100 years ago: In divorce court, plaintiffs seek release from ‘objectionable’ spouses

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Oct. 8, 1915:

  • “Marie Z. Giles of Emporia has brought suit for divorce and alimony from John T. Giles of Lawrence, alleging that they were married March 9 last at Emporia, and that his conduct was so objectionable that she left him April 4. She sets forth that during the twenty-seven days they lived together that he provided nothing, and insisted that she get work to support them both, that he cursed her and threatened to beat her if she did not earn money. She sues for alimony and for an accounting of the property owned by him at 1212 New York street, and 626 Massachusetts, in Lawrence.”
  • “Emma Holbrook has filed suit for a divorce from Herman Holbrook…. The plaintiff alleges non-support from about the beginning of their married life – that she has supported herself for more than thirty years. She also alleges that her husband has threatened to kill her, and that he keeps five firearms in the house; that he has abusively treated and scandalized her, and that he has driven her from home. She sues for the home property, 2200 Barker avenue.”
  • “Ben Lohman, who has been with the carpet department at Weaver’s for many years, will leave November 1 to open a 5, 10, and 25 cent store in Olathe. He has looked over Kansas and Oklahoma and has picked upon Olathe as offering the brightest prospects for a store of this character. Mr. Lohman is a capable business man and will give Olathe a first class store of its kind.”
  • “The county superintendent has received statements showing the attendance records and other information from the Baldwin and Barber schools. In the former, where Prof. O. J. Lane is superintendent, and where there is a total of twelve teachers, the attendance for the first month of school averaged 95.5 per cent – an extraordinary per cent when the number of pupils is considered.”
  • “Dr. E. H. Varnum, for years one of the well known dentists of Lawrence, will retire from the practice of his profession. He will become the partner of his son, Walter Varnum, in the Round Corner Drug Store. Dr. H. B. Kibler of Frankfort, Kan., has purchased Dr. Varnum’s dental equipment and is in Lawrence today looking for a residence…. Dr. Varnum is retiring from practice on the advice of physicians. For some time he has been troubled with neuritis in the right hand and this made a change of occupations advisable.”