Tena Irene Ellis

  General Notes:

Research of D E Lovejoy on www.rootsweb.com

MI records
Groom name George Straw Groom age 34 years Groom birth year 1882 Groom birth place Michigan Bride name Tena Smith Bride age 21 years Bride birth year 1895 Bride birth place Indiana Marriage date 28 Feb 1916 Marriage place Hillsdale, Hillsdale, Michigan Father of groom name Frank Straw Mother of groom name Mary Camp Father of bride name Orlando Ell... Mother of bride name Cevra Campbell Film number 2342715 Digital GS number 4209287 Image number 189 Reference number v 2 p 283 rn 9299

JACKSON CITIZEN PATRIOT - 23 May 1916
Hillsdale, Michigan - Romantic aphasia that led to a marriage with a comparative stranger and the summary rejection of the bridegroom of 24 hours whom she found in her room when she suddenly recovered her memory was the testimony that Monday enabled Mrs Tena Straw, aged 19 years, to retain her freedom. Judge Chester granted the women an annullment of the ceremony when witnesses coordinated the unusual story. Mrs Straw, despite her youth, once before faced a minister with George Straw, unaware of what was transpiring. Her first husband was killed in a railroad accident in 1914 and she herself was injured in the same wreck Later she settled with the railroad company and received a substantial amount of money in damages. She and Staw had "never kept company" nor been more than neighbors, Mrs. Straw testified. Mrs Straw said that Feb 28 she had been in the home of Straw and his mother, helping with the work and had been feeling ill. She thought possibly her tea or her coffee might have been drugged or it might have been the recurance of a seizure of hysteria she had suffered from a week before that left her dazed. She remembered a minister being in the house but had no recollection of the wedding and not until the next day did she realize that she had been married. Then she drove the bridegroom from the house. He left and has not returned to his bride. Mr and Mrs Floyd Hewitt, boarders at the Straw home and witnesses of the ceremony, testified to Mrs Straw's peculiar conduct and Dr. AC. T. Bower who had attended her in several attacks of hysteric convulsions said that such seizures were frequently followed by a dazed condition whcih might last for several days.
- 6 July 1916
Twice married though under 21, Tena is to take third hubby.
Hillsdale, Mich July 6 - Though still under 21 years of age and just having had her last marriage annulled, Mrs Tena Smith is to be married the third time.
The groom will be Harold E. Camp aged 18 years.They secured a marriage license Wednesday and will be married by Justice E. N. Collins at Jonesville. Mrs Smith was first Tena Ellis, them Mrs Smith, then Mrs George Straw. Her marraige with George Straw was annulled May 20. At that time she was asked by the court if she wanted her marriage annulled because she was contemplating another marriage and her reply was in the negative. In the annulment against Straw she alleged that his mother, who was a neighbor, had arranged for her to get the meals for him and his father while she was away and that George Straw had induced her to drink some drugged tea and coffee. The next thing she knew, she alleged, it was 24 hours later and he showed her a marriage certificate and said that they had been married. She sent him away she said and has not seen him since. She also alleged that she had occasional hysterical fits and for a day or two was unconscious of what she was doing

Tena married George Nelson Straw, son of Francis N. Straw and Mary Ann Almira Camp, on 28 Feb 1916 in Hillsdale, Hillsdale County, Michigan. (George Nelson Straw was born in Sep 1879 in Michigan, died on 2 Sep 1950 in Hillsdale County, Michigan and was buried in Lake View Cemetery in Hillsdale, Hillsdale County, Michigan.)

  Marriage Notes:

newspaper

Tena next married Harry Smith, son of Orney Smith and Sarah Jane Camp, on 29 Oct 1911 in Jonesville, Hillsdale County, Michigan. (Harry Smith was born in 1890 in Michigan.). The cause of his death was died in train accident.