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

William B. Clay v Rosa Cox Clay Divorce Action

By Pamela Pattison Lash

Bryan Democrat, 6 Apr 1905, p1

New Case for Divorce Filed Last Week

William B. Clay wants a divorce from his wife, Rosa, alleging being willfully absent for over three years and that in May 1902 she wrongfully locked the door against him and refused to permit the plaintiff to enter his home in West Unity.  He also asks for an interest in the property now in her name.  They were married in 1889 and have no children.

Bryan Democrat, 25 May 1905

William B. Clay of West Unity v Rosa Clay - gross neglect of duty.  She was restored to maiden name of Rosa Cox.

I had these short articles in the newspaper to begin the detailing of this couple.  The following is what I was able to find:

The couple was married in Williams Co, OH on 29 Dec 1887 (Marriage V5 #1145).

William B Clay (Dec 1864 – aft 1930) was the son of Henry and Alcinda Snediker Clay.

Rosa Catherine Cox (1861 OH – 17 Feb 1934 West Unity, Williams Co, OH) was the daughter of Samuel and Amanda Hutchison Cox. Note her online death certificate shows she is married to William Clay.

1870 Wauseon, Fulton, Ohio; Roll: M593_1202; Page: 59A; Image: 121; Family History Library Film: 552701.

h/h 160/173 Clay, Henry 28 carpenter OH

Alcinda 29 OH

William 6 OH

Eddie 4 OH

Snediker, Leroy 15 OH

1870 Gorham, Fulton, Ohio; Roll: M593_1202; Page: 153B; Image: 310; Family History Library Film: 552701.

h/h 163/170 Cox, Samuel 35 OH farmer

Jane 28 OH

Catherine 9 OH

1880 Brady, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 1077; Family History Film: 1255077; Page: 508B; Enumeration District: 5; Image: 0651.

h/h 19/20 Clay, Henry C 39 carpenter OH-PA-PA

Alcinda 40 wife OH-OH-OH

William B 15 son laborer OH-OH-OH

Thomas Edgar 13 son laborer OH-OH-OH

Daniel M 8 son OH-OH-OH

1880  Franklin, Fulton, Ohio; Roll: 1017; Family History Film: 1255017; Page: 70D; Enumeration District: 18; Image: 0580.

h/h 230/238 Hoover, George 56 PA-PA-PA farmer; married during census year

Amanda wife 40 OH-PA-PA

Rosa step-dau 18 OH-OH-OH

1900 Brady, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T623_1332; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 100.

h/h 76/81 Clay, William B (Dec 1864) 35 mar 12Y OH-OH-OH oar finisher

Rona wife (Aug 1869) 30 OH-OH-OH no children

His parents were found in 1900 Brady, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T623_1332; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 100 as Henry (Dec 1840) 59 OH-PA-PA mar 36Y 4/4 ch; wife Alcinda D (Mar 1839) 59 OH-OH-OH; 1910 and 1920 same location for Alcinda who is widowed; Alcinda (26 Mat 1839 Mansfield, Richland Co, OH – 23 Jan 1921 West Unity, Williams Co, OH; buried in Floral Grove Cem, West Unity; d/o Daniel and Lyda Dillon Snediker); Henry Clay was the son of George and Margaret Clay of 1850 Millcreek Twp, Williams Co, OH federal census

Her mother was found in 1900 Brady, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T623_1332; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 100 as Amanda J Hoover, widow, (Dec 1840) 59 OH-PA-PA no occup, living several places down from William Clay’s parents in West Unity

1910 Toledo Ward 6, Lucas, Ohio; Roll: T624_1209; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0076; Image: 9; FHL Number: 1375222.

Washington St

h/h /46 Clay, William B 45 mar 2x mar 5Y OH-OH-OH saloon proprietor

Rex wife 30 mar 1x mar 5Y OH-Germ-Germ no children

1910 Brady, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T624_1241; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0117; Image: 608; FHL Number: 1375254.

Church St, West Unity

h/h 87/91 Cox, Rosa 45 divorced OH-OH-OH dressmaker; living two places from her mother Amanda J Hoover

1920 Marion Ward 1, Marion, Ohio; Roll: T625_1416; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 117; Image: 63.

h/h 52/53 Clay, William B SR 55 OH-OH-OH pool room proprietor

Rex wife 42 OH-OH-OH

William B Jr son 5 OH-OH-OH

Also living there in 1930 US Federal Census plus two roomers

1920 Brady, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T625_1450; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 149; Image: 29. Both Amanda Hoover 79 and her daughter Rosa C. Cox 50 are living next door to one another; both recorded as widows; Rosa continues as a dressmaker

1930 West Unity, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 1891; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 1; Image: 6.0. h/h 84/78 Cox, Rosa 59 OH-OH-OH divorced, no occup; her mother has died

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.

Sensitive Subject - Insanity in Williams County, Ohio - Schnurr

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 16 May 2011)


A day after I posted this, I found more information plus a correction to the online death record of Ursula Schnur, so look for add-ons in bold.

Thank goodness for old newspapers being available for public research.  Here is an example of an insanity hearing that was mentioned in a Williams Co, OH newspaper, printed close to 106 years ago; however upon closer research one finds an error in the account.

Bryan Democrat, 1 June 1905

“An inquest as to the sanity of Ursula Schnurr, a daughter of John Schnurr who lives one mile south of Stryker, was held before Judge Schrider last Monday.  After hearing the testimony of three witnesses – Geo Buehrer, Charles F Mignin, and John Schnurr, she was found to be a fit subject to be sent to the hospital to undergo treatment.  She was taken to the Toledo state hospital for insane on Wednesday by Sheriff Ames.”

Tie this in with the following information:

Ursula Schnur - Williams Co, OH Probate case number 4698 misc – 18 May 1905 (i.e. one will be unable to see the case until a change, if ever, in judicial personnel takes place in Williams County, OH)

Tie this to the Ohio Death Records online:

Ursula Schnurr died on 26 July 1915 in Toledo, Lucas Co, OH.  According to her online death certificate she was married, 58 years old (born 1857), and buried in the Evansport Cemetery.

Note is appears that Ursula remained as inmate of the Toledo State Hospital for Insanity for ten years before her death. Note that according to the Springfield Twp Cemeteries, WCGS, both Ursula A Schnur (1856-1915) and husband John Schnur (1854-1924) are buried in the Mt. Zion Cemetery.  Ursula's father, Martin Buehrer, a cooper from Luzern, Switzerland, is also buried in that cemetery with the dates of 12 Apr 1823 - 3 July 1891.  There is also more data on the Buehrer family in The Ancestry and History of the Buehrer Families, James D. Buehrer, 1916, p37.

John Schnur  (20 Jan 1854, Williams Co, OH – 25 June 1924, Springfield Twp, Williams Co, OH) @70Y 5M 5D, buried in Reformed Cemetery, widower, spouse – Ursula, father Henry Schnur; both parents natives of Germany)

Now we have a better picture of who Ursula Schnurr really was – NOT the daughter of John Schnurr, but his wife.

From other sources I have been able to piece together a little bit of information regarding the husband, John, and his wife, Ursula Buehrer Schnurr.

1860 Springfield, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M653_1052; Page: 72; Image: 148; Family History Library Film: 805052.

h/h /1092 Snoren, Henry 42 Alsace farmer

Lucy 43 Wurt

George 9 OH

John 6 OH

Laura 2 OH

1870 Springfield, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M593_1282; Page: 206B; Image: 418; Family History Library Film: 552781.

h/h 211/211 Shiner, Henry 50 FR farmer

Louisa 53 Wurtem

George 17 OH

John 15 OH

Lena 12 OH

1880 Bryan, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 1078; Family History Film: 1255078; Page: 678A; Enumeration District: 13; Image: 0217.

h/h 282/302 Shnur, Henry 60 Germ-Germ-Germ farmer

Lucy wife 63 Germ-Germ-Germ

John son 25 single OH-Germ-Germ

1883; Arrival: New York, United States; Microfilm Serial: M237; Microfilm Roll: M237_461; Line: 43; List Number: 166

On 12 Feb 1883 aboard the Labrador a family arrived in NY from port of departure, LeHavre, FR; their birthplace was recorded as Switzerland; their destination was Ohio.  Family members arriving in the US were:

Burrer, Martin (1824) 59

Verena (1855) 28 (Mrs. Seiler in Fulton Co, OH)

Ursula (1857) 26

Jean (male – 1859) 24 (in 1892 went to CA seeking gold and died 1897)

Martin (1859) 24 (married M Miller in Williams Co, OH)

Guillane (1862) 21 (known as William, b1861, 1882 graduate of military academy in Zurich; became a mail carrier in US, married Wilhelmina Fuchs)

Maria (1865) 18 (Mrs Schlatter of Defiance Co, OH)

Jacob (1859) 24

Jean (1862) 21

John Schnur married Ursula Buehrer in Williams Co, OH on 7 May 1891 (Marriage V6 #442)

1900 Springfield, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T623_1332; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 115.

h/h 208/209 Shnur, John (Jan 1854) 46 mar 9Y OH-Germ-Germ farmer

Ursula wife (June 1858) 4/2 ch Switz-Switz-Switz

Albert son (Sept 1893) 6 OH-OH-Switz (died 2 July 1958 - buried by his parents in Mt. Zion Cem)

Samuel son (July 1897) 2 OH-OH-Switz

Williams Co, OH Probate case number 4698 misc – 18 May 1905

1910 Springfield, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T624_1241; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 0133; Image: 1020; FHL Number: 1375254.

h/h 219/224 Shnur, John 56 mar 1x mar 19Y OH-Germ-Germ farmer

Albert S son 16 OH-OH-Switz/Germ

Samuel F son 12 OH-OH-Switz-Germ

1910 Toledo Ward 10, Lucas, Ohio; Roll: T624_1209; Page: 17B; Enumeration District: 0131; Image: 1164; FHL Number: 1375222.

Mosula Schmier 58 married, 2ch, Germ-Germ-Germ, inmate of Toledo State Hospital for Insane, can read and write, speaks English

Note the real name of the inmate was Ursula Schnurr.

1920 Springfield, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T625_1450; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 167; Image: 420.

h/h 156/165 Schnur, John 65 widower OH-FR-Germ farmer

Albert S (Sigmund) son 26 OH-OH-OH single, farm laborer

Samuel (Fred) son 22 OH-OH-OH single, farm laborer