How To Find Divorce Records in the 1800s?

Question

I'm looking for the husband of Bell Yoland born DECEMBER 1866 • Michigan, I know his last name is Barnes and that he is from New York. He divorced her and left her to raise three kids and wondering who he is and the reason why.  I didn't think they divorced back then.

Comments

This census in the details shows the kids' last name is Bowker. It's a transcription error.

Bell Yoland

 in the 1900 United States Federal Census

View

• View blank form

•  

• Report issue

Name:	Bell Yoland [Bell Toland]  [Isabelle Toland]
Age:	33
Birth Date:	Dec 1866
Birthplace:	Michigan
Home in 1900:	Albano, Stafford, Kansas
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Divorced
Father's Birthplace:	Ohio
Mother's Birthplace:	Michigan
Mother: number of living children:	5
Mother: How many children:	6
Occupation:	View on Image
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Bell Yoland 33 William H Barnes 12 Bennie R Barnes 11 James A Barnes 9

---

Isabelle is remarried to John L. Woolen

William Bowker

 in the 1910 United States Federal Census

View

• View blank form

•  

• Report issue

Name:	William Bowker
Age in 1910:	22
Birth Year:	abt 1888
Birthplace:	Kansas
Home in 1910:	Kiawa, Harper, Oklahoma
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Step Son [Stepson]
Marital Status:	Married
Father's Birthplace:	New York
Mother's name:	Isabelle Woolen
Mother's Birthplace:	Michigan
Native Tongue:	English
Occupation:	Laborer
Industry:	Farm
Employer, Employee or Other:	Wage Earner
Able to Read:	Yes
Able to Write:	Yes
Years Married:	1
Out of Work:	N
Number of weeks out of work:	0
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age John L Woolen 42 Isabelle Woolen 43 William Bowker 22 May Morgan 11

---

Isabell Bowker

 in the Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925

View

•  

• Report issue

Name:	Isabell Bowker
Census Date:	1 Mar 1895
Residence County:	Stafford
Residence State:	Kansas
Locality:	Albano
Birth Place:	Michigan
Family Number:	15
Gender:	Female
Age:	28
Birth Year:	abt 1867
Household Member(s):	Name Age Isabell Bowker 28 C A Bowker 9 W H Bowker 7 J R Bowker 6 J A Bowker 2

---

Isabelle Toland

 in the Missouri, Marriage Records, 1805-2002

View

•  

• Report issue

Name:	Isabelle Toland
Marriage Date:	6 Jun 1901
Marriage Place:	Naylor, Ripley, Missouri
Registration Place:	Ripley, Missouri, USA
Spouse:	John L Woolen

---

A son of Isabell

Charles A Bowker

 in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

No Image
Text-only collection

•  

• Report issue

Name:	Charles A Bowker
SSN:	445017661
Gender:	Male
Race:	White
Birth Date:	6 Oct 1885
Birth Place:	St John Staf, Kansas
Father:	Charles A Bowker
Mother:	Isebelle Toland
Type of Claim:	Original SSN.
Notes:	Mar 1937: Name listed as CHARLES A BOWKER

Answer 1

Divorce is not a new invention (I have an ancestor who was divorced in the 1600s!), although it's far more common now than it used to be.

Particularly because divorce was unusual in the 1800s, the details probably would have been documented in court records of the jurisdiction where the divorce was granted. (Would that be Stafford County, Kansas?) I would think that you would need to inquire at the courthouse(s) in the place(s) where the divorce might have occurred.

Comments

I believe it was in Stafford County, but that is a guess because from what I've found no place was ever mentioned, just said divorced.