South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-03-21
Curiously Enough 1t Was the
Husband Who Sought the
First Divorce From a
Wife Who Abandon
ed Him.

Mrs Redding may be truthfuy said that there have
been cases IN which husband with prom
ises 10 send for her the new home pre-
pared, and that time went without the wtns being
for. And there also IN which husband
nonresidenf Eystsrn.
knowing full well that the newspaper in which the
nonresident notice published did circulate
far and that the chances many that the wife
would the notice
The the house 90 disiOss Al tho
circumstances surrounding the first divorce suit m St.
Joseph county. They merely show that Matthias Red
ding sued his wife Hannah for separation and be
granted decree And this all happeend So
AN IMPORTANT TERM
Apparently the October OF the circuit
held SIS years ago important term. At THE
the grand jury selected. In the handwriting OF
County Clerk Taylor the recorts OF the first proosed
ngs Of this term TO be found page four OF the
circuit order book No Col Taylor Transcribed
follows
BE It remembered that on the 2sth day OF octoSsr
in the year O A. 1892. Of the CO.
cult court ST. Joseph County State OF Indiana wGs
begun held in the Town OF South Bend present
r. Porter President Judge OF the first judicial cir
Of Ind. William Mccartney sr
and John Banker esQr associate judges OF the 81
Joseph Circuit Court also Andrew Ingram prosecuting
attorney the first Judicial Circuit OF the State OF
Indiana also Daniel A Fullerton Sheriff OF Bald
County and Lathrop N Taylor Clerk OF said County
of st. Joseph and the Court opened in due form
Of Law.
Now comes Daniel A. Fullerton sheriff and returns
which heretofore issued
The following grand jurors appeare and answered
their names Lowdy Stevenson, Ell Roe. Pleasant
Green
George Wilkinson Anthony Defrees John Smith. sr
Stanton Porter John Massey. William p Howe. Fred
Benter William RuniOn. Peter Ripple. Jacob Har
r1s George Holloway and Jacob Bowman Wheroupon
the court appoint George Holloway foreman the
grand jurors severslly Sworn retired
deliberate and Calvin Liey was sworn as balm for
Grand Jury"
BAILIFF A TAVERN KEEPER.
The Calvin Lilley mentioned bailih OF the grand
jury was the OF the tavern in which
held while the court house donated by Alexis Coqui!-
Taylor OF Is city lots $4,000
in money being erected.
probably only natural that Calvin Lilley should
be rewarded for allowing his be used a
has been observed that the system Of
has been less consistently followed in
St Joseph county well other counties through
country How much the tavern
paid in cash whether his appointment bailif OF
the grand jury his only compensation for allowing
of his does appear in the records.
The same legible handwriting appears in all OF the
Joseph circuit records. although the
freedom in spelling and punctuation is observed Many
appear be I'm the handwriting Of Col
Taylor himself Tnls or course IS true ony curing
the time that he was clerk Of the court Col Taylor
Joseph county's first clerk, and it is evident
that he obtained the Office without opposition Asso-
he with Alexis Coquillsrd. who long
he countys citizen donation with Coquil
lard o lots and $4,000 in money the county
an Involvement TO change the county seat from 81.
Joseph to South Bend undoubtedly gave him hish
standing among his fellow citizens
Politics NOT ENTIRELY LACKING.
what influence politics eXerted in the selection
Of South Bend the permanent county dis
by the records OF course, but the subse
Quent history OF Col Taylor would lead 20 the belief
early in the history OF this commu-
nifty politics not lacking in IT'S Importance.
ast Wills and testaments and petitions for divorce
the only legal documents 70 occupy the
ton the early days OF its history. Even
early arrested for gambling,
and indictments for larceny uncommon thing.
Selling spirits the Indians also offense com
mon in those early days and which
prominent members of the community believed that
their good had been damaged. is 10 be found
among the old records.
Alexander Sandlands Scotchman. appears 20 be Tie
first man OF the naturalization
in St Joseph county on the 7th day Of April 1884.
SandIands fled his declaration in the
April term His declaration set forth that he desired
allegiance foreign prince. potentare
and sovereignty other than the government OF
United OF America and 20 particularly
his allegiance William " OF Great Britain
land The records disclose that Sandands admit
ed 20 fun citizenship American.