Leander's other wives
Leander's first wife, Marie Anne Mouton, apparently had a relatively short life span. After giving birth to his six children, she seems to have disappeared from recorded history. The first clue to be found was the 1850 census. Leander is listed as head of household residing in Mendon Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan. Living with him at that time were two of his sons, Solomon and Samuel, and his daughter Zoe who is believed to already be a widow. Also listed were Zoe's two daughters Marie and Caroline. Leander's youngest son is to be found listed in the household of his grandparents, Francis and Catherine Mouton.No record of Marie Anne is to be found.
So what became of Marie Anne! The youngest son, William, was born in Dec of 1845. Did Marie Anne perhaps die as a result of this birth, or did she die accidentally or succumb to disease? These are questions to which we probably will never find an answer, unless it is to be found somewhere in the old courthouse records. And where is she buried? Judging from the fact that she and Leander had been living in the area for many years and that her parents were possibly nearby, it is probable that she is entombed in a grave in the Mendon area. Based on the information to follow it is most likely that Marie Anne died prior to 1847.
Through the diligent efforts of Lisa Metty Van Zoest, we know that Leander was very likely remarried by 1847 and although at present there is no record to substantiate this marriage, Lisa discovered Leander filed for divorce in the December 1849 term of St Joseph County Court as follows:
PETITION FOR DIVORCE
State of Michigan
St. Joseph County Court of the December Term, the year 1849
Leander Metty
Vs.
Emily Metty
Notice is hereby given that Leander Metty of the County of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, at the December Term of the County Court for said County, filed his petition in said Courty praying for a Divorce from the bands of Matrimony against his said wife Emily Metty, for the cause of voluntary absence and utter desertion from the bed and board of the said Leander Metty, for the space of two years and upwards. Whereupon it was ordered by said Court that notice of the pendancy of said petition be published for five successive weeks in the Western Chronicle, a public newspaper printed in said county and that the last publication be at least twenty days before the day fixed for the appearance of the said Emily Metty in said cause. And that the said Emily Metty cause her appearance to be entered in said county on or before the first day of the February term of said Court in the year 1850, otherwise the said Leander Metty will be allowed to proceed in the premises exparte.
E. B. Turner, Atty for Petitioner.
Dated December 4, 1849
Leander must have been granted his petition, as he married for a third and final time on 1 April 1851, when he was united with Molly Hannah Ferguson. Again our debt is to Lisa for locating this information and also for locating Molly's grave site. She has posted a picture of the tombstone on March 18, 2007.
So what became of Marie Anne! The youngest son, William, was born in Dec of 1845. Did Marie Anne perhaps die as a result of this birth, or did she die accidentally or succumb to disease? These are questions to which we probably will never find an answer, unless it is to be found somewhere in the old courthouse records. And where is she buried? Judging from the fact that she and Leander had been living in the area for many years and that her parents were possibly nearby, it is probable that she is entombed in a grave in the Mendon area. Based on the information to follow it is most likely that Marie Anne died prior to 1847.
Through the diligent efforts of Lisa Metty Van Zoest, we know that Leander was very likely remarried by 1847 and although at present there is no record to substantiate this marriage, Lisa discovered Leander filed for divorce in the December 1849 term of St Joseph County Court as follows:
PETITION FOR DIVORCE
State of Michigan
St. Joseph County Court of the December Term, the year 1849
Leander Metty
Vs.
Emily Metty
Notice is hereby given that Leander Metty of the County of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, at the December Term of the County Court for said County, filed his petition in said Courty praying for a Divorce from the bands of Matrimony against his said wife Emily Metty, for the cause of voluntary absence and utter desertion from the bed and board of the said Leander Metty, for the space of two years and upwards. Whereupon it was ordered by said Court that notice of the pendancy of said petition be published for five successive weeks in the Western Chronicle, a public newspaper printed in said county and that the last publication be at least twenty days before the day fixed for the appearance of the said Emily Metty in said cause. And that the said Emily Metty cause her appearance to be entered in said county on or before the first day of the February term of said Court in the year 1850, otherwise the said Leander Metty will be allowed to proceed in the premises exparte.
E. B. Turner, Atty for Petitioner.
Dated December 4, 1849
Leander must have been granted his petition, as he married for a third and final time on 1 April 1851, when he was united with Molly Hannah Ferguson. Again our debt is to Lisa for locating this information and also for locating Molly's grave site. She has posted a picture of the tombstone on March 18, 2007.
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