Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Jennings, 1875

David Jennings v (Anna) Sophia Walden Powell Tharp Jennings (Journal 8 p343 - 12 Mar 1875; Roll 26 case number 111)

 

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 4 January 2021)

 

The couple was married in Farmer, Defiance Co, OH on 14 Mar 1868 according to David, but the actual marriage record stated the date was 25 March 1869.  David charged Sophia with being willfully absent for three years or more.  He produced a witness, John Bale, to confirm his charge. 

 

Anna Sophia Walden, born on 25 August 1822 in Trumbull Co, OH on 15 August 1822, was the daughter of Johnathan Walden and Mariah Curtis.   She first married David Powell in Allen Co, OH on 8 April 1841. Widow Anna Sophia Powell and Alexander Tharp were married in Allen Co, OH on 1 Nov 1849.  Alexander Tharp was the son of John C and Rachel Perry Tharp.

 

From the 1850 Farmer Twp, Defiance Co, OH federal census p75, a Tharpe family was enumerated as Alexander 45 PA, Sophia 27 OH, Mary J 8 OH, Wiliam 7 OH, Harriet A 4 OH, and George 3 OH. This shows that Sophia Tharp was a widow when she married David Jennings.  In the 1880 Hicksville Defiance Co, OH Federal Census lists Anna S Tharp 57 OH as living with a daughter and son-in-law. Defiance Co, OH cemetery records show an Anna Sophia Tharp, (24 June 1823, Trumbull Co, OH - 12 Aug 1888 @65Y1M 18D) buried in the Lost Creek Lutheran Cemetery; she died in Hicksville, Defiance Co, OH.  

 

David Jennings, possibly the son of Gideon Jennings, first married Elizabeth Laughlin in Stark Co, OH on 28 August 1831.  He was born in Ohio c1815.  David purchased 160 acres of land in Allen Co, OH on 15 February 1836. He is found with his family in the 1840 Monroe, Putnam Co, OH Federal Census. They were listed in both the 1850 Bath, Allen Co, OH and 1860 Monroe, Allen Co, OH Federal Census records The Jennings children were Susanna, Solomon, Abel, James, Isabella, Mary, Aaron, Drusilla, Samuel, and Charles.

 

According to the 1870 Center Twp, Williams Co, OH federal census p58B the Jennings couple was listed as David 55 OH and Sophia 47 OH.  Note that John Bale, divorce witness, was a neighbor.  There are several Jennings children living with a Susan Conklin in the Center Twp neighborhood in 1870.  According to David’s probate records, he had died in Williams Co, OH before 17 November 1874.  It would appear that David died before the case was settled.