Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Grist/Griest, 1866

Mary Melissa Jones Grist/Griest v Sylvester Peter Grist/Griest (Journal 6 p608 - 3 Nov 1866; Roll 18 case number 15 - Oct 1866)

 

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 9 January 2022)

 

The couple was married on 18 Aug 1861, Florence Twp, Wms Co (Marriage V3 p188).  Mary Melissa was born on 1 Aug 1842 in Medina Co, OH, the daughter of William and Johanna Downing Jones.  According to the 1860 Lukes Corner, Florence Twp federal census, p20, the Jones family was listed as William 40 NY, Johan 40 OH, Mary 16, Andrew 13, Charles 11, Franklin 8, Vanrensler 6, William D 22, Elizabeth 20, and Jane 1.    

 

Mary said Sylvester was willfully absent for three years or more and he owned in fee simple 160 acres in Northfield, Summit Co, OH, valued at $800 and personal property of $1,000.  He lived in Summit Co.  Mary brought Susan Baum and Fred Gibbons as witnesses.  Sylvester, threatening to countersue Mary for a divorce, said on 16 Oct 1866 Mary committed adultery at the home of George Ward.  The divorce was granted and he paid court costs.

 

Mary later married the other party mentioned in the divorce, George W. Ward, b 29 June 1842, in Cedar Valley, OH, the son of John and Rebecca Ward, on 12 Apr 1867.  He was a Civil War soldier, serving in Co K 14^th OVI.  From the 1870 Florence Twp federal census, p39-40, the Wards were listed as George W 28 OH, Mary 26, William 3, and Charles 6/12. Mary died on 16 June 1918 in Blakeslee and was buried in the West Buffalo Cemetery.  George next married a Lettie.  He died on 15 Jan 1922 in Bryan and was buried beside wife Mary.  

 

Sylvester, born on 1 Feb 1839 in Northfield, Summit Co, OH, was the son of Cornelius and Elizabeth Toland Griest.  He was enumerated with them in both the 1850 and 1860 Northfied, Summit Co, OH Federal Census records. Sylvester was a Civil War veteran, serving as a corporal in Co E 88^th Indiana Volunteer Infantry out of Ft Wayne, Allen Co, IN.

 

He next married Sarah E. Coller on 28 Nov 1866 in Hudson, Summit Co, OH, and had two sons, Sydney D. and Frederick S.  Sarah was a Streetsboro, Portage Co, OH native, born in June 1840, the daughter of Sydney and Caroline Stone Coller.  Note that Sylvester remarried about three weeks after the divorce was granted.  In the 1870 Hudson, Summit Co, OH Federal Census the family was listed as Sylvester 31 OH, Sarah 29 OH and Sidney D 10/12 OH, all living with her parents; the same is true for 1880.  By 1900 same location Sylvester is 61 OH and Sarah 58 OH.He died on 23 June 1907 and was buried in the Draper Cemetery.