Sophia Lucinda Adelaide Remington

Narrative:

     Sophia Lucinda Adelaide Remington was born in Jan 1845 in Castleton, Vermont.^9,10,11
     She appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Castleton, Rutland Co., Vermont, in the household of her parents, John Henry Remington and Betsey Mariah Stevens.²³
     Her mother died on 22 Mar 1852, when Sophia was about 7 years old.^24,25,26
     The will of her mother's maternal grandfather, Lemuel Ransom, left her use for her lifetime of the Pond Farm in Castleton, containing about 96 acres, and a piece of wood land of about 15 acres. At her death the land was to be equally divided between her heirs. A copy of the will was recorded in Castleton deed books 28 Feb 1859, apparently to document transfer of ownership of the farm to Sophia and her four siblings. It seems likely that it was recorded after a delay of seven years from her death was because the eldest them was then reaching legal age.²⁷
     Sophia appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Castleton, Rutland Co., Vermont, in the household of her father and step-mother, Annis Baker Clark.²⁸
     She seems to have been using her middle name, Adelaide, rather than her first name, by 1860.^2,6,3

A Brief First Marriage --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Adelaide married George Weston Wadleigh, son of Simeon Hayes Wadleigh and Jane Bartlett Sleeper, on 11 Apr 1863 in Boston, Massachusetts, with Rev. A. A. Miner offciating.^12,13
     Adelaide and George sold her one-fifth interest in the Pond Farm that she had inherited from her mother to her father on 4 Aug 1863, for $500.³
     A couple listed on the 1865 State Census Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, enumerated 1 May 1865, may have been Adelaide and George. They are shown as boarding at a hotel operated by James C. Hill, with about 30 other guests. But there is reason to question whether it was them. The male is listed as George W. Wadleigh, age 32, born in New Hampshire, which would be correct, allowing for a two-year error in age. But his occupation is listed as clerk, while all other records show George as a coachman or teamster. The female is listed as age 19, which would be correct for her, but the name is shown only as "W" and birth place as New Hampshire, neither of which would be correct for her.²⁹
     Sophia and George were divorced, before 1869 apparently as she had resumed use of her maiden name by then.^14,15,16

A Promising Musical Career --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Adelaide gave vocal and instrumental concerts in Castleton and Fair Haven in Aug 1869. She was assisted by Prof. W. W. Graves of Tilden Seminary and her half-sister Flora. A newspaper report said she was expected to go to Germany to pursue her musical studies.³⁰
     Adelaide appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, enumerated 27 Jun 1870, listed as a music teacher, with students and other members of the staff of the Tilden Seminary.³¹ She became widely known as a concert singer and composer.^32,33
     She was living in Marion Co., Ohio, by 1871.³⁴

A Second Marriage --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Adelaide married second Henry H. McKinney, son of Henry McKinney and Anna Hawley, on 11 Jun 1871 in Marion Co., Ohio, with Rev. L. A. Belt officiating.^17,18,19
     Adelaide and Henry moved to Cleveland in 1873.³⁵ They appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, at 164 Clinton St., enumerated 14 Jun 1880. Their children Mary and Grace and his daughter Sarah were listed as living with them, as was Mary Lanigan, a servant.³⁶
     On 10 Sep 1891 Adelaide took her daughter Grace, who had been taking vocal training in Boston and was reported to be even more talented than her mother, to New York City to join the Conway Opera comany there. She also took her young son Decius, who remained at school there when the opera company traveled south. Grace became violently ill while in Memphis, and she and her mother returned to Cleveland where she was hospitalized.³⁷

An Attempted Divorce --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Adelaide filed for divorce 9 Jan 1892 in the Cuyahoga Co. Court of Common Pleas, where he had been a judge. She charged him with habitual drunkenness and extreme cruelty and gross neglect of duty when under the influence. She said she had left in Sept with their daughter Grace and young son because the situation had become unbearable. She claimed to be penniless, unable to pay the $6.50 in fees due the court and sheriff for the filing.^37,38
     Henry filed a response 16 Jan 1892, in which he asked that she be granted a divorce, or if not that he be granted one. He said he had paid her old debts of $500 after they married, and she had repeatedly run up large bills, including $1,200 at two stores while he was holding court in Toledo, and treated him "in the most unwifely and cruel manner." He admitted he used liquor, but averred not to the extent claimed in her suit. He said she used liquor quite freely long before he did.³⁹
     Their daughter Grace died 17 Mar 1892, eight days after her death-bed marriage to her long-time fiance.⁴⁰
     Adelaide and Henry withdrew their divorce suits 14 Sep 1892. One of their attorneys stated they had signed a contract agreeing to drop the proceeding and they were now living together again.⁴¹
     Adelaide and Henry appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, at 104 Leroy Place, enumerated 12 Jun 1900, reporting they owned their home. Their children Mary and Decius were listed as living with them, as was Georgiana Smith, age 39, who was listed as a boarder.⁴²
     Adelaide has not been found in the 1910 census. She was not living with Henry, who was boarding at a home in Cleveland.⁴³
     Her second husband died on 10 Oct 1910 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio.^44,45
     Adelaide moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, but just when is unknown. At the time of her death she was living at 3915 Rookwood Ave., in an newly developed area then on the far north side of the city.⁴⁶
     Adelaide died on 17 May 1915 in Indianapolis, Indiana, at age 70.^20,21 She was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana.²²