William H. Ennis - was the "boodler" married several times?

[Erato]

I have, once again, turned my attention to gg-uncle William H. Ennis, the "boodler" who reportedly fled to Canada to avoid prosecution for swindling or fraud or embezzlement or just plain old theft.  I have never been able to trace him after he hurriedly left town in late 1887.

I am looking for any evidence that he was married several times.  He was never recorded with a wife on any census in Wisconsin or Minnesota from 1850 to 1885.  The only marriage I have found is the one mentioned to the girl from his old home in Wisconsin.  She was Georgetta Mair and the marriage occurred on 27 July 1887 in Clay County, Minnesota; she was 20 and he was about 47.  The marriage was short-lived inasmuch as he had lo leave town on short notice.  Whether Georgetta got an annulment or divorce, I don't know, but she returned to Wisconsin and married twice again.

[shanreagh]

Could he have used a different name?  Not too different though something like Innes? 

What did the 'H' stand for?

Could it have been used as a new surname? 

Mother's maiden name is often used. 

It was much easier to change oneself in those days when there were countries/counties to run. he could have gone to England, Australia, Canada....

Do you have a more specific date of birth apx 1840 is what I get from the article. 
Did he have any brothers who died young?  He could have taken their name? 
 

[Erato]

Could he have used a different name?
Yes.

What did the 'H' stand for?
I don't know.

Mother's maiden name is often used.
Mother's maiden name was McGee.

He could have gone to England, Australia, Canada....
He was close to the Canadian border so that was presumed to be his initial destination.

Date of birth
The family immigrated to Canada in about 1840 and then to the United States in 1849.  William's birthplace was variously reported as either Ireland or Canada.  In a biographical sketch included in 'The History of Northern Wisconsin' [for which he probably supplied the highly laudatory information], his birth was 20 August 1839 in Ireland.

Did he have any brothers who died young?
Yes, his youngest brother David died in 1878 but I think it is unlikely he took David's name.  On the other hand, it is fairly likely that he went on the run with his brother George who also disappeared at the same time.

>>>>>>>>>

What I'm after right now, though, is the alleged several marriages.

[RJ137]

I'm assuming this is him?

The article mentioned he was from Clay County, MN.

I assume the George & James Ennis listed with him are his brothers?

Clay Co., MN
1885 Census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQXH-98M

Is this the family in 1850/1860. William with younger brothers George & James.

Marquette Co., WI
1850 Census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4DK-HB9
1860 census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW9Q-HH1

[Erato]

Yes, that's the William of interest.  He first went out to Clay County in about 1883 according to a newspaper article in the Montello Express.  At some point he was joined there by his brothers George and James and by a nephew also named William H. Ennis [the son of his brother Thomas Ennis].

After he fled the 'boodling' accusations, William was never seen again and George disappeared, too.  I presume they left together.  James did wind up back in Wisconsin, at least for a while - my last record of him was in 1906 in Wisconsin where he witnessed a brother-in-law's will.  The nephew was apparently not involved in the boodling; he moved on to North Dakota and farmed out there.

[RJ137]

In 1870/1880 censuses, he is living with his brother John & his wife Mary.

1870 census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN95-7DN
1880 census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNHM-JDY

He appears single in all these records. I'm thinking that article stating he had been married numerous times maybe in mistaken.

[Erato]

Maybe the term 'wife' was used euphemistically.

[Treetotal]

If you don't have access to Ancestry, then maybe someone with a worldwide subscription may look to see if there is a matching family tree for him which may reveal more information. What interesting relies you have.
Carol

[shanreagh]

......

What I'm after right now, though, is the alleged several marriages.

I am quite aware that you want to find a marriage if there is one.  I feel you have been on these boards long enough to know that every bit of information helps especially when tracking people who for any reason don't want to be found under their current name. 

Believe me there are people who have changed their names phonetically, used their mother's maiden name, used the name of a dead sibling and used a second Christian name as a surname if the second name is also used as a surname eg Henry, Harris etc. 

I have been on threads over the years where seeking, using any of these options, can find something like a marriage.