Legal Troubles: The many divorces of Monroe Lee Diver

To hear many people tell it, no one ever got a divorce before 1976. That divorces have only been common in modern society. This could not be further from the truth. Divorce has been around since at least King Henry VIII. It IS true that divorce has been hard to obtain, and even illegal in some places, but it was an option for an unhappy spouse. This week's prompt is "legal troubles" and I'm going to tell you about the many legal troubles of Monroe Lee Diver, and his many divorces.

Before we get to Monroe, let me introduce you to Sarah Ballou. Sarah is the niece of my 2x great grandmother Catherine Eldred, on my paternal side of the family. This makes her my 1st cousin, 3x removed. Sarah was born in Otsego, Michigan in 1850. As a woman, not too much is known of her early life. The 1870 U.S. Federal census lists her as living at home. The 1880 U.S. Federal Census lists her as living with her aunt and uncle in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her occupation is Dressmaker, and a "D" is listed under the box of Widowed/Divorced. Sometime in her 20's she was married and then divorced. I've been unable to find documentation of either a marriage or divorce. I will keep searching. On July 24, 1894, Sarah is married to Monroe Lee Diver, also of Grand Rapids, Michigan, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This is the beginning of Monroe's legal troubles.

Monroe Lee Diver was born in 1849 in New York. He moved with his family to Michigan soon after. He married Marion Robberds and had 8 children with her. He became an agent, selling agricultural and threshing equipment. He worked as a traveling salesman for a time, selling machinery around the country. He also worked for the railroads for a time. A newspaper article from the Grand Rapids Press on June 23, 1894 states that Anna Diver was granted a divorce from Monroe Diver yesterday. It also states that Monroe is forbidden from getting remarried again for 2 years. This was the law in Michigan at the time. If you were divorced, you had to wait 2 years before you could remarry. Monroe obviously did not wait.

The next mention I find of Monroe is in September 1894. His ex-wife, and the Court, found out about his remarriage. I found the incident mentioned in a Chicago newspaper and the Detroit Free Press.

I have searched and searched and have not been able to find any more newspaper articles about this case. I am assuming Monroe must've won because the next newspaper article I find is this one, announcing another divorce for Monroe. June 25, 1896. Grand Rapids Press.

I am going to guess that "extreme cruelty" in this case probably meant that Monroe was seeing other women.

Now, you would think that with 2 divorces under his belt, Monroe has learned his lesson and will turn over a new leaf. He'll either stay single, or settle down and become a good husband for the third and final time. You would be wrong. 

On August 22, 1896, only 2 months after getting a divorce from Sarah, Monroe marries Frankie Standish. In May 1898 Frankie files for divorce from Monroe, citing "cruelty". This article is from June 1898.

On a sidenote, Judge Adsit is the same judge who ruled Monroe couldn't marry again for 2 years after being divorced the first time in 1894. In February 1899 the third divorce is finalized. Monroe has learned his lesson this time, right? No.

On May 29, 1905 Monroe marries Alice Hayhurst, a widow. 

This was NOT the new beginning that Monroe hoped for.

On June 20, 1905 his first ex-wife filed charges against him claiming that he had not paid her alimony or child support payments for their youngest children. He claims he had paid and that the younger children were self-supporting. He also claims he was not as rich as his ex-wife claimed he was. 

In September, the judge finds in favor of ex-wife number 1 and orders Monroe to pay.

September 14, 1906, Alice, wife number 4, is now seeking a divorce. This newspaper article tells all.

On October 4, 1906 Monroe responded, with his own accusations against Alice. 

On October 23, a judge grants an injunction against Monroe, at Alice's request, of visiting and harassing her at her place of employment, a boarding house called The Oaks. Monroe doesn't pay attention to the injunction though.

Finally, on May 7, 1907 Alice is granted a divorce from Monroe. 

Monroe didn't remarry after Alice. I'm not sure where he went but he passed away on April 18, 1913. He definitely led a life filled with much drama. He was married and divorced 4 times. All before 1913. Every divorce was initiated by his wife too. 

Monroe Lee Diver is not a blood relative to me. He's only a passing through relative. I discovered his whole history when I was trying to figure out what happened to him and Sarah. I never dreamed he would lead such a soap opera worthy life. I think we often romanticize the past. Thinking that people "back then" were so much better than us. That they would "never" act the way people today act. They definitely did, and Monroe is proof of that. 

Questions, comments, any more information to add on Monroe or any of his many wives? Let me know down below.

Oh, I should mention that My ancestor, Sarah, never remarried after Monroe. She stayed single, opened and ran her own dressmaking/wig shop and was quite a successful business owner. She ran her own shop in Detroit and gave skin and haircare advice in the local newspaper. She did very well for herself.

Sarah Ballou, my 1at cousin, 3x removed. Approx. 56 years old.