Oscar C. Beechler v Agnes Wright Beechler (Journal 15 p254; Roll 48 Box 160 case number 2219) – Mar 1890
By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 13 October 2021)
The couple was married on 4 Feb 1879 in Dundee, Monroe Co, MI. (Marriage License data - She was 20 and he was 31. Their witnesses, both from Dundee, MI were George Covell and Fred Sheer or Freer.)
Oscar charged that Agnes had been absent for more than three years and they had no children together. He believed Alice lived in Glen Lord, Berrien Co, MI. A legal notice appeared in The Tri-State Alliance beginning 13 Mar 1890 and running six consecutive weeks. Oscar was granted a divorce.
Oscar, born May 1847 in Wayne Co, OH, was the son of George and Susan Hawkins Beechler. The Beechlers moved to this county c1848 and had the following children: Malona, Thomas, Mar, Elizabeth, John C, George Nicholas, Sarah, Susan, Oscar, Martha, Curtis W, and Xenophan. His parents were Lancaster, PA natives - George Beechler (1800-1876) and mother Susan (1810-1903). They are buried in the Fountain Grove Cemetery in Bryan, Williams Co, OH.
Agnes Wright (May 1860 Wooster, Wayne Co, OH –31 December 1943, Berrien Co, MI) was daughter of William C and Naomi Wright. After the divorce she married Monroe Nathan Lord (1818-aft 1900), on 16 October 1890 in Benton Harbor, Berrien Co, MI; he was married before to Jane L. Austin who died in 1887; he was the father of three children.
Note two things –
1. There is a considerable age gap between Agnes and Monroe Lord (about 42 Years) but that was not too unusual for the time.
2. In Oscar’s divorce deposition he said Agnes lived in Glen Lord, Berrien Co, MI. I wonder if he meant to say she was living with a Lord in Berrien.
Here is what I’ve found as a timeline for Agnes:
1900 Benton, Berrien, Michigan; Roll: T623_702; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 57.
h/h336/340 Lord, Monroe (Nov 1818) 81 mar 11Y NY-Can-Can farmer
Agnes wife (Oct 1850) 49 0/0 ch OH-OH-MA
By 1910 Agnes was a widow living in Benton, Berrien Co, MI
In 1920 Agnes was still living in Benton, Berrien Co, MI
Now for the Beechler family – here is a timeline of their life in Williams Co, OH.
The Beechlers were enumerated in the 1850 Center Twp, Wms Co, OH federal census p73, as Beechler, George 49 PA, Susan 40 OH, Malona 21 OH, Mary 17 OH, Elizabeth 15 OH, John 11 OH, George 9 OH, Sarah 6 OH, Susan 5 OH, Oscar 3 OH, Martha 1 OH.
1864 Williams Co, OH Atlas – George Beechler, Center Twp Sec 21
By the 1870 Bryan federal census the Beechler family was listed as Beechler, George 69 PA, Susan 60 OH, Mary Dongan 32 OH, Elizabeth Beechler 23 OH, Oscar Beechler 23 OH, Xenophie 16 OH, and Agnes Dongan 3 OH. – see Mary Beechler Dongan divorce detailing
1874 Williams Co, OH Atlas – George Beechler, Center Twp Sec 21
Williams Co, OH Probate – George Beechler, 6 Mar 1876 case number 1807 estate
Oscar married Agnes Wright on 4 Feb 1879 in Dundee, Monroe Co, MI.
1880 Bryan, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 1078; Family History Film: 1255078; Page: 653B; Enumeration District: 12; Image: 0168.
h/h 486/513 Beechler, OC 30 lawyer OH-PA-OH
Agnes 21 OH-OH-OH
Weston Goodspeed, The History of Williams Co, OH, 1882, p243 and 590, stated that Oscar was a lawyer in Bryan.
Divorce proceedings to end the Beechler marriage cMarch Term 1890.
Oscar married Anna Goller Stailey (10 May 1865 – 13 Dec 1945, Los Angeles, CA) on 22 Jan 1891 in Defiance Co, OH. She was the daughter of John and Christina Strahley Goller and the former of wife of Thomas J Staley/Stailey. (See - Anna Stailey v Thomas J. Stailey (Journal 14 p494 - 1 Dec 1888; Roll 46 case number 1962 – 1888; Journal 15 p3 – 28 Mar 1889 case number 1961)
The case was continued in 1888. The action shows an infant child, Albner; a visitation schedule was set but for some reason she’s not entitled to a divorce, but she must have obtained one later.)
Anna was from the Defiance Co, OH area as evidenced by the 1870 federal census:
1870 Washington, Defiance, Ohio; Roll: M593_1195; Page: 195A; Image: 393; Family History Library Film: 552694.
Goller, Anna 6 OH with her parents
There are also two other Civil and Criminal Court Rolls where Oscar C. Beechler is named – Roll 52 #3066 (1893-1894) and Roll 61 #4372 (1899-1900)
30 Apr 1882, Defiance Co, OH Marriage – Anna Goller and Thomas J Stailey
26 Oct 1886, Defiance Co, OH Births – R R Stailey, son of Anna Goller and Thomas J Stailey
Anna Goller Stailey v Thomas J. Stailey (Journal 14 p494 - 1 Dec 1888; Roll 46 case number 1962 – 1888; Journal 15 p3 – 28 Mar 1889 case number 1961)
The couple was married on 30 Apr 1882 in Defiance Co, OH. The case was continued in 1888. On 26 Oct 1886 in Defiance Co, OH a son, RR Stailey, was born to Anna Goller and Thomas J. Stailey. This action shows an infant child, Albner; a visitation schedule was set but for some reason she’s not entitled to a divorce at that time but did obtain one later.
1900 Bryan, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T623_1332; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 112.
Center St
h/h 350/355 Beechler, Oscar D (May 1847) 53 mar 9Y OH-PA-OH lawyer
Anna (May 1860) 40 wife 1/1 ch OH-OH-OH
Staley, Willie (Oct 1883) 16 step-son OH-OH-OH
h/h 351 Susan mother lived next door (June 1810) 89 widow 14/5 ch OH-PA-Del
1910 Pulaski, Williams, Ohio; Roll: T624_1241; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0130; Image: 935; FHL Number: 1375254.
202 Lynn St
h/h 114/123 Beachler, Oscar C 61 OH-OH-OH lawyer in general practice divorced
1910 Los Angeles Assembly District 74, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T624_84; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0088; Image: 247; FHL Number: 1374097.
h/h 64/65 Stailey, Anna 46 widow 2/1 ch OH-unknown-Germ dressmaker
John W son 26 single OH-OH-OH carpenter
Oscar Beechler’s obit in the Bryan Press, 9 Jan 1913, p4, stated that he died on 5 Jan 1913 and was buried in Fountain Grove Cemetery in Bryan. He was born in Center Twp 66 years before and lived in Ney and Williams Center during his early years. He was twice married and divorced from both wives.
The Bryan Democrat (Bryan, OH), 7 January 1913 p1 c5 told a slightly different tale of Oscar’s life: Oscar C Beechler, a well-known attorney of Bryan and practically a life-long resident of Williams county, died at the home of Mrs Connie Boothman, South Main Street, following an illness of a week’s duration.
A week before his death he was found in his office in a critical condition, having suffered a stroke of paralysis. The attack proved serious and he never fully regained consciousness. At the time of his death he was about 67 years of age.
Mr Beechler was born in Wayne County, OH and in the early part of his life moved to Center Township. He taught school for a number of years and studied law in the University at Ann Arbor, MI. After graduating he moved to Bryan and began the practice of law in 1873. He was connected with Philetus Smith in this profession for a number of years, but for the last few years he has conducted his practice alone. He was an industrious citizen and in his younger days was prominent in all the affairs of Williams County.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 10 o’clock at the Presbyterian Church. Rev E S Marshall will conduct the services and the chairman of the local bar association, Judge Charles E Bowersox, will also speak. Interment will be made in the Fountain Grove Cemetery.
Williams Co, OH Probate – Oscar C. Beechler, 9 Jan 1913 case number 5715 estate
