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

Francis S. Kennedy v Margaret Grim Kennedy (Journal 15 p62 case number 2081 – 17 July 1889; Roll 47 Box 157 case number 2081 – 25 May 1889)

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 17 July 2011)

The couple was married in Williams Co, OH on 15 Oct 1882 (Marriage V5 #228 says 18 Oct 1882).  They did not have children.  Francis complained that Margaret was willfully absent for more than three years.  He said he was abandoned on 30 Dec 1885.  He called a witness statement into evidence.  His witness was John C. Grim, a 31-year-old civil engineer lately of Columbus, OH.  His sister was Margaret Kennedy.  John stated that Margaret had come to live with him in Bryan.  John also stated that Francis owned a half interest in the drug store known as Long and Kennedy in Bryan.

In her answer Margaret said Francis was guilty of gross neglect and he refused to live with her.  She had no money and was in ill health.  Francis owned Lot 5 and Lot 8 in Stough’s Addition, Bryan, Pulaski Twp (also Sec 1), OH plus goods, chattel, and drug stock.  She wanted the divorce to proceed and be restored to her maiden name of Grim. Margaret was granted reasonable alimony of $540 with a payment schedule.

Francis Kennedy was born on 23 Sept 1842 in Ashland Co, OH, the son of George Washington and Charlotte Catherine Glessner Kennedy.  The family came to Williams Co, OH in the spring of 1855 where the father bought 200 acres in Section 1 of Pulaski Twp.

1850 Milton, Ashland, Ohio; Roll: M432_658; Page: 17B; Image: 295.

h/h 15/15 Francis 8 OH living with his parents and siblings

Francis took part in the Civil War in Co H 38^th OVI from 16 Sept 1861 – 5 Sept 1864.    He later attended Oberlin College and taught in Ohio and Kansas.  In 1871 he set up a drug store in Bryan.  In 1876 he was in Ottawa Co, OH with a drug store but came back to Bryan in 1878.  In Aug 1878 he established a partnership in the Long and Kennedy Drug Store. On 30 Oct 1879 he transferred his church membership to the Presbyterian Church in Bryan. (The History of Williams Co, OH, Weston Goodspeed, 1882, p568-569; County of Williams, Shinn, 1905, p445-446)

He married Maggie Grim on 15 Oct 1882 and divorced her c25 May 1889. 

1890 Veterans Schedule, Pulaski Twp, Williams Co, OH – Francis Kennedy Co H private

1900 Bryan, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T623_1332; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 111.

h/h 101/105 Kennedy, Francis (Sept 1842) 57 widower Oh-PA-PA clerk in drug store

Deck, Silla C niece 16

Kennedy, Anna R 74 mother (step mother)

Boynton, Herman 34 roomer

Francis Kennedy married Anna P. Opdycke Carroll on 1 Jan 1901 in Williams Co, OH

(Marriage V8 p246).

According to Shinn, Francis had retired as of 1905 after running a drug store for 25 years.  He died on 23 Feb 1913 in Bryan and was buried in Shiffler Cem, Jefferson Twp, Williams Co, OH.

Margaret “Maggie” Grim was born in 1855 OH, the daughter of Joseph and Allison Grim.

1860 Pulaski, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M653_1052; Page: 53; Image: 110; Family History Library Film: 805052.

h/h ?? Grim, Joseph 31 OH

Allison 33 Scotland

Martha 7 OH

Margaret 5 OH

John 2 OH

1870 Pulaski, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M593_1282; Page: 170A; Image: 343; Family History Library Film: 552781

h/h 182/182 Grimm, Allison 43 Scotland

Martha 18 OH

Margarett 16 OH

John 14 OH

Francis 7 OH

1880 Pulaski, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 1078; Family History Film: 1255078; Page: 616B; Enumeration District: 11; Image: 0094.

h/h 9/12 Grim, Allison C 51 Scotland-Scot-Scot

Martha A 28 dau OH-OH-Scot

Maggie E 25 dau OH-OH-Scot

John C 22 son OH-OH-Scot clerk in store

Francis J 18 son OH-OH-Scot farm laborer

Nothing has been uncovered about Margaret after the divorce.