Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Houtz (Roll 47)

Flora M. Lawrence Houtz v Christian Houtz (Journal 15 p86 - 11 Nov 1889; p104 - 20 Nov 1889; Roll 47 Box 159 case number 2097 – 25 July 1889)

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 8 December 2011)

The couple was married on 1 Mar 1886, Defiance, Defiance Co, OH.  They did not have children.  Flora stated that Christian left her after consummating the marriage and did not cohabit with her. She charged him with neglect and providing no support.  He was willfully absent for more than three years.  She did not know his whereabouts.  A notice of divorce appeared in the Bryan Press on 25 July 1889 to run for six consecutive weeks.  Flora appeared before the court on 20 Nov 1889 asking for the case to be dismissed but she must have changed her mind. A divorce was granted.

The following MAY be the errant husband, Christian Houtz.

1870 Defiance, Defiance, Ohio; Roll: M593_1195; Page: 33A; Image: 69; Family History Library Film: 552694.

h/h 72/83 Houtz, John B 31 OH blacksmith

Henrietta 26 OH

John 7 OH

William 3 OH

Christian 6/12 OH

1880 Defiance, Defiance, Ohio; Roll: 1011; Family History Film: 1255011; Page: 103A; Enumeration District: 233; Image: 0465.

h/h 386/445 Houtz, John B 43 blacksmith OH-OH-OH

Nettie 40 wife OH-Pruss-Pruss

John A 17 son OH-OH-OH

William 13 son OH-OH-OH

Christian 11 son OH-OH-OH

Albert 6 son OH-OH-OH

Henry 3 son OH-OH-OH

Nelly 1 dau OH-OH-OH

1900 Napoleon, Henry, Ohio; Roll: T623_1286; Page: 32A; Enumeration District: 32.

h/h 747/773 Houtz, Christian (Dec 1869) 30 OH-OH-OH cigar maker mar 7Y

Mary wife (July 1870) 29 Can-Ire-Ire 3/3 ch

Thomas A son (July 1893) 6 WI-OH-Can

Joseph E son (Mar 1896) 4 WI-OH-Can

Elmer J son (Oct 1898) 1 OH-OH-Can

1910 Ashland Ward 4, Ashland, Wisconsin; Roll: T624_1700; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0005; Image: 728; FHL Number: 1375713.

h/h67/79 Hautz, Christian 40 mar 1x 17Y OH-OH-OH cigar maker with his wife and 4 children – Joseph, Elmer, Edwin, Marie

1920 Ashland Ward 4, Ashland, Wisconsin; Roll: T625_1975; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 5; Image: 654

h/h 91/108 Houtz, Christian 50 OH-OH-OH cigar maker

Mrs. Christ wife 48 Can-Ire-Ire with 2 sons and dau 15 born WI

Christian Houtz, cigar maker, (1866 Defiance, OH – 20 Aug 1934 Chicago, IL; bur Ashland Co, WI); married, father John Houtz (online source)

What of Flora?  I traced a few leads but nothing satisfies me.  I wonder if Flora was recorded as Clara (see below).  More research needs to be done on this.

Clara Lawrence 18 Oh-OH-OH lived in Defiance Co, OH infirmary in 1880