Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Benn, 1905 (Newspaper)

Lucinda Shade Benn v Aaron Benn

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 29 May 2011)

I began research only with these two newspaper articles and then located other sources that helped to bring a genealogical detailing for this couple.

Bryan Democrat, 27 July 1905, p1

One of three divorce cases

Parties of third suit have lived together as man and wife for over thirty years.

Now the better half asks to be forever separated from her husband, Aaron Benn, charging him with gross neglect of duty.  Lucinda Benn in the petition filed by her attorney, Charles E Scott, says that for more than seven years her husband has willfully failed to provide her with necessary support, comfort, and care and sustenance.  During that time plaintiff says she had to support herself and that for four years she washed and ironed, sometimes as many as seven washings a week.  Years ago, while living at Melbern, she cared for the defendant’s parents.  She says that for twenty years solicitude given his father, and for sixteen years during which she faithfully cared for his mother, she received no compensation.  At the time of their marriage he had three children by a former wife, Mrs. Benn raised them to manhood and womanhood.

She further alleges that for the last ten years as frequently as once a month he has called her indecent names.  On July 18 at their home in Bryan the defendant in a fit of madness said to the plaintiff, ‘you keep your mouth shut or I’ll knock your teeth down your throat.”  This conduct on his part having continued for so many years plaintiff says that she became afraid of him and now fears him.  She therefore asks that she be granted a divorce and that property now in her name be decreed upon her.  She owns lots Nos 80 and 82 in Allen’s Addition to Bryan, besides wearing apparel and household goods.  They have no children.

Bryan Democrat, 3 Aug 1905 p1

She Liked Other Men

In the answer of Aaron Benn to the petition for divorce filed by his wife Lucinda, several weeks ago, he charges that during their married life he treated her as his faithful wife, despite the knowledge he had that Mrs. Benn had on numerous occasions been in company with and associated with other men.  He admits that they were married about thirty years ago, that they have no living children, that plaintiff separated from him on July 28 but says that she left him without just cause or provocation.  He also admits that Mrs. Benn is correct in her statement regarding his father and mother and three children who were at times members of their household.  He differs from Mrs. Benn in her statements regarding the purchase of the lots described in her petition.  Although the property is in her name Benn claims that he paid a part of the purchase price.

He denies each and every other averment and allegation contained in her petition and asks that it be dismissed.  CL Newcomer is his attorney.

Bryan Democrat, 28 Dec 1905 p1

Lucinda Benn v Aaron Benn, divorce decree as prayed for.  Title of plaintiff quitted in property in real estate.  Plaintiff gets household goods save sufficient to furnish bedroom for the defendant.  Horse and buggy to be sold, costs paid thereon and balance of proceeds thereof to be divided between the parties.

Lucinda Shade, daughter of Henry and Mary Wilhelm Shade, was born on 29 Aug 1849 in Montgomery Co, OH.  She died on 28 July 1941 in Bryan, Pulaski Twp, Williams Co, OH; she was buried in Brown Cem, Center Twp, Williams Co, OH. 

1850 Miami, Montgomery, Ohio; Roll: M432_713; Page: 39A; Image: 84.

Shade, Lucinda 2 OH with parents

1860 Bryan, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M653_1052; Page: 40; Image: 84; Family History Library Film: 805052.

h/h Shade, Henry 47 PA

Mary 46 PA

Jacob 14 OH

Lucinda 12 OH

Mary 10 OH

Maria 6 OH

(male) 3 OH

Andrew 30 OH

1870 Bryan, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M593_1282; Page: 199A; Image: 401; Family History Library Film: 552781.

h/h 407/407 Shade, Henry 50 PA farmer

Mary 40 PA

Lucinda 20 OH

Mary 18 OH

Maria 15 OH

Henry 12 OH

John 9 OH

Malinda 6 OH

Her parents were buried in Brown Cemetery – Henry Shade (1810 – 1894) and Mary A. Shade (1826 – 1909)

1880 Pulaski, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 1078; Family History Film: 1255078; Page: 628A; Enumeration District: 11; Image: 0117.

Aaron F. Benn, son of Samuel and Catherine Benn, was born in April 1832 NY – aft 1910).  His father, Samuel Benn (1800 Broome Co, NY – 1 May 1888 Center Twp, Williams Co, OH – Deaths V2 p46)

1850 Lyme, Huron Co, OH – Aaron Benn 18 NY living with parents and siblings

Sometime before the 1860 US federal census was taken, Aaron Benn married Nancy Gilbert, who was the daughter of Dr. Isaac and Betsey Bacon Gilbert, living in 1850 Thompson Twp, Seneca Co, OH; the Gilbert family later located in Bryan, Williams Co, OH.

1860 Reed, Seneca, Ohio; Roll: M653_1034; Page: 127; Image: 261; Family History Library Film: 805034.

h/h 335/324 Benn, Aaron 27 NY merchant

Nancy 22 OH

Nancy Benn, a native of OH, died in Bryan, Pulaski Twp, Williams Co, OH on 28 Nov 1869 @31 Y of consumption. (Death V1 p2)

1870 Bryan, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M593_1282; Page: 179A; Image: 361; Family History Library Film: 552781.

h/h 72/72 Ben, Samuel 73 grocer NY

Catherine 75 NY

Aaron 42 NY grocer

Dora 9 OH

Addie 5 OH

Frank 3 OH

Williams Co, OH Probate – case number 617 – 15 Nov 1873 – guardianship for Ada, Frank, and Madora Benn

C1879 Samuel Benn set up dry goods store in Melbern, Center Twp, Williams Co, OH

1880 Center, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 1078; Family History Film: 1255078; Page: 613C; Enumeration District: 10; Image: 0086

h/h 292/303 Benn, Aaron  46 NY-NY-NY dry goods merchant

Lucinda wife 28 OH-OH-OH

Madora dau 19 OH-NY-OH

Adia dau 15 OH-NY-OH

Frank son 12 has scarlet fever OH-NY-OH

Samuel father 79 NY-NY-NY dry goods merchant

Catherine mother 85 NY-Germ-Germ

1900 Bryan, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T623_1332; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 112.

h/h 183/185 Benn, Aaron F (Apr 1832) 68 mar 28Y NY-NY-NY

Lucinda wife (Aug 1841) 58 0/0 ch OH-PA-PA

Minnie B dau (July 1882) 17 Canada-NY-OH…….puzzle??

1910 Pulaski, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T624_1241; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0129; Image: 910; FHL Number: 1375254.

h/h 81/87 Shade, John 48 OH-PA-PA carpenter/house builder

Benn, Lucinda sister 60 divorced 0/0 ch OH-PA-PA no occup

1910 De Witt, Clinton, Iowa; Roll: T624_398; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 0022; Image: 204; FHL Number: 1374411.

h/h 333/337 Benn, Aaron commercial hardware traveler, boarder 75 NY-NY-NY widower

1920 Pulaski, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T625_1450; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 161; Image: 289.

h/h 228/236 Shade, John 58 OH-PA-PA carpenter

Benn, Lucinda sister 68 widow OH-PA-PA

Bryan Press, 31 July 1941 p6 obit

At the age of 91 Lucinda Benn died at the home of her brother, John Shade, on Monday.  She was buried in Brown Cemetery.