Augusta Alvira Hart

F, b. May 9, 1851, d. April 22, 1923

 
Augusta Hart Thomas

Father*Jerome W. Hart (August 4, 1825 - )
Mother*Fanny Ellen Cain (February 28, 1828 - October 13, 1912)
Augusta Alvira Hart|b. May 9, 1851\nd. April 22, 1923|p1223.htm|Jerome W. Hart|b. August 4, 1825|p1237.htm|Fanny Ellen Cain|b. February 28, 1828\nd. October 13, 1912|p310.htm|Almon Hart|b. September 4, 1797\nd. March 9, 1874|p1219.htm|Polly Harmon|b. May 24, 1800\nd. August 1, 1881|p1151.htm|John Cain|b. August 12, 1789\nd. December 13, 1863|p312.htm|Cynthia Clark|b. April 10, 1791\nd. June 24, 1882|p369.htm|

ChartsDavid Thomas
Nora Miller
Last EditedJanuary 12, 2007

Birth*Augusta Alvira Hart was born on May 9, 1851 in Wyoming County, New York.1,2 
She was the daughter of Jerome W. Hart and Fanny Ellen Cain. 
Cen-Enum*Augusta Alvira Hart was enumerated on the US Census Population Schedule 1860 of July 5, 1860, Hillsdale Township, at Hillsdale County, Michigan. Agusta is listed as aged 9 and having been born in New York..3 
Marriage*Augusta Alvira Hart married Ezra Hopkins Thomas, son of Moses Thomas and Rhobie Marie Hopkins, on December 29, 1869 in Allen, Hillsdale County, Michigan.4,5 
Cen-Enum*Augusta Alvira Hart was enumerated on the US Federal Census for Michigan of September 6, 1870, Town of Marion, at Livingston County, Michigan. She is listed as aged 49 and having been born in New York. Both of her parents were also born in New York. Her occupation is listed as keeping house..6 
Cen-Enum*Augusta Alvira Hart was enumerated on the US Census Population Schedule 1880 of June 29, 1880, Washington Township, at Shelby County, Iowa. Augusta is listed as aged 29, having been born in New York, and that both of her parents were born in New York..7 
Cen-Enum*Augusta Alvira Hart was enumerated on the US Census Population Schedule 1900 of June 14, 1900, Washington Township, at Shelby County, Iowa. Agusta is listed as aged 41 and having been born in New York.8 
Cen-Enum*Augusta Alvira Hart was enumerated on the US Census Population Schedule 1910 of May 4, 1910, Washington Township, at Shelby County, Iowa. Augusta is listed as aged 59, having been born in New York, and that both of her parents were born in New York.9 
Divorce FilingAugusta Alvira Hart filed for divorce from Ezra Hopkins Thomas on December 6, 1910 at Harlan, Shelby County, Iowa;

In her complaint seeking a divorce from Ezra, Augusta indicates that on or about July 17, 1910, Ezra mistreated her ("jammed her against the wall at diverse times, and has used coarse and vile language toward" her, and that Ezra "drove this plaintiff and her two daughters from their home without cause." The two daughters mentioned here would have been Augusta (Gussie) and Nellie.

We can only speculate about the cause of this outbreak. However, it is interesting to note that Nellie had decided to marry a Catholic, the son of a German immigrant, and that she had agreed to take instructions and become a Catholic. Given Ezra's strict and long Protestant background, this event may have caused a riff between Ezra and Nellie. If Augusta had taken Nellie's part, it is not unreasonable that this may have been the impetus for Ezra throwing Augusta and the two daughters still living at home out of the house.


When they were ordered from their home, it is likely that the three women would have sought refuge in the home of Augusta's parents, Jerome and Fannie Hart, who lived a mere quarter of a mile north.5
 
Divorce*Ezra and Ezra Hopkins Thomas were divorced on March 16, 1911 at Harlan, Shelby County, Iowa.

It is also interesting to note that Ezra and Augusta had been quite successful in selling and acquiring land, and that their net worth was over $18,000. In seeking the divorce, Augsuta sought $7,500, custody of the youngest daughter, Gussie, as well as a number of specific items from the house: a sewing machine, a white quilt, a worsted quilt, a table and chair that had been a gift from her father, a picture album, and various pictures of her mother, brothers and sisters, and certain dishes and china.5 
Death*Augusta Alvira Hart died on April 22, 1923 in Washington Township, Panama, Shelby County, Iowa, at age 71.1 
Burial*She was buried after April 22, 1923 in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Harrison County, Iowa.10 

Family

Ezra Hopkins Thomas b. 19 Sep 1847, d. 11 Jul 1922
Marriage*She married Ezra Hopkins Thomas, son of Moses Thomas and Rhobie Marie Hopkins, on December 29, 1869 in Allen, Hillsdale County, Michigan.4,5 
Divorce FilingAugusta Alvira Hart filed for divorce from Ezra Hopkins Thomas on December 6, 1910 at Harlan, Shelby County, Iowa;

In her complaint seeking a divorce from Ezra, Augusta indicates that on or about July 17, 1910, Ezra mistreated her ("jammed her against the wall at diverse times, and has used coarse and vile language toward" her, and that Ezra "drove this plaintiff and her two daughters from their home without cause." The two daughters mentioned here would have been Augusta (Gussie) and Nellie.

We can only speculate about the cause of this outbreak. However, it is interesting to note that Nellie had decided to marry a Catholic, the son of a German immigrant, and that she had agreed to take instructions and become a Catholic. Given Ezra's strict and long Protestant background, this event may have caused a riff between Ezra and Nellie. If Augusta had taken Nellie's part, it is not unreasonable that this may have been the impetus for Ezra throwing Augusta and the two daughters still living at home out of the house.


When they were ordered from their home, it is likely that the three women would have sought refuge in the home of Augusta's parents, Jerome and Fannie Hart, who lived a mere quarter of a mile north.5
 
Divorce*Ezra and Ezra Hopkins Thomas were divorced on March 16, 1911 at Harlan, Shelby County, Iowa.

It is also interesting to note that Ezra and Augusta had been quite successful in selling and acquiring land, and that their net worth was over $18,000. In seeking the divorce, Augsuta sought $7,500, custody of the youngest daughter, Gussie, as well as a number of specific items from the house: a sewing machine, a white quilt, a worsted quilt, a table and chair that had been a gift from her father, a picture album, and various pictures of her mother, brothers and sisters, and certain dishes and china.5 
Children

Citations:

  1. [S2] Miller Family, The Holy Bible (St. Paul, Minnesota: E. M. Lohmann Co., 1926); Nora Garrity, Jefferson, Iowa. Hereinafter cited as Miller Bible.
  2. [S145] Family Data Collection - Births, Edmund West, compiler, online http://ancestry.com (Provo, Utah), downloaded 2001.
  3. [S401] United States Census Office, 1860 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, Hillsdale Township, Hillsdale County, Michigan (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1860). Hereinafter cited as 1860 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, Hillsdale Township, Hillsdale County, Michigan.
  4. [S17] County Clerk, Hillsdale County Vital Records (Hillsdale, Michigan: County Clerk's Office, continuous and on-going), Marriage Register. Hereinafter cited as Hillsdale County Vital Records.
  5. [S126] Augusta Thomas v. Ezra Thomas, January and March Terms, A. D. 1911, Shelby County Clerk of Court, Harlan, Shelby County, Iowa.
  6. [S406] United States Census Office, 1870 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, Marion, Livingston County, Michigan (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1870). Hereinafter cited as 1870 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, Marion, Livingston County, Michigan.
  7. [S407] United States Census Office, 1880 U. S. Census, Population Schedule, Washington Township, Shelby County, Iowa (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1880). Hereinafter cited as 1880 U. S. Census, Population Schedule, Washington Township, Shelby County, Iowa.
  8. [S318] United States Census Office, 1900 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, Washington Township, Shelby County, Iowa (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900). Hereinafter cited as 1900 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, Washington Township, Shelby County, Iowa.
  9. [S414] United States Census Office, 1910 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, Washington Township, Shelby County, Iowa (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1910). Hereinafter cited as 1910 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, Washington Township, Shelby County, Iowa.
  10. [S27] Agusta A. Thomas, Cemetery Marker, Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Panama, Iowa, Read by Dennis Day, August 2003.