Douglas County NeArchives Divorce.....McGuckin, Anna C - McGuckin, Daniel L. 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ne/nefiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Debra Crosby http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002467 April 27, 2018, 6:53 pm Omaha Daily Bee Aug 31, 1893 Omaha Daily Bee Aug 31, 1893 For Her Children's Honor ------- Anna C. McGuckin Seeks to Establish a Common Law Marriage ______________ Large Skeleton in the Family Closet ______________ Alleges that She Lived for Years with Daniel L. McGuckin as His Wife--- Mother of Five Children-- Her Story. Pleadings in the suit of Anna C. McGuckin against Daniel L. McGuckin will be filed with the clerk of court today. The object of this suit is to establish a common law marriag and brings to light a skeleton in the closet of one of the best known citizens of Omaha and South Omaha. Mr. McGuckin was at one time a councilman in this city and has taken more or less interest in politics. When South Omaha began to boom he was very fortunate and accumulated a considerable amount of this world's goods. He is now the proprieter of a hotel in South Omaha and owns a large amount of property there. In January, 1880, the plaintiff says she was a cook in Major Stanton's family at Fort Omaha. She was then 23 years of age and married. She had left her husband in New Jersey on account of alleged cruel treatment It was then that she met Daniel L. McGuckin, who owned a saloon on Eleventh and Barney streets in Omaha. He became much impressed with hedr and wanted to visit her as a lover. She refused, telling him she was married. He insisted and in order to escape his importunities she left her positio and went to Oakland, Neb. He followed her and persisted in is attentions so ardently that she began proceedings for divorce from her husband in New Jersey upon McGuckins's advice and he paid all the costs of the trial, which took place in Tekamah, Neb. She was granted a decree and come to Omaha to keep house for McGuckin. Prepared for the Ceremony She says they were engaged to be married and the ring and trousseau were purchased. Upon urgent solicitation of McGuckin the pair lived together as man and wife with understanding that they were soon to wed. After some time the plaintiff insisted upon the nuptial ceremony being performed. Then McGuckin is alleged to have claimed that he had a wife and children living in the east. He claimed he would get a divorce from his wife as soon as he had good grounds for the same. He is alleged to have secured a divorce in July, 1880 in the Douglas county courts. Then again did the plaintiff insist that the belated nuptial knot to be tied. She alleges that he said that such a proceeding was not necessary, as their living together constituted a common law marriage. She said she was ashamed to let any of her friends or relatives know of their true relationsyip and that Daniel told her to tell people that they had been married in Blair, Neb., on their way to Omaha from Tekamah. She followed his instructions and continued to live with him as his wife, and he introduced her as such to all his friends. They believed thus until a short time ago. Father of Five Children Five children were born to them, as follows: Edward D., in March, 1881; William, deceased, in February, 1882; William May, 1885; Frankie, December, 1887; Joseph Carl, February, 1890. These children were baptized, or christened in the Catholic church as being born in lawful wedlock. When they went to living together as man and wife the defendant had but small means. Through the frugality of the plaintiff he was enabled to accumulate money and property until he is now a wealthy man and the plaintiff sets forth that she is entitled to the same interest as any wife. In 1883 she went to Cuming county and managed and run his farm for him in a profitable manner, while he remained in Omaha. He frequently took his friends out to his farm and introduced them to her as his wife. In 1886 she moved back to Omaha at his request and lived with him at their home at Twenty eight and Dodge streets for two years. Then he purchased property in South Omaha and built a large hotel. They moved into the hotel and she acted and was acknowledged as his wife before their guests. About two years ago the defendant is alleged to have begun treating plaintiff with great cruelty and neglect and in the spring of this year she alleges that he falsely represented to her that he had sold his hote to a man named Donahue. Donahue served a notice on her to to to Council Bluffs and rent a house. She did so, and then discovered that her husband was playing her false and had not sold out, but had put up this job to get rid of her. She sought legal advice and McGuckin got her to go with him to an attorney. He caused a paper to be drawn up, which, he said, would grant her a divorce without any publicity or scandal. She signed the paper and he gave her a roll of bills saying it would come in handy when she needed it. She was informed that this paper would be filed in the court. She offered to return the money, but he refused to accept it, and had her removed to Council Bluffs, where she now resides. Out in the Cold World She is now informed that the defendant has alleged that she is not nor has ever been his wife and that she is not entitled to support or dower as such. She claims that the paper which he induced her to sign is a relinquishment of all her rights, and her signature was obtained falsely. Mrs. McGuckin now asks the court to establish the validity of her marriage with Daniel L. McGuckin and that the defendant be compelled to contribute toward her support. Local opinion is to the effect that the suit will create a sensation in South Omaha and this city, as it was not known that there was any trouble between McGuckin and his wife. It is said that the future welfare of her children prompted Mrs. McGuckin to begin the suit. --------------------------------------- Omaha Daily Bee Fri Sep 1, 1893 Mrs McGuckin Was Mad Dan McGuckin and his wife had a pretty lively dispute yesterday afternoon over at the McGuckin hotel. The woman finally became so enraged that she picked up a beer bottle and fired it at Dan's head. It was a straight show and took Dan square in the face, causing the blood to flow quite freely. Mrs. McGuckin has not been living in South Omaha of late, but called down yesterday to see Dan on business. --------------------------------------------- The Nebraska State Journal Thur Feb 8, 1894 Mr. McGuckin Answers Daniel L. McGuckin has filed his answer to the petition of Anna McGuckin, the plaintiff and the alleged wife at common law, who is seeking a divorce, the custody of the three children, the fruits of a twelve-year union and a share of the propert, which consists of a hotel in South Omaha and some lands in rural districts of the surrounding country. He denies that they were ever married, and says that they merely agreed to live together; that Annha knew that he had a wife living, and knew that he was a Catholic, and that she further knew that the laws of the church prevented him from taking a second wife while the first was living. He admits that for a while Anna was an excellent housekeeper, but that later her temper got the better of her, and from that time he got the worst of it. Additional Comments: 1900 South Omaha Ward 2, Douglas, Nebraska Annie Mcjuckin 40 William Mcjuckin 15 Frank Mcjuckin 14 Joseph Mcjuckin 10 1910 Omaha Ward 12, Douglas, Nebraska Anna J Mcgucken 49 William C Mcguckin 24 Frank D Mcguckin 21 Joseph C Mcgucken 19 [I am not related or connected to this line, please do not contact me for more information.] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ne/douglas/vitals/divorces/mcguckin9dv.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/nefiles/ File size: 8.2 Kb