Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Hart (Roll 48)

Rosetta Barrus Hart v George W. Hart (Journal 15 p186 – Jan 1890; Roll 48 Box 159 case number 2176) – 1890 (see George Byron Metzler v Arvilla Sedalia Hart Metzler divorce proceedings)

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 25 December 2011)

The couple was married on 18 Dec 1859 in Morenci, Lenawee Co, MI. (Online marriage record states the couple was married on 22 Dec 1859.)

Rosetta charged that on 25 Nov 1888 George committed adultery with Samantha Geeseman at their home in West Unity and has done since at diverse times and places.  She also charged George with drunkenness.  It would appear, although not stated, that the divorce action was dismissed as evidenced by the 1900 federal census below; this is verified by the Journal 15 p186, which stated the divorce action was dismissed.

Rosetta Barrus Hart, was the daughter of unknown Hammond and Ellenor Taylor; she was born on 15 Sept 1828 in Maine and died on 18 Sept 1912 in West Unity, Brady Twp, Williams Co, OH.  On her son’s death certificate she was identified as Rosetta Taylor.  Rosetta was buried in Floral Grove Cemetery, West Unity, Brady Twp, Williams Co, OH next to her husband, George W. Hart (1834 – no date); George has a Civil War marker.

Children:

1. George W. born 18 Dec 1860, OH; died on 17 July 1913 in West Unity, Williams Co, OH; buried in Floral Grove Cem

2. Sedalia Lillie A. born 1867; died as wife of GB Metzler on 3 Jan 1887 @ 19Y 7M along with her son Clarence V. Metzler, died 29 Apr 1886 @ 10M 14D; they are both buried beside her parents

1864 Williams Co, OH Atlas – George Hart, Jefferson Twp, Sec 32N

George Hart was a CW veteran with service in Co H 164^th OVI.

1870 Franklin, Fulton, Ohio; Roll: M593_1202; Page: 91B; Image: 186; Family History Library Film: 552701

PO West Unity

h/h 161/173 Hart, George 36 OH engineer

Rosa 41 ME

Augusta 14 IL

George 9 OH

Lillie 3 OH

1874 Williams Co, OH Atlas – George Hart, Jefferson Twp, Sec 32

1880 Brady, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 1077; Family History Film: 1255077; Page: 514A; Enumeration District: 5; Image: 0662.

h/h141/153 Hart, George 45 OH-PA-VA engineer

Rosetta 51 wife  ME-ME-ME

George W son 19 OH-OH-ME day laborer

Sedalia dau 13 OH-OH-ME

1900 Brady, Williams, Ohio, Roll: T623_1332; Page 7A; Enumeration District: 100.

h/h  189/194 Hart, George W (July 1833) 66 mar 41Y OH-NY-VA

Rosetta wife (Sept 1828) 71 7/4 ch ME-ME-ME

1910 West Unity, Brady, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T624_1241; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0117; Image: 616; FHL Number: 1375254.

Jackson St

h/h 215/220 Hart, Washington H 76 mar 56Y no occup OH-OH-OH

Rosetta wife 82  2/1 ch  OH-OH-OH

The lady accused of adultery with George Hart, Samantha McGance Geeseman, married Jeremiah Daniel Geeseman, 22 July 1865 in Williams Co, OH (Marriage V3 p449) and the couple was found in 1870 West Unity, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M593_1282; Page: 19A; Image: 41; Family History Library Film: 552781. Birth records for her children also show her maiden name to be McGance.

1880 Jefferson, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 1077; Family History Film: 1255077; Page: 525C; Enumeration District: 6; Image: 0684.

h/h 149/161 Giesman, Daniel 38 Oh-OH-OH carpenter

Samantha 28 wife OH-OH-OH

Hester A 13 dau OH-OH-OH

Emma W 11 dau OH-OH-OH

Elmer 8 son OH-OH-OH

George F 4 son OH-OH-OH

Cora 1 dau OH-OH-OH

1900 Brady, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T623_1332; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 100.

h/h 230/231 Geeselman, Samantha widow (June 1848) 51 OH-Ire-unk living with her son Elmer

She again appeared in the Brady Twp, Williams Co, OH federal census for 1910 p10B as a 62 year-old widow living with son Elmer and a boarder, but disappeared by 1920.  There is a Jeremiah Geeseman and wife Susan buried in Floral Grove Cemetery, West Unity, OH, but it has not been yet established if Samantha is this Susan.

Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Elkins Journal 14 and 15; (Roll 48)

Sarah Rinkle Klopenstein Elkins v Ellsworth E. Elkins (Journal 14, Journal 15 p101 - 16 Nov 1889; p116 - 22 Nov 1889; Roll 48 Box 159 case number 2138) – 19 Nov 1889

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 8 December 2011)

The couple was married in Williams Co, OH on 25 Sept 1884 (Marriage V5 #527).  Sarah said they were living separate and in her deposition she categorized herself as destitute.  Sarah asked for alimony.  She had two minor children from her first husband (Klopenstein).  She’s had to labor in the fields for money.

Sarah’s mother, Sarah Rinkle, stated that on 18 Nov 1889 she was living separate from Ellsworth.  The Elkins family lived with her and then they moved to Bryan because she (Sarah Rinkle) asked them to leave.  Later she moved in with them.

In his deposition Ellsworth said his wife lied.  He’s supported her, her children, and his mother-in-law.  At his home in Bryan he asked his mother-in-law to leave so he could have some peace but Sarah Rinkle wouldn’t budge.  The boys are unruly, especially the older one.  Ellsworth would like his wife and the younger son to live with him.  His mother-in-law is verbally abusive to him but he would like this case to be dismissed. 

The case notes contain a laundry list of personal property belonging to each party.  Sarah Elkins also wanted an injunction to keep her husband from selling the real estate. The injunction was requested on 16 Nov 1889; Sarah requested alimony on 22 Nov 1889 but Ellsworth asked for the case to be dismissed.  A divorce was eventually granted.

At the risk of advertising my own work, much of Ellsworth’s family connections are detailed in my booklet, Native Sons Gone Wrong: A Genealogical Account of Murder in Bryan, OH, 2001 (WCGS publication).  Ellsworth’s step-brother, William B. Elkins, was arrested, tried, and found guilty of murdering Arthur Brown.  He served 4 ½ years at the Ohio State Prison.

Ellsworth Elza “Dolly” Elkins (7 May 1861 Williams Co, OH – 4 Jan 1936, Toledo, Lucas Co, OH) was the son of William Oliver Elkins and Sarah Furr.  The couple was married in Morenci. Lenawee Co, MI on 4 July 1853.  After his mother’s death WO Elkins married Mary Adaline Mankins on 12 May 1864. 

Ellsworth married Agnes McCollough (31 Oct 1878, Toledo, Lucas Co, OH – 29 Feb 1920, Toledo, Lucas Co, OH) on 1 Dec 1894 in Williams Co, OH (Marriage V6 #1305).  They the following children: Helen born 4 Jan 1896, died 18 Jan 1909 Toledo; Earnest born 11 June 1897, died 15 Oct 1928 Toledo; Lylah Nancy, born in Toledo, OH on 3 Feb 1899, an unnamed daughter 1 Jan 1902-4 Jan 1902, and unnamed son born 8 Feb 1919-11 Feb 1919.

He married an Ella sometime after Agnes’ death in 1920.

Sarah Rinkle was born c1849 in NY to French immigrant parents Frederick and Sarah Rinkle.  The Rinkle family was enumerated in the 1850 Center Twp, Williams Co, OH federal census p73 as Fred 26 FR, Sally 25 FR, and Sally 1 NY.  They were listed in the 1860 Bryan, Pulaski Twp, Williams Co, OH federal census p33 as Frederick 36 ELS shoemaker, Sarah 36 ELS, and Sarah 11 NY.

Sarah’s father died c 3 Mar 1863 as evidenced by his estate probate (#740).  Her mother, Sarah Rinkle died 17 May 1899 in Toledo, Lucas Co, OH, and possible first husband, Jacob Kloppenstine, are buried beside one another in the Fountain Grove Cemetery but do not have visible markers.

Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Babinger (Roll 48)

Dora Mary Slusser Babinger v Lewis Babinger (Journal 15 p201 – 3 March 1890; Roll 48 Box 161 case number 2146) – Mar 1890

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 14 May 2012)

The couple was married on 15 Jan 1882 in Hillsdale Co, MI (Marriage E p346).

Dora charged Lewis with extreme cruelty.  He made threats and raised a glass fruit jar against her face.  This coupled with disrespectful language and humiliation in front of her friends and the community at large prompted her to seek this action.  The couple had a five-year-old son.  The proceedings were dismissed on 3 March 1890.  They were later divorced in 1908 according to an online source plus my findings in census records and later marriages for both parties.  It is not known at present where the final divorce took place.

This is what is know of the principals:

Louis Babinger (3 May 1862/1863 Williams Co, OH – 22 Feb 1946 Defiance, Defiance Co, OH) son of Louis Babinger, SR. (15 Aug 1825 Alsace, France – 24 Aug 1902 Stryker, Springfield Twp, Wms Co, OH – Death V3 p10) and Martha Magdaline Hoplinger, married 3 Jan 1856, Stark Co, OH; Martha Magdaline (15 Aug 1838 Stark Co, OH – 21 Aug 1897 Stryker, Springfield Twp, Wms Co, OH – Death V3 p7)

Louis Babinger, Jr. married a third time prior to his death; his wife’s name was Amelia.

Dora Slusser (4 June 1866 Wms Co, OH – aft 1910) d/o Samuel Slusser and Rachel Garlinger who were married in Wms Co 1 Aug 1866 – Marriage V3 p588; Dora married a second time with a likely divorce as well.

Initially I thought this - Dora Slusser has very early lineage in Williams Co, OH.  Her great-grandparents may be:

Thomas Jefferson Prettyman (4 July 1790 Sussex Co, DE – 4 Aug 1835 Williams Co, OH) and Lydia Wyatt (17 May 1792 Sussex Co, DE – 28 July 1844 Williams Co, OH)

Their dau Mary M Prettyman (16 Sept 1817 OH – 17 May 1861 Williams Co, OH; m Jones Peter Slusser, 1 May 1837 in Williams Co, OH – Marriage V1 p24; he born 25 May 1811 NY – 1 May 1867 Williams Co, OH)

Their son Samuel Slusser married Rachael Garlinger (Nov 1840, PA – 24 May 1903 Bryan, Williams Co, OH – Death V3 p125) – see Miriam Garlinger Lawson divorce detailing for more information on this side of the family

Here is a timeline for the Babinger/Slusser family.

1850 Springfield, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M432_741; Page: 97A; Image: 192. – Slusser family in Wms Co, OH

h/h 415/424 Slusser, James 39 NY farmer 
Mary 32 OH
Thomas 12 OH
Lydia 10 OH
Samuel 7 OH
Mary 5 OH
Prettyman, Margaret 16 OH


1860 Springfield, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M653_1052; Page: 64; Image: 132; Family History Library Film: 805052. - under James and Mary Plussen
h/h 1012/972 Plussen, James 49 NY farmer
Mary 43 OH
Thomas 22 OH
Lydia 19 OH
Mary 15 OH
Marian 8 OH
Allen 1 OH
Alice 1 OH
Note - Samuel is not in this record

1860 Springfield, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M653_1052; Page: 73; Image: 149; Family History Library Film: 805052. – Popinger/Babinger family in Wms Co, OH

1864 Williams Co, OH Atlas – J. Slusser, Springfield Twp Sec 28,29

1870 Springfield, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M593_1282; Page: 205A; Image: 415; Family History Library Film: 552781.

h/h 5/5 Papinger, Louis 45 FR farmer

Lena 30 OH

Joseph 13 OH

John 10 OH

Michael 9 OH

Louis 8 OH

Frank 7 OH

Mary 2 OH

1870 Springfield, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M593_1282; Page: 215B; Image: 436; Family History Library Film: 552781.

h/h 161/161 Schlesser, Samuel 25 OH farmer

Rachel 27 PA

Mary D 3 PA

John 1 PA

Snook, Nancy 16 PA

(Note the surname is Schlesser not Slusser and children were listed as PA natives.)

1874 Williams Co, OH Atlas – L Babinger, Springfield Twp Sec 27

1880 Springfield, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 1078; Family History Film: 1255078; Page: 681C; Enumeration District: 13; Image: 0223.

h/h 337/360 Babinger, Louis 55 Germ-Germ-Germ farmer

Martha 42 wife 42 OH-Germ-Germ

Joseph 23 son OH-Germ-OH farm worker

John 21 son OH-Germ-OH farm worker

Michael 20 son OH-Germ-OH farm worker

Louis 18 son OH-Germ-OH farm worker

Frank A 17 son OH-Germ-OH

Catherine 13 dau OH-Germ-OH

Anna 5 dau Oh-Germ-OH

1880 Springfield, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 1078; Family History Film: 1255078; Page: 671C; Enumeration District: 13; Image: 0203.

h/h 183/193 Schlosser, Samuel  27 OH-MD-PA farmer

Rachel 29 wife Pa-PA-OH

Dora M  dau 12 OH-OH-PA

William  son 11 OH-OH-PA

Martha J dau 9 OH-OH-PA

David 6 son OH-OH-PA

Andrew 3 son OH-OH-PA

Clod (m) 2 son OH-OH-PA

Note – living next door to Andrew and Catherine Schlosser who already has a son Samuel S aged 19 living with him

Note – ages should be Samuel 37 and Rachel 39

Looking at this census more closely, it could be that this Samuel belongs to the following based on the birthplaces of his parents - MD and PA:

Samuel Slusser/Schlosser (1804 MD - )

Nancy Mays (1809 PA – 11 Nov 1885)

1850 Tiffin, Defiance, Ohio; Roll: M432_674; Page: 51B; Image: 615.

h/h 685/685 Slusser, Samuel 42 MD farmer

 Nancy 40 PA

Andrew 19 PA farmer

Elizabeth 17 PA

Catherine 15 PA

Lucinda 13 MD

John 10 MD

Ezra 8 MD

Samuel 6 OH

George 4 OH

Isaiah 1 OH

1860 Tiffin, Defiance, Ohio; Roll: M653_947; Page: 414; Image: 281; Family History Library Film: 803947.

h/h 974/962 Slusser, Sam 55 MD farmer

Nancy 49 PA

John 20 MD

Ezra 18 MD

Samuel 16 OH

George 14 OH

Isaiah 12 OH

William 10 OH

1870 Tiffin, Defiance, Ohio; Roll: M593_1195; Page: 178A; Image: 359; Family History Library Film: 552694.

h/h 24/24 Schlosser, Samuel 66 MD

Nancy 61 PA

William 19 OH

Catherine 36 PA

George 6 IN

1880 Tiffin, Defiance, Ohio; Roll: 1011; Family History Film: 1255011; Page: 248B; Enumeration District: 242; Image: 0722.

h/h 98/98 Schlosser, Samuel 73 farmer MD-MD-PA

Nancy wife 69 PA-PA-PA

Note – living next door to son William

More research needs to be done to definitely prove the Slusser relationship.

The couple, Dora and Louis, marry on 15 Jan 1882 in Hillsdale Co, MI.

Birth of son Sylvester Wesley Babinger (19 Jan 1885 West Unity, Brady Twp, Wms Co, OH – 11 Aug 1942 Wauseon, Fulton Co, OH; mar Mrs. Jennie Baer Kent, 20 Dec 1905, Wauseon, Fulton Co, OH) – see Baer/Bear divorce detailings for more

(Civil War service for father Lewis Babinger, SR.) 1890 Veterans Schedule for Springfield Twp, Williams Co, OH - Lewis was Pvt in Co D 38th OVI, living in Evansport, Defiance Co, OH, 10 months in service

1894 Williams Co Atlas – Mary Slusser, Springfield Twp Sec 29

Louis Babinger, Springfield Twp Sec 27

1900 Noble, Defiance, Ohio; Roll: T623_1263; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 16.

h/h 79/80 Babinger, Lewis  (May 1865) 37 OH-Germany-OH m 18Y child 1/1 farmer, rents home

Dora wife (June 1867) 32 OH-PA-PA 

Sylvester son (Jan 1884) 16 OH-OH-OH

John G brother  (Nov 1858) 42 widower

Francis W nephew  (Nov 1885) 14

14 Sept 1908 Dora Slusser Babinger married Nathan J. Hill in Fulton Co, OH

Nathan J. Hill (1870 – 26 Feb 1958 Wms Co, OH).  It would appear that Dora later divorced Nathan as he married again on 4 Dec 1913 in Lucas Co, OH to Eliza Vrooman.

1910 Delaware Twp, Defiance Co OH p117A; Louis Babinger is listed as divorced OH-Germ-Germ 46 years old, living by himself

28 May 1910, Defiance Co, OH – marriage of Louis Babinger to Mrs. Lizzie Myers, widow, d/o Mordica Fair and Caroline Rochrig; Lizetta (2 Jan 1873 Defiance Co, OH – 20 June 1921 Defiance Co, OH; bur Brunersburg Cem, Defiance Co, OH)

1910 German, Fulton, Ohio; Roll: T624_1184; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 0009; Image: 302; FHL Number: 1375197.

Lincoln St

h/h 282/293 Babinger, Sylvester 25 mar 4Y OH-OH-OH works in stave factory

Jennie 44 married 2x 2/2 ch OH-NY-NY

Hill, Dora mother 44 married 2x 1/1 ch OH-PA-PA

I can not find Dora Slusser Babinger Hill after 1910 federal census.