Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Neff

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 11 September 2012)

Catherine (Katie) Carlstadt/Karlstadt Neff v Joseph William Neff (Roll 40 Box 133 case number 1297 - 1 May 1884) - see McNutt

The couple was married, according to Katie, in Bryan, Wms Co on 2 Oct 1881, but no record has been found to substantiate this; however, the marriage date is correct for a ceremony performed in Defiance Co, OH between Catherine Karlstadt and Joseph William Neff.  Also note the surname can be spelled Carlstadt, Karlstadt, or other variations.

Catherine (Katie) Karlstadt, born Sept 1862 OH (1900 federal census) or March 1863 in Indiana (family group sheet in Williams Co, OH Public Library family file), daughter of Peter and Mary Troxel Walters Karlstadt, and Joseph Neff had a daughter Bessie May (b 20 Apr 1882, Bryan, Birth V2 p45).  Joseph, 28 Feb 1861, pos West Newton, Westmoreland Co, PA, was the son of John George and Mary Garver Neff, PA natives. 

The Neff household was enumerated in the 1870 Bryan, Pulaski Twp federal census, p29-30, as George 36 PA brickmaker, Mary 34 PA, Frank 14, Jane 13, James 11, Joseph 9 (all of PA), Christian 6 OH, Anna 4 OH, Isabelle 2 OH, Philetus 1/12 OH.  Stories of Fountain City, Van Gundy, 1975, p151, stated that John G. Neff, a native of Lancaster Co, PA, made bricks and tiles here c1868 and in 1881 he added a sawmill.  Many of the older Bryan buildings were built with his bricks. The Commemorative Biographical Record, 1899, p308, stated that the family came from Westmoreland Co, PA, and eventually moved here in 1861.  In the 1880 Bryan, Pulaski Twp federal census p624A-B, the Neff household was listed as John G 46 PA, Mary 44 PA, James S 21 PA, Joseph W 19 PA laborer, Christopher 15 PA, Anna M 14 OH, Flora B 11 OH, George 9 OH, Charles 7 OH, Harry 6 OH, and Barbara Carlstadt 5 OH with parents born in Switzerland.  In the 1880 Bryan, Pulaski Twp, Williams Co, OH federal census p640, Cathern Carlstadt 18 OH with parents both of Bavaria lived with the Jerome and Sarah Gleason family.

Katie charged Joseph with committing adultery with Lilly J. McNutt in the Bryan home of Harriet Whitman on 30 Dec 1883.  This happened again on 7 Jan 1884 and other days since then.  Katie stated that Joseph owned property and she gave a list of people who owed him money.  She called as witnesses the following people: Susie Hafer (a notorious madam of a house of prostitution), Ray, Marie, and Lillian Carlstadt, and John B. Jones.  Katie requested alimony and custody of their daughter.  A divorce was granted. 

Next Joseph married Mary Ella Bowlsby on 30 Aug 1887.  Mary Ella was born in Williams Co, OH on 21 Apr 1871.  The couple lived in Bryan according to the 1900 Bryan, Pulaski Twp, Williams Co, OH federal census, but moved to Palmer, Putnam Co, OH by 1910.  Mary Ella died on 16 Nov 1913.  The couple had a daughter, Hernas H, born Nov 1891.  After Ella’s death Joseph married a third wife, Carrie or Cassie Campbell, born 1871 in Ohio.  Joseph Neff died on 7 Oct 1932 in Ney, Defiance Co, OH.

Katie Neff married John Daniel Winch in Wms Co on 20 May 1888 (Marriage V5 #1233).  John was married to Catherine Beach who died on 13 Feb 1885 @29Y 2M 20D.  She was buried in the Bryan Fountain Grove Cemetery.  John (1853-1924), a native of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, PA, was a foundry worker who was a hero for saving a tannery and stave mill on 4 Oct 1875 from blowing up.  He burned his hands while holding open a safety valve.  He was the son of John and Elizabeth Winch, natives of Germany and PA, respectively.  Upon his death on 28 July1924 in Defiance Co, OH, he was buried beside his first wife.  Kathryn Winch, aged 78 OH, widow, was still living in Defiance, Defiance Co, OH as enumerated in the 1940 federal census for that location.

Bessie May Neff, daughter of the divorced couple, married Fred H Porter on 24 Dec 1906 in Defiance Co, OH.