17 September 2010

Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Brown (Orlando), 1876

Orlando L. Brown v Harriet L. (Kelly) Thomas Brown (Journal 9 p13 -15 Nov 1876; Roll 30 case number 22 - 26 May 1876)

 

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 28 October 2021)

 

The couple was married in Burr Oak, St. Joseph Co, MI on 1 Aug 1871.  Orlando charged that on 20 Dec 1874 at their home in Burr Oak Harriet committed adultery with Elias Thomas; on 23 Dec 1874 she was with a man unknown to Orlando; and at other times she committed adultery with Elwin Russel and other men.  At the time of this filing she lived at Fauvre River, St. Joseph Co, MI.  The divorce was granted.  

 

Orlando Brown (24 April 1829, Auburn, Cayuga Co, NY) had first married a Margaret and together they had a son Charles H Brown, born 22 May 1857 in Adrian, Lenawee Co, MI. They were listed in the 1860 Adrian, Lenawee Co, MI Federal Census as Philander 31 NY farmer, Margaret 33 NY and Charles 3 MI.  They were close to another Brown family there – JS and Sarah Brown who might be Orlando’s parents.  Orlando later married Lucinda Moore on 19 Jan 1877, Wms Co (Marriage V4 p503).  In the 1880 Bryan, Pulaski Twp, Wms Co, OH federal census p624 the Browns were enumerated as Orlando 50 NY –VA-NY sexton of graveyard, Lucinda C 35 OH-PA-PA, and Charles H 23 MI-NY-MI. In the 1900 Bryan, Pulaski Twp federal census p183, the Browns were listed as Orlando Apr 1829 (71) NY-VT-NY married 23 years, Lucy May 1845 (55) OH-PA-PA no children. Orlando died in Wms Co on 6 July 1908 (Death V3 p13). His Bryan Democrat (Bryan, OH), obit of 10/17 July 1908 p1 stated that he was for 7 or 8 years as caretaker for the Methodist Episcopal Church in West Unity where he would be buried.  

 

By the 1910 Bryan federal census p184 Lucy Brown appeared as Lucy 64 and Gilbert Moore 62 OH brother. Lucinda Moore “Lucy” was the daughter of Robert S and Mary Shive Moore.  She was born on 8 May 1845 in Salem, Columbiana Co, OH and was enumerated in both the 1850 Perry, Columbiana Co, OH and 1860 Jefferson Twp, Williams Co, OH Federal Census records with her parents as Lucinda 5 OH and Lucinda 15 OH, respectively.Lucinda died in Alamo, Kalamazoo, MI on 9 August 1924 and was buried in Mountain Home Cemetery, Otsego, MI.  Her Bryan Press (Bryan, OH), 14 August 1924 obit stated that she moved to this county in 1856 where she stayed until 1910 when she removed to Florida.  In 1913 she moved to Detroit, Jackson, and later Alamo, MI.  She had a brother, Maurice E of San Diego, CA eight nieces and three nephews survive her. In her last months of paralysis she lived with niece Mrs Harry C Williams.

 

Now for the bride’s detailing:

Harriet Kelly (4 October 1848 Hubbard, Trumbull Co, OH – 17 December 1907 Coldwater, Branch Co, MI, buried in Oak Grove Cemetery as Harriet Kelly Lake, was the daughter of William and Rebecca Tyler Kelly.  Her mother died shortly after her birth and her father would later marry Julia Dove.  She was enumerated in both the 1850 West Greenfield, LaGrange Co, IN and 1860 Burr Oak, St Joseph Co, MI Federal Census Records with parents as Harriet L 1 OH and Harriet 12 OH, respectively.

 

First marriage – Elias Thomas, 14 December 1864, Sturgis, St Joseph Co, MI as Harriet 16 of Lagrange Co, IN and Elias 20 same county; the witnesses were Benjamin Swinehart and Mary Thomas. This Elias was probably the man cited in the Brown divorce so it would appear Elias and Harriet were divorced before 1870 as she was listed in 1870 Greenfield, LaGrange Co, IN as Harriet Thomas 22 with a son John E Thomas.

 

Second marriage – Orlando Brown, supposedly 1 August 1871 Burr Oak, St Joseph Co, MI but no marriage has been found to date.  Divorce was granted in November 1876.

 

Third marriage – Orlando Nickerson, 15 March 1877, Burr Oak, St Joseph Co, MI with Orlando 23 of Sturgis, MI and Harriet L Brown 28 the same place with witnesses Julia Kelley of Burr Oak and Louise Lowe.  This Julia Kelley was likely Harriet’s stepmother. By the 1880 Sturgis, St Joseph Co, MI Federal Census record Orlando Nickerson was listed as 26 MI divorced.

 

Fourth marriage – George W Brower, 31 December 1881 St Joseph Co, MI By the 1900 Coldwater, Branch Co, MI Federal Census she was Hattie L Brower along with husband George, married 19 years with 2/2 children.

 

Fifth marriage – Peter Y Lake, 10 April 1906, Burr Oak, St Joseph Co, MI.  It would appear from her death certificate that Peter was her last husband.

 






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