OH

William 20 farm laborer OH

Joseph 18 farm laborer OH

Adolphus 16 OH

Oliver 14 OH

Rosa E 12 OH

Jackson 6 OH

1874  Williams Co, OH Atlas, William Swisher, Jefferson Twp Sec 13

Note I could not find John A. Swisher in either the 1880 or 1900 federal census.

1894 Williams Co, OH Atlas, William Swisher, Jefferson Twp Sec 13

1904 Williams Co, OH Plat Map, William Swisher, Jefferson Twp Sec 13

After establishing a time line for the family, I checked other records and found the following:

John A. Swisher/Sarah A. Barnhart were the parents of a son, John Howard, born 27 Apr 1874, Jefferson Twp, Williams Co, OH (Births V1 p66).  Note Sarah A. Barnhart was married to Thomas A. Moore in Williams Co, OH on 4 Feb 1877 (Marriage V4 p505); she appears to be the daughter of Abraham and Eve McVicker Barnhart, residents of Jefferson Twp according to the 1860 and 1870 federal census records.  There was a Howard Moore with a slightly different birth date, 28  Apr 1875, Williams Co, OH, who died in Toledo, Lucas Co, OH, 4 Apr 1943.  On his death certificate his parents were listed as Thomas Moore and Sarah A. Barnhart.  In 1900 Howard (Apr 1874) lived in Mark Twp, Defiance Co, OH; in 1920 and 1930 he lived in Pike Twp, Fulton Co, OH according to the federal census records. More research needs to be done to determine if this Howard was the son of John A. Swisher.

Sensitive Subject - Insanity in Williams County, Ohio - Ream

Sensitive Subject – Insanity in Williams Co, OH

By Pamela Pattison Lash

In my small circle of genealogy friends, I know of at least four researchers who have someone in their family who had suffered from a mental affliction.  Each would like to know more about the circumstances of their ancestor; some have been lucky to have the family member living in a county where the records are available for viewing but some have not.  It’s really become a joke when the researcher goes to the depository of records and has to ask questions of the record custodian who is looking at the record, could care less, and displays that attitude of “why-do-you-want-to-know” or “some-things-are not-for-your-eyes”.  Oh, by the way, the record could be between 100-150 years old.  This, in my opinion, is ridiculous, but the political entity remains unmoved so as a researcher one may have to consult other records that are unsealed and available.  That’s where old newspapers can be a gold mine.

I stumbled upon the following newspaper while looking for something else, became intrigued, and did a little digging.  I’ll start with this newspaper article.

Bryan Democrat, 2 Oct 1908 p1

Miss Elnora Ream of Center Twp was adjudged insane by Probate Judge Frazier Tuesday and she was taken to the state hospital for the insane this week.  Miss Ream is very violent at times and when in this condition threatens to take her own life and also kill others.  She is 20 years old, a daughter of Henry Ream.  EA Keiser and Jacob U Schnetzler (physician and surgeon) signed the physicians’ certificate.  This is the third insanity case in the past week and there are several more afflicted persons who will be brought into court within the next few weeks.

My thoughts on the article

1.  Poor Elnora – only 20 – doesn’t it sound like depression not insanity?

2.  Poor family who would have obviously been embarrassed by that article on the front page!

3.  Did I mention poor Elnora – she’s a person not an object.  I wonder if this behavior suddenly manifested or had been dealt with for years and the family lost its patience/coping skills. 

4.  Good luck on getting the political entity to open up that record!  Well maybe someone has more info…………….

First I checked the Williams County, Ohio Probate Index and found Elnora Ream, 2 Sept 1908, case #5110 misc.  That misc usually translates to some sort of “sealed” case (see above). 

Next I thought perhaps someone might have posted data on the Ream family at Rootsweb or Ancestry.  There are several who have but in all cases they leave poor Elnora almost blank, as if she didn’t have a life. To be fair, they probably didn't know about the newspaper article and/or didn't look for any probate.  I checked Familysearch for more records and found some, many of which have conflicting dates from those discovered on Rootsweb or Ancestry (no surprise).  Then I used the census to help fill in a timeline of the family.  I was lucky to discover an obituary for Elnora’s father and a biographical sketch of that family online.  Taking the above-mentioned article, I found much more about Elnora and her family.

Henry Ream, the son of George and Frances Dice Ream, was born on 2 Feb 1841/42, Canton, Stark Co, OH; he died on 15 Dec 1922, Van Wert, Van Wert Co, OH and was buried in Paulding Co, OH.  He first married Jane Strock on 15 Feb 1863 in Hancock Co, OH.  Jane Strock was born in New Stark, Hancock Co, OH on 18 Jan 1846 and died in Hardin Co, OH on 29 Nov 1872, leaving children Esther (16 Jan 1867-4 July 1962), Nettie Belle (2 July 1868-4 Apr 1904), and Sheridan Philip (26 July 1872-1933), plus two children, PC (male, 12 June 1870-1871) and Abraham (31 Mar 1872-1872), preceding her death.  I wonder if she died as the result of childbirth complications.

(Note that Nettie was born on 2 July 1868 and several online researchers have her brother Sheridan born on 26 July 1868; she was born in Paulding and he was supposedly born in Ada, OH 24 days apart.)

Henry next married Martha Ann Hosler on 27 June 1877 in Hardin Co, OH.  Martha Ann, the daughter of Alexander and Maria Anna Faller/Faylor Hosler, was born on 16 Nov 1851, Oakwood, Paulding Co, OH; she died on 20 Jan 1913, Paulding, Paulding Co, OH.

Their children were as follows:

1.  Bertha Irene, 19 Sept 1880 Paulding Co, OH – 27 May 1962, Paulding Co, OH; m1 – Bushong; m2 – John Augustus, 25 Aug 1903, Paulding Co, OH

2.  George Alexander, 2 Aug 1882, Paulding Co, OH – 13 Jan 1950, Paulding Co, OH; m Tressie Franklin, 19 Apr 1906, Williams Co, OH

3.  Levi Henry, 3/17 Oct 1884, Paulding Co, OH – 27 Nov 1934 Paulding Co, OH; m Arvada H Aschliman, 16 June 1905, Paulding Co, OH

4.  Elva Ann, 19 Oct 1885, Paulding Co, OH – 13 Nov 1946, Van Wert Co, OH; m John Stittsworth, 17 Oct 1908, Williams Co, OH; had daughter Elsie Ream born 23 Jan 1905, Paulding Co, OH

5.  Chloe Elnora 19 Oct 1888, Paulding Co, OH – bet 1922 and 1946, pos Toledo, Lucas Co, OH

6.  Florence Ermine 9 Aug 1891, Paulding Co, OH – 31 Aug 1892, Paulding Co, OH

1860 Van Buren, Hancock, Ohio; Roll: M653_982; Page: 189; Image: 383; Family History Library Film: 803982.

Ream, Henry 18 OH with parents – George and Fanny

From two sources one learns that Henry was a carpenter and later a brick maker.  He served in the Civil War as a private in Co F 21^st OVI and Engineer Corps.  He took part in 22 battles and as the result of a war injury Henry lost his sight in his right eye. 

Combination 1880 History and 1895 Atlas, Putnam Co, OH, HH Hardestry.

The Twice-A-Week Bulletin, Van Wert Co, OH, 29 Dec 1922.

1870 Liberty, Hardin, Ohio; Roll: M593_1219; Page: 423B; Image: 231; Family History Library Film: 552718.

Ream, Henry 29 OH

Jane A 23 OH

Esther 3 OH

N E 1 (f) OH

1880 Paulding, Paulding, OH; Roll 1056; Family History Film: 1255056; Page 618D; Enumeration District: 129; Image: 0740

h/h 31/31 Ream, Henry 38 OH-OH-OH farmer

Martha 28 wife OH-OH-OH

Sheridon 8 son OH-OH-OH

(Note the daughters Esther and Nettie are missing.)

1900 Paulding, Paulding, Ohio; Roll: T623_1312; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 56.

h/h 161/162 Ream, Henry (Feb 1842) 58 mar 21Y OH-OH-OH (son of George)

Martha A (Nov 1851) 48 wife OH-OH-OH 7/5 ch

Bushong, Bertha dau (Apr 1880) 19 mar 1Y 0/0 ch OH-OH-OH

Ream, George A son (Aug 1882) 17 OH-OH-OH

Levi H son (Oct 1884) 15 OH-OH-OH

Elva A dau (Oct 1886) 13 OH-OH-OH

Chlora E dau (Sept 1888) 11 OH-OH-OH

In October 1908 Elnora aka Chloe Elnora Ream was institutionalized at the Toledo State Asylum.  It would appear that she was later released and lived with her family in 1910.

1910 Center, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T624_1241; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 119; Image: 656.

h/h 147/156 Ream, Henry 68 m2x 32Y OH-OH-OH farmer

Martha A wife 58 mar 1x 32Y 7/7ch OH-OH-OH

Chloe E dau 21 single OH-OH-OH

Elsie E 5 granddaughter OH-OH-OH

Hosler, Alexander 86 father-in-law widower OH-PA-PA

Sometime between 1910-1920 Chloe Elnora Ream was sent back to the Toledo State Hospital.  Her mother died on 20 Jan 1913 so perhaps that is when Chloe was returned to the hospital.

1920 Toledo Ward 13, Lucas, Ohio; Roll: T625_1410: Page: 19A; Enumeration District: 139; Image 154

Toledo State Hospital: Ream, Elnora 31 OH-OH-OH single, patient

Her father died on 15 Dec 1922 and Elnora was listed as “Miss Elnora Ream of Toledo” in his obituary.  Elnora’s brother Sheridan died on 29 July 1933 and there was no mention of Elnora in his obituary, but none of the other living children from Henry Ream’s second marriage were listed either. Elnora’s sister Elva Stittsworth died on 13 Nov 1946; an online obituary does not mention Elnora.  More research needs to be done to pinpoint Elnora’s death date.