William Wallace F. Beach vs. Madora A. (Miller) Beach

 (Journal 9 p86 - 16 Mar 1877; p120 - 11 June 1877; Roll 31 case number 144 and 186 - June 1877)

            The couple was married on 27 Feb 1867 in Addison, Lenawee Co, MI.  Wallace, b. 13 June 1845, Orleans Co, NY, was the son of Frances D. and Elizabeth English Beach.  When he was a child his family moved to Hudson, Lenawee Co, MI.  He was a CW vet having served in Co F 4^th MI VI.  In the 1870 Hudson, Lenawee Co, MI federal census p300, the Beach family was listed as Wallace Beach 24 NY cooper and Madora 19 MI, living in a boarding house of Mrs. Williams 54 NY.

Wallace charged Madora with gross neglect.  He wanted custody of the two children, Francis (6) and Frederick A. (4).  Madora was out late at night walking with strange men.  She would do as she pleased; she would leave the children with no one to watch them.  On 20 May 1874 she committed adultery in a cellar of a building used as a cooper shop in the village of Hudson, Lenawee Co, MI with unknown men.  On 20 Sept 1875 she was in Toledo, visiting her sister when she took a streetcar ride with a Mr. Miller, the conductor, whom she later lodged with as man and wife. On 1 Apr 1876 she exhibited bad conduct and refused to live with him, after he found a place in Bryan for the family.  On 20 Apr 1876 she committed adultery with this Miller in Bryan.  On 25 May 1876 she did the same with LA Graff, a single man.  At the time of this filing she lived in Adrian, Lenawee Co, MI. Wallace subpoenaed John Patterson for testimony about Madora's character. He placed a notice of divorce in the Bryan Press, 1 Feb 1877, p2.  A divorce and custody of the children were granted to him. 

On 5 July 1877 in Hudson, MI Wallace married Anna M. Foster, the daughter of Harvey and Lavina Foster.  The bride was b. 13 Jan 1854 in W. Walworth, NY and also came to MI as a child.  The couple had two children, Burt and Maude.  The Beach family was enumerated in the 1900 Hudson, Lenawee Co, MI federal census p16, as Willis F June 1845 (54) NY married 23 years, Anna M Jan 1854 (46) NY, Burton R Aug 1883 (16) OH, and Maud E Sept 1885 (14) MI. Wallace died in Hudson on 27 Feb 1908 and was buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Hudson.  His widow outlived him until 1940.  References were found that Madora may be Dora A. Williams but this has not been substantiated.