Cass County Michigan
Divorces

Pat McArthur and Deanna West offer the following partial listing for Cass County, Michigan. Most of them are from the 1897 era. We will add additional lists as they become available.

1
"John Carman, age 49 vs Hannah Carman, age 54"
Date of Marriage: "Dec 26, 1868 at Calvin Twp."
Children: 0
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "Jan 15, 1897"
Date Final: "July 2, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Cruelty
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

2
"Fred Burssaw, age 31 vs Minnie P. Burssaw, age 25"
Date of Marriage: "Mar 12, 1890 at Marcellus, Mich"
Children: 2
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "Jan 25, 1897"
Date Final: "Mar 18, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Desertion
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

3
"Leah Ditzell, age 28 vs John Ditzell, age 26"
Date of Marriage: "July 16, 1893 at Dowagiac, Mich"
Children: 0
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Jan 27, 1897"
Date Final: "July 2, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Cruelty and Drunkenness
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

4
"Susan J. Richey, age 35 vs Will E. Richey, age 35"
Date of Marriage: "July 25, 1886 at Dowagiac, Mich"
Children: 1
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Jan 27, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Non-support
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

5
"Ida Bowen, age 29 vs Bruce Bowen, age 28"
Date of Marriage: "Jan 14, 1891 at Constantine, Mich"
Children: 0
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Feb 9, 1897"
Date Final: "Oct 2, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Extreme Cruelty
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted

6
Mary J. Graham vs Ransaler Graham
Date of Marriage: "Aug 2, 1885 at Paw Paw, Mich"
Children: 2
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Feb 12, 1897"
Date Final: "June 29, 18978"
Alleged Cause: Desertion and Non-support
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Have custody of the two children

7
"Maggie S. Gailhouse, age 20 vs Albert J. Gailhouse, age 29"
Date of Marriage: "July 30, 1894 at Marcellus, Mich"
Children: 1
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Feb 20, 1897"
Date Final: "Aug 4, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Extreme Cruelty and Non-Support
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Complainant to resume her maiden name

8
"Angeline Higgins, age 24 vs Issac Higgins, age 21"
Date of Marriage: "Aug 13, 1895 at Cassopolis, Mich"
Children: 0
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Feb 8, 1897"
Date Final: "June 19, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Cruelty and Non-Support
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

9
"Nancy J. Smith, age 63 vs Henry W. Smith, age 79"
Date of Marriage: "Aug 23, 1871 at Cassopolis, Mich"
Children: 1
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Nov 16, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Cruelty
Contested:
Outcome: Withdrawn

10
Bessie Church vs William Church
Date of Marriage: "May 15, 1894 at Manistee, Mich"
Children: 0
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Mar 29, 1897"
Date Final: "Aug 4, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Cruelty and Non-support
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

11
Mabel A. Drisco vs Charles H. Drisco
Date of Marriage: "Sept 14, 1893 at Porten, Caule, Mich"
Children: 0
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Apr 3, 1897"
Date Final: "Oct 8, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Cruelty
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

12
Anice D. Butler vs Hosa Butler
Date of Marriage: "Nov 8, 1893 at Big Prairie Roude, Mich"
Children: 0
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Mar 10, 1897"
Date Final: "Oct 21, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Cruelty
Contested: "Nov 8, 1893 at Big Prairie Roude, Mich"
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

13
Peter V. Brunner vs Ruth Brunner
Date of Marriage: "Oct 25, 1896 at Mishawaka, Inc"
Children: 0
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "May 11, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Adultery
Contested:
Outcome: Withdrawn

14
"John M. Hoisington, age 63 vs Frances S. Hoisington, age 39"
Date of Marriage: "July 4, 1886 at Marcellus, Mich"
Children: 3
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "May 20, 1897"
Date Final: "Sept 20, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Desertion
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Conditional

15
"Hattie Braymer, age 32 vs John Braymer, age 39"
Date of Marriage: "Feb 13, 1887 at Dowagiac, Mich"
Children: 1
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "May 29, 1897"
Date Final: "Oct 3, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Desertion
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Conditional

16
"Nellie Muncey, age 35 vs Jervis Muncey, age 32"
Date of Marriage: "Aug 15, 1886 at Dowagiac, Mich"
Children: 1
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "June 1, 1897"
Date Final: "Oct 18, 1897"
Alleged Cause: "Cruelty, Habitual Drunkenness, and Non-support"
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Mother to have custody of child

17
Eva J. Evans vs Mason S. Evans
Date of Marriage: "Dec 29, 1886 at Minden, Mich"
Children: 2
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "June 3, 1897"
Date Final: "Sept 27, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Desertion
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Mother to have care of children

18
"Mattie J. Hopkins, age 46 vs George H. Hopkins, age 75"
Date of Marriage: "Apr 4, 1895 at Marcellus, Mich"
Children: 0
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: June 14 1897
Date Final:
Alleged Cause:
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

19
"James A. Dalton, age 33 vs Emily J. Dalton, age 27"
Date of Marriage: "Apr 17, 1886 at Dowagiac"
Children: 3
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "June 16, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause:
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

20
Jernow S. Draper vs Sarah E. Draper
Date of Marriage: "May 29, 1894 at Kalamazoo, Mich"
Children: 4
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "June 25, 1897"
Date Final: "Dec 16, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Cruelty
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

21
"William Thayer, age 23 vs Margaret Thayer, age 19"
Date of Marriage: "Mar 15, 1895 at Cassopolis, Mich"
Children: 0
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "June 28, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Desertion
Contested: yes
Outcome: Withdrawn

22
"Agnes J. Brown, age 32 vs Clyde Brown, age 34"
Date of Marriage: "July 18, 1886 at Dowagiac, Mich"
Children: 1
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "June 29, 1897"
Date Final: "Nov 16, 18987"
Alleged Cause: Cruelty and Non-support
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Mother to have care of child

23
Luella Clendenin vs William R. Clendenin
Date of Marriage: "Dec 31, 1885 at Three Rivers, Mich"
Children: 1
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "June 29, 1897"
Date Final: "Nov 3, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Extreme Cruelty
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Mother to have care of child

24
John D. Gridley vs Bertha V. Gridley
Date of Marriage: "Mar 6, 1893 at South Bend, Ind."
Children: 2
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "July 3, 18978"
Date Final: "Dec 6, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Adultery
Contested: yes
Outcome: "Granted, by Defendant's Absence - Defendant to have care, etc. of children"

25
"Benjamin B. Weir, age 31 vs Kate Weir, age 30"
Date of Marriage: "Nov 20, 1890 at Dowagiac, Mich"
Children: 1
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "July 20, 1897"
Date Final: "Oct 8, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Desertion
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

26
"Grace Ashley, age 36 vs Frederick L. Ashley, age 37"
Date of Marriage: "May 10, 1883 at Cassopolis, Mich"
Children: 5
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "July 30, 18987"
Date Final: "Dec 6, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Desertion
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Mother to have care and custody of children

27
John Ranchild vs Josephine Ranchild
Date of Marriage: "Dec 7, 1892 at Springfield, Ill."
Children: 1
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "July 31, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Adultery
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

28
Minnie Boyd vs John Boyd
Date of Marriage: unknown
Children: 1
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Aug 17, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Extreme Cruelty
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

29
"L?u E. Robinson, age 22 vs Floyd Robinson, age 25"
Date of Marriage: "Sept 24, 1893 at Cassopolis, Mich"
Children: 1
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Aug 17, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Extreme Cruelty
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

30
"Mary Beth Olney, age 31 vs Charles P. Olney, age 35"
Date of Marriage: "Sept 9, 1886 at Cassopolis, Mich"
Children: 2
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Aug 17, 1897"
Date Final: "Jan 10, 1898"
Alleged Cause: Desertion
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Mother to have care of one child and Father to have care of the other. [Note: this record has a line drawn thru it - meaning is unknown.]

31
"Rosa Belle Preater, age 25 vs Lewis M. Preater, age 28"
Date of Marriage: "Dec 23, 1890 at Cassopolis, Mich"
Children: 0
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Sept 3, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Desertion
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

32
Wesley H. Hill vs Matilda Hill
Date of Marriage: "July 1, 1888 at Eel Township, Ind"
Children: 0
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "Sept 4, 18987"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Cruelty
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

33
Teresa G. Brossell vs Bart R. Brossell
Date of Marriage: "Aug 5, 1890 at Cleveland, Ohio"
Children: 1
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Sept 6, 1897"
Date Final: "Jan 26, 1898"
Alleged Cause: Cruelty and Non-support
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Mother to have care and custody of child [Note: record has line drawn thru it - meaning unknown.]

34
Dollie Heddon vs William Heddon
Date of Marriage: "Nov 9, 1892 at Chicago, Ill"
Children: 1
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Sept 16, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Extreme Cruelty and Non-support
Contested: yes
Outcome: Pending

35
"Mattie M. Coffield, age 28 vs George Coffield, age 34"
Date of Marriage: "Nov 6, 1890 at Dowagiac, Mich"
Children: 1
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Sept 29, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Cruelty and Desertion
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

36
"Rosa May Burke, age 21 vs Joseph V. Burke, age 25"
Date of Marriage: "Aug 7, 1894 at Dowagiac, Mich"
Children: 2
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Oct 4, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Extreme and Repeated Cruelty
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

37
"Harriet E. Corner, age 24 vs John E. Corner, age 27"
Date of Marriage: "June 23, 1892 at Volincia, Mich"
Children: 2
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Oct 22, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Abandonment
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

38
"Joseph N. Marshall, age 72 vs Sarah A. Marshall, age 60"
Date of Marriage: "July 4, 1893 at Edwardsburg, Mich"
Children: 0
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "Oct 26, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Desertion
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

39
"Arminta Gillis, age 42 vs David Gillis, age uk"
Date of Marriage: "Apr 15, 1875 at Newberg Tp, Mich"
Children: 5
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Nov 1, 1897"
Date Final: "Dec 16, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Desertion
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Children to remain in custody of children [Note: it should probably read 'mother'.]

40
William W. Kelley vs Susan C. Kelley
Date of Marriage: "Feb, 1886 at White Pigeon, Mich"
Children: 0
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "Nov 1, 1897"
Date Final: "Jan 3, 1897 [should be 1898]"
Alleged Cause: Desertion
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

41
Solomon Sanders vs Lucy Sanders
Date of Marriage: "Mar 1, 1881 at Detroit, Mich"
Children: 2
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "Nov 22, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Desertion
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

42
"George R. Herkimer, age 31 vs Carrie L. Herkimer, age 27"
Date of Marriage: "Oct 29, 1891 at Dowagiac"
Children: 0
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "Nov 26, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Physically Incapable
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

43
Benjamin F. Weaver vs Martha J. Weaver
Date of Marriage: "Apr 16, 1891 at Bucyrus, Ohio"
Children: 0
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "Dec 6, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Desertion
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

44
Enoch B. Stephens vs Rosella Stephens
Date of Marriage: "Nov 15, 1892"
Children: 0
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "Dec 11, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Abandonment
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

45
Ida A. Lyle vs Chas. Eugene Lyle
Date of Marriage: "Sept 19, 1878 at Dowagiac, Mich"
Children: 1
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Dec 20, 1897"
Date Final: "Jan 26, 1898"
Alleged Cause: Cruelty (Extreme)
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

46
Elizabeth Wilson vs George L. Wilson
Date of Marriage: "Dec 20, 1893 at Covington, Kentucky"
Children: 0
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Dec 21, 1897"
Date Final:
Alleged Cause: Non-support
Contested:
Outcome: Pending

Rose B. Hudson vs Arthur C. Hudson
Date of Marriage: "Sept 27, 1887 at Chicago, Ill"
Children: 0
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Nov 28, 1896"
Date Final: "July 6, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Desertion and failure to support
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

"May Hatfield, age 23 vs Chalres Hatfield, age 42"
Date of Marriage: "Sept 18, 1894 at Dowagic, Mich"
Children: 0
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Feb 15, 1896"
Date Final: "Aug 16, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Cruelty and Non-support
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

Emma Tatman vs Leander Tatman
Date of Marriage: "June 6, 1894 at Berrien Springs, Mich"
Children: 0
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Apr 8, 1896"
Date Final: "July 31, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Cruelty and Non-support
Contested: yes
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

"Monroe Anderson, age 38 vs Mary E. Anderson, age 36"
Date of Marriage: "May 6, 1880 at Porter, Mich"
Children: 7
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "Jun 15, 1896"
Date Final: "Feb 6, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Desertion
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

"Ora J. Glass, age 23 vs William Glass, Jr., age 35"
Date of Marriage: "Mar 8, 1896 at Vandalia, Mich"
Children: 0
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "July 23, 1896"
Date Final: "Jan 14, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Cruelty
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

James O. Ayres vs Emma Ayres
Date of Marriage: "May 13, 1884 at Penn. Tp, Mich"
Children: 1
Complainant: Husband
Date Filed: "Aug 27, 1896"
Date Final: "Mar 8, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Desertion
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

"Eva Foster, age 28 vs Harvey L. Foster, age 35"
Date of Marriage: "July 10, 1888 at Cassopolis, Mich"
Children: 1
Complainant: Wife
Date Filed: "Dec 28, 1896"
Date Final: "Oct 25, 1897"
Alleged Cause: Non-support
Contested: no
Outcome: Granted - Absolute

Index