Based on what I had dug up by 2010, I wrote a biography for
Lillian Blanche Byrum. Recently, I came across an obituary for one of her children,
Ferdinand Dewey Ditzenberger, and transcribed it here. "Dewey" had been recorded as an inmate of the Indiana School of Feeble Minded Youth from at least 1918 through 1920, which makes it interesting to find that he was farming before 1950 as mentioned in his obituary. Even more recently, I came across a more complete set of digitized Indiana newspapers containing more details of the divorce issues between Lillie and her absent husband, John Bert Ditzenberger.
The first is the most sensational, comparing John Bert to a "Brigham Young." The second reports follow-up on the divorce suit. After that follows a legal notice printed in three separate editions, each a week apart, probably a legal stipulation. Last are two short articles in separate newspapers making announcement of the divorce court decision. In the end, I still don't know whether John Bert was ever heard from again.
The Fort Wayne News and Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana), 14 Mar 1919
A REGULAR BRIGHAM YOUNG
John Ditzenberger Was Thrice Illegally Married.
John B. Ditzenberger, is according to a divorce complaint filed against him today by his wife, Lillie Ditzenberger, in the superior court, through her attorneys, Robert A. Buhler, and Heaton, Yaple and Heaton, one of the most confirmed exponents of Mormonism to figure in the Allen county courts in many a day. Mrs. Ditzenberger avers that the defendant has entered into three different bigamist marriages since he deserted her September 1, 1912.
The plaintiff avers that she was married to the defendant September 19, 1997, and that they lived together until the defendant deserted her and her six children. She says that he left for parts unknown, failing to leave sufficient money to provide herself and children with the necessities of life. For the past seven years, she claims, he has wholly failed and neglected to provide for the plaintiff and children, and that as a result she has expended the sum of $3,500 for the children in the past seven years.
Mrs. Ditzenberger avers that her husband entered into a bigamist marriage with a woman in St. Louis in 1913, and that two years late he was again illegally married in the same city. In the years 1917, she alleges that he entered into his third bigamist marriage with a woman at Topeka, Kan., under the alias, John Howard.
Mrs. Ditzenberger also avers that her husband is the only living heir of Nelson Ditzenberger, who died intestate in 1918, and that the estate of the decedent consists of money in the bank and in real estate, situated in Whitley county, the same having a probable value of $15,000.
The plaintiff further states that since the demise of the said Nelson Ditzenberger, the defendant has, under the name of John Howard, taken out letters of administration of the estate of Nelson Ditzenberger. She further states that there is now on deposit at the Tri-State Loan & Trust company, in the name of Nelson Ditzenberger, deceased, and subject to the order and control of this defendant, several thousand dollars, the exact amount of which is not known to the plaintiff, and she fears that the defendant will cause these funds to be removed and placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court.
Mrs. Ditzenberger, accordingly, asks for a divorce, alimony in the sum of $10,000, and a restraining order, enjoining him from disposing of the funds under his control.
The Fort Wayne News and Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana), 20 Mar 1919
FILES SUIT FOR SUPPORT
Lillie Ditzenberger Wants $12,000 from Husband John
Lillie Ditzenberger today, through her attorneys, Robert A. Buhler, and Heaton, Yaple and Heaton, in the superior court, filed suit against John B. Ditzenberger, alias John Howard, for support. She avers that since he deserted her he has paid the plaintiff but $6 for support of the family. She asks a restraining order preventing him from setting aside property rights, and placing property owned by him, beyond the control of the court. The plaintiff avers that she is entitled to $12,000 from the defendant, and asks that the court order property to which the defendant is heir to, sold to satisfy this claim.
Fort Wayne News and Sentinel, 24 Mar 1919 (Same notice repeated on 31 Mar 1919 and 7 Apr 1919)
Notice to non residents
State of Indiana Allen county
Lillie Ditzenberger vs John B Ditzenberger, John B. Ditzenberger Alias John Howard, John Howard Administrator of Estate of William Ditzenberger Deceased et al
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT ALLEN COUNTY INDIANA JANUARY TERM 1919 NUMBER 1944
It appearing to the satisfaction of the Clerk of said Court by the affidavit of a disinterested person that the following named defendant John B. Ditzenberger deceased non resident of Howard John Howard Administrator of the Estate of William N Ditzenberger deceased are not-residents of the State of Indiana that that a cause of action exists against said Defendants in favor of said Plaintiff for support and injunction demanding $12,000.00
Notice is therefore by order of Court hereby given said non resident Defendants of the filing and pendence of said complaint and that unless they appear before the Judge of said Court on the 18th day of May 1919 and answer or demur thereto the same will be heard and determined in their absence
Attest Kent SWEDT Clert,
Robt A Buhler, Heaton, Yaple & Heaton, attorney for plaintiff
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, 14 Jun 1919
COURT NOTES
In superior court yesterday Judge Baliou granted a divorce to Lillian Ditzenberger from John B. Ditzenberger. They have six children. In finding for the plaintiff the court gave plaintiff control of the children and allowed her $1,500 alimony and also $1,500 for the support of the children.
The Fort Wayne News and Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana), 14 Jun 1919
COURT NOTES
Lillian Ditzenberger has been granted a divorce from her husband, John B. Ditzenberger, in the superior court. The plaintiff was likewise given the custody of the children, $1,500 for their support, and granted alimony in the sum of $1,500.
