Divorce Action in Williams Co, OH - Russell

Samuel Russell v Irene S. Whitney Russell (Journal 12 p267 - 12 Apr 1884; Roll 40 case number 1279 – Apr 1884) – see Mary Spaulding Robinson

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 15 September 2021)

In the 1850 Center Twp, Porter Co, IN federal census p196B, Samuel Russell was listed with his family as Samuel 42 MA, Caroline 40 CT, Lorenzo 17 OH, Martha 9 OH, Mary 7 OH, and Amaraziah Lapman 24 OH laborer.  Caroline Russell died on 4 Oct 1859 @49Y 6M and was buried in the Union Street (Old City) Cem at Valparaiso, IN, along with several infants, daughter Martha (d 27 Sept 1859 @11Y), and Almon Russell (19 Apr 1831 – 5 June 1848).  In the 1860 Valparaiso, Center Twp, federal census p287, Samuel was listed as 51 MA wagon maker, Mary 17 OH, Lorenzo 26 OH, Elizabeth 22 NY, and Franklin 4/12 IN. 

Samuel Russell and Irene S. Whitney Spaulding, daughter of Thomas and Irena Place Whitney and widow of George A Spaulding, were married on 15 Sept 1861, possibly in Valparaiso, Porter Co, IN where on 19 May 1863 Irene owned Lots 7 and 8 in West Valparaiso. Irene’s mother and siblings were enumerated in the 1850 Woodbridge, Hillsdale Co, MI federal census as Irene Whitney 59 NY, Thomas 33 NY, and Sophia S. 20 NY; Irene’s father may have died before 1850. Irene by 1850 was married to George A Spaulding and she and her family were enumerated in the 1850 Hillsdale, Hillsdale Co, MI federal census and as a widow she was the head of her family in the same location via the 1860 federal census records. One of her children, Mary E Spaulding, is detailed in a divorce proceedings against her husband, James Robinson, cNovember 1873.

What is known? Irene, b Dec 1824 in NY, had a sister, Sophia Susannah Whitney, who had married Lewis Smart Hazen in Pioneer, Wms Co, OH on 17 Dec 1854; this may be the reason why the Russells moved to Pioneer in May 1869 and were enumerated in the 1870 federal census p7 as Samuel 62 MA wagon maker, Irena 46 NY, and Mary Robinson 21 MI without occupation. 

Again in the 1880 Pioneer, Madison Twp federal census p476A, they were listed as Samuel 72 MA wagon maker, and wife Irena 55 NY who was in poor and debilitating condition.  The History of Williams County, Ohio, Goodspeed, 1882, p417, stated that Samuel owned a wagon shop in Pioneer as of 1882.  Samuel charged Irene with being willfully absent for three years or more. She lived in Lucas Co, OH.  It is unclear whether a divorce was granted or whether this indeed was a divorce case as Samuel sued both Irene and Thomas C. Durbin over rent money for land Samuel owned, but in which Irene held a claim.  Samuel died on 1 Mar 1899 and was buried in the Floral Grove Cemetery in Pioneer. In the 1900 El Monte Twp, Los Angeles, CA federal census p122, Irene S. Russell, a widow, 76 NY with one child surviving (unknown at this time), lived with her sister Sophia and husband Lewis S. Hazen, an insurance agent.    

Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Robinson (John)

Rachel J. Stubbs Robinson v John M. or Jonathan Robinson (Journal 6 p67 - 30 Nov 1860; Roll 14 case number 125 - Nov 1860) – see Daggett

 

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 12 September 2021)

 

The couple was married in Bertrand, Berrien Co, MI on 10 Feb 1847.  Rachel stated that John deserted her on 16 Aug 1854 and was willfully absent for four years or more.  She needed money.  The couple had a son Daniel Henry, b 12 Dec 1851.  A legal notice appeared on 9 Oct 1860 in a local newspaper. 

 

Rachel, born 21 September 1821 NY, was the daughter of Joseph and Rebecca Armstrong Stubbs..  Rachel was first married to John Hollinshead in Williams Co, OH on 2 January 1837. John Hollingshead acquired forty acres of land in Williams County on 7 Oct 1835 from the Wapakonetta Land Office.  John may be the son of Francis Hollingshead who moved to Ross Co, OH in the 1790’s.

 

In the 1850 Penn, St. Joseph Co, IN federal census p131B, Johnathan Robinson was listed as Johnathan 35 NY, Rachel 28 NY, and Robinson children (all stepchildren to Jonathan) Rebecca 12 OH, Phebe 10 OH, Louisa 8 OH, and Maria 6 OH. 

 

From the 1860 Springfield Twp, Williams Co, OH federal census p63 Rachel appeared as Rachel Hollinshead 38 Y, Maria Hollinshead 16 OH, and Daniel Robinson 8 IN. In Highland, Doniphan Co, KS Rachel married a third time to Henry Van Buren on 27 December 1868 and they were listed in the 1870 Richardson Co, NE federal census as Henry Van Buren 62 NY carpenter, Rachel 49 NY, Henry 19 IN.  Rachel moved around as evidenced by 1880 Wichita, Sedgwick Co, KS and 1900 Ware, Grant Co, OK federal census records showing she lived with daughter Marie O’Niel and her husband Curtis.  

 

Rachel died on 12 December 1909 in Lake Twp, Berrien Co, MI and was buried there in Greenwood Cemetery.  Her death certificate stated her parents names.  There is a Jonathan Robinson who died on 16 September 1894 in Hartford, Van Buren Co, MI, listed as “pauper”.  It has not been determined whether this man is the willfully absent husband of Rachel.

 

Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Robinson (James)

Mary Spaulding Robinson v James H. Robinson (Journal 8 p173  - 8 Nov 1873; Roll 26 case number 83 - Nov 1873) – see Russell 

 

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 15 September 2021)

 

The couple was married in Valparaiso, Porter Co, IN on 3 July 1867.  Mary stated that on 16 Jan 1870 James left her and was willfully absent for three years or more.  A legal notice appeared in a local paper.  A divorce was granted.  

 

Mary was the daughter of George Addison Spaulding and Irene Whitney.  She was born c1848 in Hillsdale Co, MI and appeared in both the 1850 HIllsdale Co, MI federal census with her parents and the 1860 Hillsdale Co, MI federal census with her mother. In the 1870 Madison Twp, Wms Co, OH federal census p7, Mary Robinson 21 MI without occupation lived with the Samuel and Irena Russell family. Mary married Judson A Rose in Amboy Twp, Hillsdale Co, MI on 13 July 1879 and they were  enumerated in the 1880 Hillsdale Co, MI federal census as Judson Rose 31 MI, Mary E 31 MI, Bernice 7 MI, Forest R 5 MI, and later had son Lewis W b 1880.  Nothing is currently known of errant husband James H Robinson.