The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-10-08
eleven WIVES.
An Indiana Mans Craving for d.
VorCe and Marriage.

"Say," remarked travelling sales
man around in Hotel Francois last
Friday morning, "did you ever hear of
a man divorcing eleven wives-a per-
son with a regular mania for divorces,
who has paid alimony amounting to
over $4,000. The person l have in
mind, according to Cincinnati paper,
had Minnesota girl for his first wife
and then gathered in daughters of
other States very promiscuously,"
Landlord Engelhart was squaring
himself around so as to make his dia-
mond outshine the proverbial diamond
worn by Clerk Mccall, as the travel
ing salesman adjusted himself into a
comfortable position for the reading
of the following:
LARPoRrE, Ind. Sept 2O.-The matri-
monial career of Abraham Rhimes of
Fulton county is believed, in the point
of number of wives, to be without par
allel in the United States. Rhimes is
IS years of age. The story of Rhime's
remarkable experience with wives Gov
ers period of twenty years, during
which time be has divorced eleven
wives, and has just taken to himself
wife number II. Rhimes started in
life poor, but by frugal industry sue
ceeded in accumulating comfortable
fortune, which, after 1876, rapidly
dwindled as the result of litigation in
divorce courts. Rhimes may now be
said to be rich only in experience.
Miss Emeline Candy of Minneapolis,
was the Indiana mans first wife.
When Rhimes was SIS years old he de-
cided to marry, and advertised in a
Chicago publication. Miss Candy
answered the want notice, and but sew
en- days elapsed after the exchange of
letters until their betrothal, their mar
riage speedily following. Rhimes liv-
ed with his first wife two years, when
Mrs. Rhimes, on the ground of cruel
treatment, obtained divorce.
He remained single two months,
when he chose for his second compan
ion Miss Martha Robbins, an Indiana
girl. Their married life was one of
discord, and six months after the Sec
ond marriage Mrs. Rhime's temper
formed the basis for complaint for
a divorce, which was granted. Rim
es Immediately set about to capture
his third wife, and found helpmate
in Miss Samantha Bengal of Detroit,
Mich. Their welded life was remark
able for its brevity, and in 1882 the
divorce court was again called upon to
record the familiar story of domestic
infelicity. Rhimes next found peace
of mind in an alliance with Miss La
VIVA Straw of Indianapolis, and, con-
trary to past experience, lived happily
for upward of a year, when the hand
of fate separated Rhimes from his
girl bride, and the much married
Hoosier was again at liberty,
Rhimes left Indiana and returned a
year later with Mrs. Anna Roland,
whom he met in St. Louis, and mar
ried. April 5, 1886, Rhimes was again
divorced, and he enjoyed single bles-
sedness until July IA Of the succeed
ing year, when he again entered the
ranks of the married. His sixth wife
was a woman advanced in years, Mrs
Sarah Overly, whose incompatible
temper sufficed to drive Rhimes tC
seek redress in the courts, and the
woman who took him to be her third
husband gave way for Miss Rachel
Magnum of Cleveland, O., their mar
riage taking place in 1888. Rhimes
divorced her Sept. 8, 1889, and two
months later repented, and their rec
onciliation having been effected, Mrs
Rhimes No. Z, nee Miss Magnum, be,
came his eighth wife. But an es-
arrangement soon resulted and the in
evitable legal separation became a
matter of court record When Rim
es agreed to disagree with his ninth
wife, the Indiana courts refused tc
longer issue bills of divorce, and
Rhimes went to Dakota, where he &C.
quired a residence, secured decree
and returned to Berrien county, Mich.
where he was married to Miss Stella
-Bloomhagen. aged "a. Rhimes liveo
long enough in Michigan to divorce
his tenth wife, and returning to the
scenes of his former marital conquests
was married to Mrs Mary Walsh
with whom he lived longer than any