Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Willett, 1857

Elizabeth Hoisington Lammon Willett v Joseph Willett (Journal 5 p61 - 7 July 1857; Roll 11 case number 15 - July 1857)

 

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 9 January 2022)

 

The couple was married in Lenawee Co, MI on 28 Feb 1850.  According to the 1850 Livonia, Wayne Co, MI federal census p353A the Willett family was listed as Joseph 50 NJ, Betsey 43 NY, Phebe 15 MI, Barton 12 MI, George 24 NJ, Sarah 23 NJ, Eliz Lamon 14 MI, Cynthia A Lamon 9 MI, and John W Lamon 2 MI.  Elizabeth was Betsey Hoisington, born 1805 NY, the daughter of Titus and Hannah Wood Hoisington; she was the widow of John Lamon, who died on 13 September 1847 in Lenawee Co, MI and was buried in the Old Morenci Cemetery. Her daughter Eliza Lammon married Joseph’s son Luther Willett c1852.

 

Joseph Willett, born c1797 in Little Egg Harbor, Burlington Co, NJ, was the son of Micajah and Hannah Pennington Willett, Quakers of the Great Egg Harbor Monthly Meeting.

 

Elizabeth charged her husband with being a habitual drunk for three years or more.  On 10 Mar 1855 he was extremely cruel and struck her.  She was disabled except for attending to her household duties for more than six weeks.  A legal notice appeared in a local newspaper.  A divorce was granted and Elizabeth was restored to her maiden name

 

Elizabeth died on 9 January 1872 in Lenawee Co, MI and was buried beside husband John Lammon.  Joseph lived in the Livonia, Wayne Co, MI area with his son Barton according to the 1860 and 1870 Federal Census records.  He died on 8 May 1876  of consumption.  Death records reported he was a farmer and a widower.

 

Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Jennings, 1875

David Jennings v (Anna) Sophia Walden Powell Tharp Jennings (Journal 8 p343 - 12 Mar 1875; Roll 26 case number 111)

 

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 4 January 2021)

 

The couple was married in Farmer, Defiance Co, OH on 14 Mar 1868 according to David, but the actual marriage record stated the date was 25 March 1869.  David charged Sophia with being willfully absent for three years or more.  He produced a witness, John Bale, to confirm his charge. 

 

Anna Sophia Walden, born on 25 August 1822 in Trumbull Co, OH on 15 August 1822, was the daughter of Johnathan Walden and Mariah Curtis.   She first married David Powell in Allen Co, OH on 8 April 1841. Widow Anna Sophia Powell and Alexander Tharp were married in Allen Co, OH on 1 Nov 1849.  Alexander Tharp was the son of John C and Rachel Perry Tharp.

 

From the 1850 Farmer Twp, Defiance Co, OH federal census p75, a Tharpe family was enumerated as Alexander 45 PA, Sophia 27 OH, Mary J 8 OH, Wiliam 7 OH, Harriet A 4 OH, and George 3 OH. This shows that Sophia Tharp was a widow when she married David Jennings.  In the 1880 Hicksville Defiance Co, OH Federal Census lists Anna S Tharp 57 OH as living with a daughter and son-in-law. Defiance Co, OH cemetery records show an Anna Sophia Tharp, (24 June 1823, Trumbull Co, OH - 12 Aug 1888 @65Y1M 18D) buried in the Lost Creek Lutheran Cemetery; she died in Hicksville, Defiance Co, OH.  

 

David Jennings, possibly the son of Gideon Jennings, first married Elizabeth Laughlin in Stark Co, OH on 28 August 1831.  He was born in Ohio c1815.  David purchased 160 acres of land in Allen Co, OH on 15 February 1836. He is found with his family in the 1840 Monroe, Putnam Co, OH Federal Census. They were listed in both the 1850 Bath, Allen Co, OH and 1860 Monroe, Allen Co, OH Federal Census records The Jennings children were Susanna, Solomon, Abel, James, Isabella, Mary, Aaron, Drusilla, Samuel, and Charles.

 

According to the 1870 Center Twp, Williams Co, OH federal census p58B the Jennings couple was listed as David 55 OH and Sophia 47 OH.  Note that John Bale, divorce witness, was a neighbor.  There are several Jennings children living with a Susan Conklin in the Center Twp neighborhood in 1870.  According to David’s probate records, he had died in Williams Co, OH before 17 November 1874.  It would appear that David died before the case was settled.

 

Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Hubbard, 1883

Mary Kohn Hubbard v John Hubbard

Two Mrs. Hubbards, Divorce in Williams County, Ohio, 1883

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 7 January 2022)

 

Mary Kohn married John Hubbard, resident of Defiance Co, OH on 3 or 5 July 1879 in Defiance, depending on which of two documents you use.  She appeared in the Williams County, Ohio Civil and Criminal Court (Journal 12 p136 - 28 Nov 1883; Roll 39 Box 129 case number 1189 - 14 Aug 1883) and stated that John had abandoned her five days after their wedding.  Mary told the court as of 14 Aug 1883 John had another living wife and he had not offered Mary any support.  The court granted her a divorce.  The only other data from this case was at the time of the filing Mary stated she had been a resident of Ohio for 20 years.

 

Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Grist/Griest, 1866

Mary Melissa Jones Grist/Griest v Sylvester Peter Grist/Griest (Journal 6 p608 - 3 Nov 1866; Roll 18 case number 15 - Oct 1866)

 

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 9 January 2022)

 

The couple was married on 18 Aug 1861, Florence Twp, Wms Co (Marriage V3 p188).  Mary Melissa was born on 1 Aug 1842 in Medina Co, OH, the daughter of William and Johanna Downing Jones.  According to the 1860 Lukes Corner, Florence Twp federal census, p20, the Jones family was listed as William 40 NY, Johan 40 OH, Mary 16, Andrew 13, Charles 11, Franklin 8, Vanrensler 6, William D 22, Elizabeth 20, and Jane 1.    

 

Mary said Sylvester was willfully absent for three years or more and he owned in fee simple 160 acres in Northfield, Summit Co, OH, valued at $800 and personal property of $1,000.  He lived in Summit Co.  Mary brought Susan Baum and Fred Gibbons as witnesses.  Sylvester, threatening to countersue Mary for a divorce, said on 16 Oct 1866 Mary committed adultery at the home of George Ward.  The divorce was granted and he paid court costs.

 

Mary later married the other party mentioned in the divorce, George W. Ward, b 29 June 1842, in Cedar Valley, OH, the son of John and Rebecca Ward, on 12 Apr 1867.  He was a Civil War soldier, serving in Co K 14^th OVI.  From the 1870 Florence Twp federal census, p39-40, the Wards were listed as George W 28 OH, Mary 26, William 3, and Charles 6/12. Mary died on 16 June 1918 in Blakeslee and was buried in the West Buffalo Cemetery.  George next married a Lettie.  He died on 15 Jan 1922 in Bryan and was buried beside wife Mary.  

 

Sylvester, born on 1 Feb 1839 in Northfield, Summit Co, OH, was the son of Cornelius and Elizabeth Toland Griest.  He was enumerated with them in both the 1850 and 1860 Northfied, Summit Co, OH Federal Census records. Sylvester was a Civil War veteran, serving as a corporal in Co E 88^th Indiana Volunteer Infantry out of Ft Wayne, Allen Co, IN.

 

He next married Sarah E. Coller on 28 Nov 1866 in Hudson, Summit Co, OH, and had two sons, Sydney D. and Frederick S.  Sarah was a Streetsboro, Portage Co, OH native, born in June 1840, the daughter of Sydney and Caroline Stone Coller.  Note that Sylvester remarried about three weeks after the divorce was granted.  In the 1870 Hudson, Summit Co, OH Federal Census the family was listed as Sylvester 31 OH, Sarah 29 OH and Sidney D 10/12 OH, all living with her parents; the same is true for 1880.  By 1900 same location Sylvester is 61 OH and Sarah 58 OH.He died on 23 June 1907 and was buried in the Draper Cemetery.

 

Divorce Action in Williams County, Ohio - Greenwood, 1864

Otis Greenwood v Almeda Jackson Greenwood (Journal 6 p410 - 9 Nov 1864)

 

By Pamela Pattison Lash (updated 2 January 2022)

 

The couple was married in Ravenna, Medina Co, OH on 25 Dec 1838.  Otis charged Almeda was willfully absent for three years without just cause.  She lived in Lucas Co, OH.  A divorce was granted.  

 

Otis, son of Alexander Greenwood and Mary Bearce, was born on 13 October 1814 in Hebron, Oxford Co, Maine. Alameda, daughter of Joseph Jackson and Susanna Davis of Monson, Maine, was born on 12 March 1822. According to the 1840 Liverpool, Medina Co, OH federal census p265, Otis Greenwood was listed as male between 20-30 living with a female who was between 15-20 years of age.  From the 1850 Richfield, Summit Co, OH federal census p350B, the Greenwoods were enumerated as Otis 36 ME farmer, Almina 27 ME, Horace 15 OH, Rosamond 8 OH, Charles D 5 OH, James A 7/12 OH, Jackson, Jane 30 ME, and David Morgan 24 KY farmer.  It appears that Almeda would have been 12 years old if she was the mother of Horace; therefore, it appears that Otis was married once before.  

 

According to the 1860 Richfield, Summit Co, OH federal census p84 and 87, Horace Greenwod 21 ME lived with the Peter Allen family and a Clara 15 OH lived with John Hurburt family.  Perhaps the Charles in the 1850 Greenwood family was really Clara or vice versa.  Census records are not error-free; plus there are no other Greenwoods in either of these households.  From the 1860 Jackson, DeKalb Co, IN federal census p283, Otis Greenwood 45 ME lived with the Christopher Cool family of NY. Otis died on 5 December 1888in Eureka, Greenwood Co, KS and was buried in the Greenwood Cemetery. Alameda died on 6 November 1899 in Wadsworth, Medina Co, OH and was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery.