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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: jennywren001 on Sunday 02 April 17 13:05 BST (UK)
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Hi,
I have four sisters all living in Michigan - Port Huron so not on the border. Each of them gets married in Ohio to men who are all residing in Michigan. Three sisters got married in 1941 the other in 1947. Anyone know what the attraction could be for marrying in Ohio?
Thanks
Jen
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Hi,
How old were they when they married? Crossing states lines to marry was sometimes based on
age of consent, which differed from state to state.
Cheers,
DB
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DB,
They all claimed to be over 21. Discovered the oldest Louise originally got married in Port Huron in 1933 then remarried in 1941 in Ohio - claiming it was her first marriage! Margaret got married in Ohio using her married name 'Akin' claiming she had been divorced in Detroit. Dorothy claims to be 21 but in fact she was not born until around 1923 (showing age 7 on the 1930 census) so was underage. Mary didn't get married till 1947 aged 24.
Jen
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Maybe they all, for one reason or another, wished to avoid having their marriages reported in the local press.
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Maybe they all, for one reason or another, wished to avoid having their marriages reported in the local press.
Now I've had a closer look at the certificates that would make a lot of sense!
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Hi Jen,
States didn't share records, so that would explain Louise and Margaret. Dorothy underage and Mary,
not sure. Perhaps it was family tradition ;D, or perhaps she was in a hurry, as some states had short
waiting periods, or as Erato said, they wanted to keep things quiet.
Cheers,
DB
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I see two marriages occurred in Sandusky County & two in Wood County, Ohio, neither of which border the lake. Also the husbands in all four cases also resided in Michigan. I see Frank & Louise both resided in Detroit at the time, so why worry about local press?
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There was an announcement in the local paper in 1941 where Dorothy's parents announced the marriage of their daughter Dorothy to William. This article appeared three days after the marriage, so the parents seem to be well aware of what was going on and it was no secret.
Perhaps it had to with cost or less hoops to run through in Ohio?
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Just noticed. Even though two of marriage applications were in a different County all four marriage were performed by a Justice of the Peace in Bowling Green, Wood county, OH. Also all four marriages occurred on the same day as the marriage license application. NO waiting.
The two applications that were filed in Sandusky County, both were given:
"ENTRY On Application for Good Cause Shown Time Limit is
Waived--Licennse Granted"
and then they married that same day in Bowling Green.
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Thanks RJ 137 I missed the Bowling Green connection!
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RJ137,
I've tried to find the parent's entry to the USA/Canada? around 1913 without success. Also, on the census they state they were naturalised in 1915 again I can find no trace. I appreciate the problem with the name (the only other place I've found this name is a street in Freiburg, Germany!). I wonder if you could have a peek for me - all my rellies are in Scotland (this is my daughter's paternal side) so not sure if I've looked in all all the correct places. They are consistent on the 1920/30/40 census in stating they are both from Austria and his death certificate indicates he was born in Vienna.
Thanks
Jen
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Jen,
A couple bits and pieces I've noticed. The 1930 census indicates they have been married 17 yrs. (1913), so it looks like that got married and then immigrated to the US that same year?
His WWII registration card also confirms he was born in Vienna, Austria. His obit is more of a death notice and doesn't mention anything about him or family.
Her obit does mention that she also was born in Vienna, Austria and then then mentions their children and grandchildren, but nothing about her parents or any siblings.
His WWI draft registration has him living in Deckerville, Sanilac, Michigan, same as in 1920 census. This indicates his naturalization in 1915 probably occurred in Sanilac County. I do see his name listed in the Sanilac County Naturalization Index. The record refers to a Volume folder and page, but I don't no where to find that?
http://seekingmichigan.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/sanilac1.pdf
Will continue to poke around for more clues.
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Thanks RJ137,
I've not seen her obit...does it mention her son William and his children or just the daughters and their children. By the time she died William had five grandchildren of his own. Not the closest of families I fear...
Jen
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Sending you a PM with her obit, yes William is mentioned.
Also sending his obit. Found a more complete obit then I had previously mentioned. That obit states he was born in Vienna, Austria and that they married in 1912.
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Thank you so much RJ137 that is fabulous - all sorts of information contained in those obituaries!
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Glad I could help.
Found obits for most of the children, but they didn't give any more hints about their parents past.. The obits had a lot about that individual and their family, and mentioned their parents and siblings and that was about it. If you don't have those obits and would like them just let me know and I'll send them.
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RJ137, I've got Dorothy's obit and Margaret's (she only died last year age 97) - so still missing Louise and Mary Ann's. Now, thanks to multiple obits I now have all the first names of the sisters' eight husbands.
Jen
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Sending PM with obits for the other children (except Dorothy & Margaret).
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Thank you so much RJ 137- the story about Fred Jr's death is very sad. I'm pretty sure this is as far as I'll get with this family.
Jen