INELKHAR-D Digest				Volume 99 : Issue 58

Today's Topics:
  #1 [INELKHAR-L] Divorce Records abt 1   ["Gail Brown" <rexbrown@shreve.net>]

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______________________________X-Message: #1
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 18:15:27 -0500
From: "Gail Brown" <rexbrown@shreve.net>
To: INELKHAR-L@rootsweb.com
Message-ID: <000a01beb917$4a23d040$016ad9d0@thebrowns>
Subject: [INELKHAR-L] Divorce Records abt 1870?
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I'm new to this list and am researching SMOKE, WRIGHT, and TURNOCK in
Elkhart.

I have a marriage for Calista A. Steeples SMOKE, to Henry A. WRIGHT, 30 June
1870, in Elkhart.  She was previously married to Benjamin W. SMOKE, who it
was thought had died between 1865 and 1870.  However, I have recently found
his Civil War Pension Files at NARA in D.C., and they indicate he was alive,
at least until 1901.  Apparently he never had his pension application
approved and moved around the country, from Elkhart, to Cleveland, and
finally to North Carolina, in an attempt to find witnesses to testify in his
behalf.

Since he didn't die, as I had thought, Calista must have divorced him before
her 1870 marriage to Mr. WRIGHT - at least I hope she did.  Would divorce
records for this time period be available from the Elkhart County
Courthouse?  I have done very little research in IN and could surely use
some helpful tips.

Benjamin was a tailor, and Calista was a seamstress, and I'm also curious
what would have brought them from their home in Elmira, NY, to Elkhart, IN
between 1865 and 1870.

Calista and Benjamin had two children, Charles, b. abt 1857 NY, and Sarah
Marguerite, b. 6 Oct 1856 NY.   I don't know what happened to Charles, but
Sarah married Enoch Hill TURNOCK, 25 Aug 1880, in Elkhart.  The marriage
record shows her surname as 'WRIGHT', so she must have adopted her
step-father's name.   It's possible that her brother Charles also adopted
'WRIGHT' as his surname.

Sarah and Enoch had two children in Elkhart - Harry Clarence, b. abt 1881,
and Winifred Sarah, b. 29 Jan 1883.  Sarah Marguerite died from lockjaw
after stepping on a nail, 1 June 1884.  Winifred Sarah was my grandmother.

Thanks,

Gail