Emmeline DeGroff Bruot v Emile Bruot
French Charm Does Not Last, Divorce in Williams County, Ohio, 1885
By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 27 May 2011)
A big shout out to Roger Douglass for this additional information on Emily DeGroff Bruot. Thank you, Roger. If you as the reader have any additional data, you can reach Roger through his email address below.
Roger Douglass
Toledo, Ohio- formerly Hillsdale Co., just a stone's throw over the Wms Co. line.
The language of love may not last but when there are children involved, a divorce can take a nasty turn. He has money and she, with three small children to support, does not. She asks for reasonable alimony and eventually obtains it. She is the victim of the French charm that does not last.
Native Williams County, Ohio Emeline "Emily" DeGroff, daughter of David and Elizabeth Spangler DeGroff, was born 1858, probably near Stryker, Springfield Twp. Her parents were married here on 5 May 1858 (Marriages V2 p178) and first appeared as a family unit in the 1860 Brady Twp, Wms Co, OH PO Stryker federal census, p17b, as David DeGroff 27 OH, Elizabeth 20 OH, Emily 2 OH, Chester 4/12 OH. Again in the 1870 Brady Twp federal census, p20, the family had grown as David 30 PA, Elizabeth 31 OH, Emily 12 OH, Chester 10 OH, Phebe A 8 OH, Margaret 5 OH, Clara J 2 OH, and Sylvester 1 OH. Note that father David's birthplace changed from OH to PA. He was listed with his parents, William and Margaret DeGroff, from the 1850 Jefferson Twp federal census, p22, as David 20 OH.
Emily DeGroff married Louis Emile Bruot, a native of Valentigney, FR, on 10 Aug 1878, Wms Co (Marriages V4 p587). Emile also known as "Lem", the son of Pierre Louis and Marianne Louise Brognard Bruot, was born on 29 Mar 1858. His family immigrated to the US and eventually settled in Springfield Twp after 1867. They were listed in the 1870 Springfield Twp federal census, p21, all natives of FR, as Peter Bruot 41, Mary A 35, Amale (m) 12, Henry 10, Alseda 8, Louisa 9, Alla 6, and Eulice (Ulysses) 3. Emile and his family lived in Brady Twp as the 1880 federal census p503B, showed as Emile 22 FR, Emily 20 OH, Albert 1 OH, and George Julliard 50 FR.
Emily Bruot appeared in the Williams County Civil and Criminal Court (Journal 13 p61 - 14 Mar 1885; Roll 41 Box 137 case number 1399 - 27 Dec 1884) asking for a divorce. The Bryan Press starting with its issue of 12 Mar 1885 and running six consecutive weeks demonstrated her desire for this action. Emily stated that on 9 Nov 1881 Emile willfully absented himself and that he "is a sinful person." Emily listed the names and birthdates for their three children as follows: Albert "Bert" (7 Feb 1879, Brady Twp, Births V1 p118) who lived with his grandparents, Peter and Mary Bruot;, May or Mary (7 June 1880), and Daisy (29 Apr 1882). Note that when Emile left her in Nov 1881 she was pregnant with Daisy.
Emily told the court that Emile had received money from hs parents but had not given her anything for the support of the children. She believed Emile was in Ft. Wayne, Allen Co, IN for a year but at the time of the divorce filing she was unaware of his residence. She further produced witnesses that corroborated her statements; her father David DeGroff and her brother Chester plus a concerned friend, Charles Besanson, told the court of Emile's shameful dealings with his family. Emily requested and received a reasonable alimony of $800.
Emile's parents were buried in the French Cemetery, Springfield Twp as Peter Bruot (8 Mar 1829 - 5 Oct 1889) and Marion (d. 15 Feb 1897 @61Y 10M 22D). Emily's parents rest in Floral Grove Cemetery, West Unity, Brady Twp as David DeGroff (1831 - 1909 @79Y 7M 27D) and Elizabeth (d. 8 Mar 1894 @54Y 11M).
Emile married Phoebe Blackburn, born 1855 in New Haven, Allen Co, IN, and had children Lewis, Roy, and Amelia Bruot according to an entry in the Williams County, Ohio History, WCHS, 1980, p472-473. By the 1910 Madison Twp, Allen Co, IN federal census p132, Emile Bruot was head of house as Emile 53 FR, Phoebe 54 IN, Lewis 20 IN, Amelia 20 IN, and Roei 17 IN; this record stated that Emile was naturalized in 1887. Louis Emile Bruot died in Ft. Wayne, IN in 1913/1914 according to an Internet source; Phoebe passed away in 1944.
In 1900 Emily and Emile’s son, Albert or Burt, born Oct 1878 (21) OH hostler lived with the George and Ida Sherwood family in Brady Twp. Note that his birthdate does not match the earlier cited birth record.
Emily next married Warren James Gleason on 17 Dec 1885 at Adrian, MI. Warren, who was previously married and divorced, was the son of James Morrison and Susan Mary Detrick Gleason. The couple had four children, Bessie Elizabeth, Estella A, Albert Warren, and Donald Sidney. Prior to 15 May 1905 the couple was divorced. In the 1910 Perkins, Erie Co, OH federal census Warren is listed as 65 NY-NY-PA divorced; he was a resident of the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Home. Warren later died in Toledo, Lucas Co, OH.
1900 Franklin, Fulton, Ohio; Roll: T623_1270; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 6.
h/h 126/129 Gleason, Warren J (Nov 1845) 54 mar 16Y NY-NY-PA farm laborer
Emaly wife (Apr 1858) 32 7/7 ch OH-NY-OH
Bessie E dau (May 1886) 15 MI-NY-OH
Stellie A dau (July 1887) 12 MI-NY-OH
Albert W son (Apr 1891) 9 OH-NY-OH
Donnel S son (Aug 1893) 6 OH-NY-OH
The next romantic tie for Emily came in the person of Eli Saums, son of Levi and Polly Carter Saums. The married on 15 May 1905 at Charlotte, Eaton Co, MI. Eli, a Knox Co, OH native, was 62 and Emma D. Gleason, married twice before, was 46. Eli died on 13 Nov 1916 at Eaton Co, MI.
1910 Hamlin, Eaton, Michigan; Roll: T624_645; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0090; Image: 461; FHL Number: 1374658.
h/h 194/194 Saums, Eli J 67 mar 2x mar 5Y OH-VA-MA farmer
Emily D wife 51 mar 2x 7/7 ch OH-FR-OH
Gleason, Albert step son 21 single OH-OH-OH farmer
Grey, Desford grandson 4 MI-OH-OH
Emily’s next husband was Charles V. Lewis, whom she married in Eaton Rapids, Eaton Co, MI on 14 Feb 1919. Note this was Valentine’s Day. Charles was the son of Samuel and Lydia Rose Lewis. On the marriage record Charles is listed as never having been married before and Emily is listed as having been married once before. She was 54 and recorded as Emily D Saums.
1920 Eaton Rapids, Eaton, Michigan; Roll: T625_763; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 99; Image: 309.
h/h 139/141 Lewis, Charles 55 MI-US-US cement work laborer
Emlie 61 wife OH-Fr-OH
Gleason, Albert bro-in-law 25 divorced MI-MI-OH section hand NYC RR
1930 Eaton Rapids, Eaton, Michigan; Roll: 983; Page: 27B; Enumeration District: 14; Image: 599.0.
526 Michigan St
h/h 792/792 Lewis, Charles V 72 widower 62 at marriage MI-MI-MI odd job laborer
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